Sunday Jan 7th 1844
My dear Augustus,
I have waited until the two weeks
have passed and now that no letter comes I begin
to feel anxious about you – I shall not send this
letter until I have sent once more to the Post Office
My last I believe was written the Sunday before
Christmas – I spent the Morning of Christmas day
at Church and the afternoon attended the funeral
of Caroline Hotchkiss – Willie received rather
more than the usual quantity of books and toys
was consequently very happy – New Years day
we passed very quietly – Your Father went to Syracuse
on his way to Albany where he is still, attending
court – he is away from home rather more than
half of the time – Last Wednesday Aunty and
Frances came here — with Uncle Worden who
was also going to Albany – Frances was quite
sick the next two days and now her

Mother is confined to her bed with influenza –
Freddy too is sick in bed with the same complaint
his throat is affected something like croup –
I hope however he will be well again in a few
days – Dr. Robinson came to see him this morning
Frederick and Clarence commenced going to the
academy last week – They were both considerably
disturbed (Clarence in an special manner) by your
Father's informing them that they were both to go
to Geneva College – Clarence wished to go to
Union – he has however made up his mind to
do as his Uncle thinks best and is engaged
in preparing to enter the Freshman class next
August – I have no doubt he will succeed if he
applies himself – John Sherwood thinks of entering
at the same time – Monday – I waited until
this morning to finish my letter hoping a letter
might come but Billy has just returned from
the office and says there is none for me or
Aunt Clara – I will hope that nothing but
the detention of the mail is the cause of this

delay – Your report for November came
a few days after your last letter giving you
33 marks for that month – the offences are never
specified – I should like to know of if those marks
are given in addition to the four extra guard mountings
for the offence of cooking one evening – Your father
was much grieved about the marks, I was
not altogether satisfied with the justice of
the punishment – You ought not to violate
the prescribed regulations certainly but I could
not avoid thinking the punishment disproportioned
to the offence – You have now 56 marks for
five months – I trust you will be more careful
in future – Pray write as often as you can
you will never know the anxiety that your
absence occasions me – God grant that your
health may continue good – Fred is a
little better today though still confined to his
bed – Aunty is better – all send love to you –
William's eyes are much better — Your affectionate
Mother

Augustus H. Seward
At the U.S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN N. Y.
JAN 8