Auburn Sunday Oct 29^th
My dear Augustus,
The multiplicity of my house-
hold cares has prevented my answering your
welcome letter which came four days ago –
We remained in Albany until Saturday morning –
William and his sister did not come so we
left without them – we have heard nothing
from them since – We reached home about
8 oclock – Abbey was all alone in the
house – was very glad to see us – Grandpa
soon came home – he is very well – asked
many questions about you – Sunday
afternoon Willie made his appearance very
unexpectedly with his cousin Frances – Uncle
Worden came over to attend court – Frances
remained here until Thursday when she
returned home again with her father – Willie’s
eyes are badly inflamed again though not

yet as weak as they were last Spring – I do
not try to keep him from the air and light
his health continues good – he is very happy
and merry – has just brought me a picture
Alphabet which he wishes me to enclose in
this letter – I hope you will imagine it
done – Wednesday we had fall of snow
about 6 or 8 inches – the weather has been warm
since, the snow has nearly all disappeared
Willie I believe is the only person who has
had any sleigh rides – Fred commenced
school again Tuesday – I have not not written
to Clarence as I promised, for I believe your
father has not yet determined what to do
with him – I wish for his own sake he was
a little more considerate, he does not seem
to stand very high in the estimation of his
friends at Florida and appears to regard
the opinion of any one as of very little
importance – This is a great defect in the
character of a young person –

Aunt Clara is well and very glad to hear
from you – Mr McClallen has taken a little boy
of 9 years old so they have this addition to
their family – Maria and her baby continue there
and conduct about as usual – I have been exceed-
ingly anxious about your health since I left you.
Should there be any scarlet fever at the Point
which there is occasionally I wish you would
take Belladonna as a preventive – it has been
used so much and so successfully that I
think no reasonable person can doubt its efficacy –
but do not take too much – a mistake which
is often made with homeopathic medicine because
the doses are so minute – 14 globules taken
every third day I think would be sufficient –
George Morrell a nephew of Col. Webb’s who graduated
at the Point has never recovered from the effect
of scarlet fever he had while there – Above all
things do not fail to inform me immediately if
you are ill – I have very much regretted that I
did not desire the Dr to write to me himself
if you were again under his care I could then judge

from his description of symptoms how you really were –
After all sickness and death cannot be prevented by
human foresight – We are in the hands of One who creates
and destroys – who is just and wise – He can bless
any means which may be used – if it is his pleasure the
best will prove unavailing – We must do our duty
and trust the result to Him –
Your fathers time is much occupied with business
that I see little of him – he is up late and early
and were he not obliged frequently to leave home I think
would seriously impair his health – Aunty Worden always
sends love to you when she writes –
Your affectionate
Mother

[right Margin] Have you Belladonna among your medicines —