Sunday June 11^th
My dear Sister
I am not quite sick in bed to day though
not well enough to go to church – I am sorry to learn from
your letter that you are still suffering from the effect
of disease or medicine or both – I think that sickness
of the stomach might be relieved by homoeopathic medicine
and wish I knew what to send you – Henry came home
Friday morning – has a violent cold and to day is sick
in bed – he went to N. York with Weed, saw him on
board the ship and left there the next morning
he has not been well enough since he came home
to tell me much that he did, saw, or heard
I have been all the week cleaning house and have yet another
week in prospect – The white washers have as usual retarded
my progress very much – Pa went to Seneca falls with Mr
Harding who came along Tuesday evening – they have not
returned yet – when Henry came home we had not a
room to sit in except the parlour and that was filled
with furniture from other parts of the house – Abbey will

not get away next week for I cannot spare her until the
house cleaning is over – I find it no small affair to attend
to the work in the kitchen and above stairs also – not one
of the girls I have could get a meal of victuals upon
the table without my assistance – They do not improve
at all – the Irish girl in particular exhibits all the
striking peculiarities of her nation which for a day or
two she managed to conceal – When night comes I am
so sick and tired that I am glad to crawl into bed
at 9 oclock – Clara has been alone most of the week
to let Maria help me clean house she says she works
hard – has not got the house arranged yet – I have not
found any time to go and see her – she usually comes here
once or twice a ^every other^ day – They have a cow which she is
obliged to milk in addition to her other work – Maria's
has not moved yet with her baby – I cannot ascertain
that the coloured woman has come yet from Geneva that
I spoke about – if you cannot do any better you can
have Maria Johnson who is with me when Abbey comes
home I think you would prefer her to an Irish girl
I take it for granted that she would not object to going out
of town –

I have seen no one and heard no news – Sarah Miller is
married to Harbottle they were visiting Mrs Miller yesterday
in company with Mrs Cheadell – I have not heard from
Augustus since I wrote before – Augustus Seward
writes that Clarence has arrived at Florida – I believe
I wrote you that his bills were so extravegant that Henry
had written to him to go to Florida and remain a while
under the care of his brother – Augustus is teaching a school
and is capable of teaching Clarence if he will be taught by him
which is doubtful – Henry is to pay for his board & tuition
and other expenses as usual – I am very sorry Clarence will not
practice any economy – he will be much dissatisfied with being in
Florida – and I fear troublesome to his brother – Henry says that
Justice to his own children requires him to restrict his ^Clarence's^ expenses –
his passion for dress and finery is seems to be uncontroulable –
dont mention all this as the boy has no other friends but us
I think his teacher at Hopkinton is a very weak man and has
he a injured him by foolish indulgence – Freddy and I enjoyed
reading your letter together – we had considerable sport about the
"single lady" and the maid servant – I think it requires a world
of patience to teach a child to work – I know Billy draws pretty largely
upon mine – we have too many in the kitchen I shall be heartily
glad to dispose of one – The white spot remains upon Willies eyes
and gives me much uneasiness – the medicine he has taken has no effect
unless it increases the irritability of his eye – I wish I had
sufficient confidence in Dr Mun to consult him, but his passion

for using the knife is so great that he would [ undoubtly ] advise
an operation – Henry says Mr Brown is very respectable and
an excellent match – Sam has been to see Margaret
recently – I trust she is engaged and will not
have any thing to say to him – he has probably tried elsewhere
by this time or come to the conclusion that he cannot
do any better – Mary Seward is in Stonington Connecticut with
her Father & Mother – the Standard has ceased to be –
I am ashamed of this dull letter but am to unwell to

[right Margin] improve it – your own Sister –
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
JUN 12

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