Tuesday Dec 26^th
My dear Sister,
I have deferred writing until this
time that I might find leisure but now I
am out of spirits and shall only write enough
to assure you that we now ^are^ all well—
I received a letter from Augustus Saturday in which
he says "I shall spend Christmas eve in an extra
tour of guard duty, of which four were given me
for cooking after taps which I suppose you have
seen in last months report"— I thought 16
hours additional guard duty a pretty severe punishment
for such an offence but to day his monthly
report comes informing us that in addition to
that he has 33 marks of demerit for this month
one would infer that they considered this cooking
a breach of the decalogue— This I suppose is mil-
itary dicipline—it is unjust to my boy and
like all unjust treatment will I fear make him

reckless about his conduct in future— His father
is of course much grieved by the apprehension that
he may exceed his 200 marks during the year
I suppose I shall never cease regretting that he ever
went there— but these regrets are unavailing now—
Poor Caroline Hotchkiss buried her oldest daughter
yesterday— it is a sore affliction— she was 16 17
last August— a great comfort and assistance
to her mother— Her illness was of very short
duration— only one week— an intermitting fever— Dr
Pitney physician— her fever left her Friday morning
but so completely debilitated that no stimulants
could restore her— she died Saturday at 3 oclock
Was perfectly sensible and rational until a few
hours previous to her death— calm and resigned –
leaving especial messages for many of her mates
and remembrance for all— It seems her father has
been apprehensive about her spiritual welfare—they
thinking she indulged too much in the gaiety nat-
ural to her age but I believe now his mind is quite
at ease— It is a great calamity for both parents to

lose a dutiful and affectionate child in the morning of life—
but the mothers bereavement is irreparable & enduring—
I was there with Clara Sunday but we did not see Mrs
Hotchkiss— Mr Hotchkiss was very much composed and
Mrs Clary abated none of her usual formality—
Caroline looked natural— a sweet and placid
smile upon her features— Yesterday we went to the
funeral— this with the entire morning at our own Church
consumed the whole of the day and quite exhausted my
strength— Willie is very happy with his Christmas present
We shall [ ex ] pect you next week— what time?
Clarence is to remain a member of our family until
he enters college— Henry came home Wednesday
has not been very well since but is better to day
All send love— your own Sister—
If you bring Dick along do not neglect to cover
his cage when he is taken into the air—

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
DEC 26