Sunday Feb 18^th–
My dear Sister
I supposed you were waiting for Henry
to come along but he could not spare the time to
call stop – he came home Tuesday night having
lost 2 days in the court here – We are all well
again but Willie's eye is a little inflamed – I shall
try the calcana to night as the inflammation does
not decrease – He will be very unhappy if he
cannot sit for his picture – he is so well that
I cannot but hope his eye will soon be restored
he plays in the deep deep snow with a pair of
Fred's boots, drawn over his pantaloons – Abbey
often wishes you could see his pranks – he
gets on the wood sled's and rides to the gate
sometimes further when Bill can go with him
Fred was sick most of last week he had a sore
throat and so much fever for 2 days that we
supposed it scarlet, no rash appearing I concluded
that could not be the case – he has attended

[top Margin]
Clarence

x

Clarence Seward

Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24

is determined to go th to the ball
his appetite for such indulgence increases with each new
gratification – Henry does not go to
Albany

x

Albany, NY

until March – perhaps not at all to Washington

x

Washington D.C., US

–
Clara has a letter from Augustus

x

Augustus Seward

Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11

– is well —
William Hills

x

William Hills

Birth: 1821-08-21 Death: 1875-07-12

and some other young gentleman

Unknown

took the
Swains

x

Jannat  Hills

Birth: 1823-02-06  Death: 1902-07-20 

William Swain

Birth: 1777  Death: 1870-03-10 

and Miss Abbot

Unknown

with some others for a drive &

[left Margin]
spent the evening at Mrs. Hills

x

Sarah Hills

Birth: 1796 Death: 1863-04-22

á la
yesterday – this is for Fan

x

Frances Chesebro

Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24

– I think
William has some young man

Unknown

staying
with him

school this week as usual – I spent the afternoon with
Clara Wednesday – she has since had an attack
of influenza but is better – Mrs Miller has
been ill more than a week with influenza –
Dr Robinson has attended her – I do wish people
who know nothing about homoeopathy and have
no confidence in that method of practice would
not employ a homeopathic physician – I went
to see her yesterday – Though her cough was much
relieved she was suffering from debility and
of course impacted her prostration to the medicine
she had taken, though she once suffered two years
in the same way long before she had heard of homeo-
pathy — I ascertained that she continued to take
her pill of opium every day without informing the
Dr of course I supposed the effect of his medicine
matriculated thinly – I proposed that she should send
for the Dr and I would make some enquiries about
her case – he was from home – came at 9 oclock
when I went over again – he said as I presumed he
would that his medicine had been perfectly useless

changed his prescription – she is better to day – continues
the opium as she thinks she cannot lif live without
it – When she recovers I hope she will not again employ
Dr Robinson – it is such people who are calculated to injure
that method in the estimation of those who have not decis-
ion enough to make up their opinion from observation but
depend upon the experiments of others – Mr Croswell has been
very attentive to her – yesterday when she poured out her
griefs to him he advised her to send for me – Henry
thinks I will be a practicing physician myself presently
but there is little danger of my going out of my own
family for patients – I called yesterday upon Mrs Fosgate
and was shocked to see the alteration which has taken
place in her within a few weeks – She is dying with
nervous debility – taking wine and opium without any
beneficial effect – I wish Serene could know just how
sick she is though they will never find it out there
so long as she keeps about house – after all it would do no good
Serene is almost helpless herself – Poor Mrs Fosgate said she
believed people had more trouble the older they grew – that
has certainly been her sad experience – Clara & I called to
see Debby Monday – she was there at her house – Mother
Wood with – Pa & Mr Croswell were both there at the

same time – Bronson is to be guardian of the child – I do
not know who is administrator – Debby has since gone to
Perry’s – not to remain permanently – The Woods all can
continue to wear gay hats and dresses — Debby is very
much alone but she will not feel desolate long
she has not sufficient depth of feeling – I received an abolition
paper from Mrs Wright last week we containing a speech
of Cassius Clay , with a very neatly written note of comment
I have not seen her since – Pray have you seen Mrs
Webb’s letter freed from, her by that violent com-

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN
FEB
18
N.Y.

[right Margin]
munication of Webb’s

x

James Webb

Birth: 1802-02-08 Death: 1884-06-07

– I pity her from my soul – her wrongs must or rather
the wrongs of her
family
have been of a very aggravating nature to induce her to consent to the
publication of a letter condemning the conduct of her husband – I
know her to be an upright conscientious woman – but I
cannot conceive how she and Webb can any longer live together
after such an expose – her letter is well written and
evinces a noble spirit – if you have not seen it you
will find it in the American Journal of Commerce
or Spectator —