Wednesday evening Nov 20^th
My dear Sister,
I intended to have written this letter
in time for the mail to night but have failed
in consequence of not feeling well enough after
dinner – Last Thursday morning Henry received
a letter from his father announcing the prospect
of an immediate and fatal termination of mothers
disease – Henry took the cars the same afternoon
(accompanied by Fred) and went immediately
to Florida – I have a letter from him to day
saying his mother is still alive though so
much exhausted that he thinks she cannot
long survive – Henry was so fortunate as to find
a day boat going down the river and reached
Florida Friday evening – he would remain
there until Monday and then should mother
be as comfortable as at the time he is writing
will go to N. York Monday – his letter is
mailed at N. York from which I infer
that he is now there – To day Weed and
Harriet are to sail for Santa Cruz –

Henry will return to Florida on the receipt of
any unfavorable intelligence – As for Fred
he went away about half dressed – Henry
says nothing about him – I hope he has gone
with his father as the dearth of books in
Florida would make his sojourn there very
dull – I shall probably hear further tomorrow
or the next day – I also received a letter
from my cadet today – he is well and his
studies have increased to the number of five
says there was much disappointment about
the result of the election – Your boy is
standing by my side writing you a long
letter which is composed aloud for my
edification – he is a dear little boy – thinks he
has all the responsibility of taking care of his
mother thrown upon him – then he has to keep
Grandpa in wood and read him to sleep
occasionally – he is well and full of spirits
racing about in the cold whenever the weather
is at all favorable – Clara attended a
small party at Mrs Smith’s T Monday evening
there were about 20 there as they were invited
to come at 6 oclock it proved rather a long
joy! – Clara says she hears many enquiries

about Frances among the young people with
whom she is a general favorite – She will
enjoy the novelty of a winter in Albany though
it would undoubtedly enhance the pleasure much
to have you with her to say nothing of other
advantages which your company would afford her –
Will Frances be able to stop here on her way down?
I should write her a long letter fearing she may
not, but I am not able – a constant and much
of the time very severe pain in my side makes it
exceedingly difficult for me to write – Your account of
Mrs Wayland’s soiree is very characteristic of American
society at lest least as far as this state is concerned
I cannot answer for any other but I think that eating
is the chief attraction for such gatherings especially
with the men and married women – it is a humiliating
thought ^opinion^ and one for which many feel disposed to quarrel
with forgiveness for expressing – I must say I felt both
surprised and mortified to find Miss Sedgwick
express so much dissatisfaction with the entertainments
she met in England thereby confirming the English in the
belef belief that our sensuality had not been exaggerated
by Mrs Trollope &c – I am every day making more discoveries
on this same subject and find many persons of whom I
expected better things, plea ^have^ their ideas of enjoyment upon

a gratification so purely animal – I wish you would inform
Elizabeth of the fate of her letter if you know it – She
thinks it an imperative duty to go every day to the Post
Office for an answer –
Mrs Wright has a young son – Mrs Johnson is with her
Willie’s letter is completed and sealed with 3 wafers and a
black seal – it contains information about the kittens
growing very larger, qe questions about your visit &c
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
NOV 21
[right Margin] he thinks it accompanies mine to the office – Reade

x

Robert Reade

 Death: 1864

was
to return to Albany on Monday – I presume has gone – he and Mary
Jane

x

Mary Reade

Birth: 1826 Death: 1896

were much together in publick – they called here
of course I did not see them –