Sunday afternoon Nov 12^th
My dear Sister
I have not waited for your letter
this time as I had a business matter in hand
Have you sent for Harriet and do you expect
her? – much to my disappointment Mary
has come with Bill – The little Irish girl
who came while Frances was here suited me
so well that I feel very unwilling to make
the exchange – Mary is so far from home
that she must stay – so I must part with
Catherine and if you do not do better I
would recommend her to you – She is
much more tidy about her work than
they usually are a very obliging pleasant
disposition – I think might easily be
taught to do the cooking – she makes
good bread and washes and irons pretty
well – Abbey has done most of our cooking
while I felt uncertain about Catherine staying
I have not tried to teach her – She can
do more work and is so much nicer than
Mary that I am rendered rather uncomfortable
by the necessity of parting with her – I was
very sorry that Henry wrote again for Mary
much that I heard of her in Orange Co
discouraged me about employing her
before I left there – she is not as agreeable as

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Your last letter came
just as mine was going to the office

as Bill being one of those persons who never deign
a reply when you ask them to do any thing
leaving you in doubt whether you are heard
or understood – I presume her sojourn with
me will not exceed six months – she estimates
her services at 12 shillings a week– is a
very indifferent cook – I pay Catherine 10 ^oo –
Let me know as soon as you can concerning
whether you want Catherine – as she will be
in haste to get a place somewhere soon
she has ascertained I cannot keep her all winter
What a long long winter we shall have – this
day has been so forbidding that I do not go to
church – Fred went and reports a thin atten-
dance – I have seen Clara but once this
week – We went on Thursday to make some
calls in remote parts of the town where
we were obliged to visit – Mrs. N. Beardsley
was not at home – she returned a few
days ago from Cattskill – Mrs Throop
had left her house and was abiding at
Michael Myers previous to her departure
for Detroit – she appeared to have wrought
herself into rather an uncomfortable frame
of mind about crossing the lakes – although
she is childishly pleased with the prospect
of a change of residence – Gov. Throop
has returned to Owasco – I hear of him
in a rejuvenated state with the exception
of his hair and whiskers they being quite
white –

At Mrs Goodwins’s we found Theodore’s new wife
who is a very healthy looking personage f
very inferior in mind and manners to his
first wife – she is from Palmyra – Frank and
his wife are keeping house – if Theodore has made –
his choice with a view to posterity I think
the chances are greatly in his favour –
I spent the whole of the day yesterday in reading
that wicked demoralizing work the “Mysteries of
Paris” – Fred and I commenced it a few evenings
since I very soon ascertained that it was
an unsuitable book for a child, but had
become so much interested in the personages
represented that I found it difficult to throw
it aside – without ascertaining the dénouemen[ t ]
Eugene Sue is said to be a broken down roué
himself I presume his knowledge of much that
he relates is experimental – I do not think
it will improve the morals of community to have
these productions given to people at a price
so immoderate that they are unattainable to
none who wish to read them – I am surprised
that the work (although the writer has much talent)
is spoken of so highly by all the editors – The
Argus is the only paper in which I have seen
a disappointing notice and that was extracted from
an London paper – Pa came home from
Syracuse Thursday night – The Election news
was rather premature – I should like to know
what Henry Clay thinks of his prospects in this
Empire State – however I am in favor of him

for the Candidate and would be glad to see him
successful independent of the success of the party
I have always thought his services entitled him
to the Presidency – not that I like his opinion with
regard to slavery but I like him in spite of this
and they all have many weaknesses –
My side troubles me again, so much, that I sent for the
Dr Wednesday – I somewhat rebound but then
soreness remains– a long inspiration gives me much
pain
What a falling off in the western counties since the days
of Antimasonry – Willie's eyes are better but still
inflamed I will try the calcareum alone a few
days longer and then the morphine – I have
a letter from Augustus who is well –

[right Margin]
Expect Clarence

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Clarence Seward

Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24

this week – I have been preparing Clara’s
room for his occupation –
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN, NY
Nov 12

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