Friday Dec Jan 10^th–
My dear Sister,
Your letter came last night
after I had gone to bed – Fred held the candle
while I read him sundry passages – I have
just finished reading it to Clara and Henry
read it for himself while I was eating my
breakfast – I am sorry to hear your journey
made you sick – are your room comfortable
the first winter I was in Albany I thought
I came near freezing but then the weather was
intensely cold – We are all getting along tolerably
Henry improves very slowly – he went with
his crutches yesterday as far as the printing
office and has to day gone to his own office –
his arm and leg are both still sore and painful
I fear he uses both, too much – the confinement
and inactivity are both p very irksome to him–
Mrs Johnson left me Tuesday whereupon I
had a good crying spell– Clara sat up and
kept Sister Fan until one oclock and Caroline
slept on the couch to keep fires the

[top Margin] Remember that a call is always esteemed
a greater compliment when made early and should
be returned as soon as
possible – that is the first call – say the 2 or 3^d day.
As the people made no allowance for my numberless
visitors and indifferent health I gave much offense
by neglecting this law of Etiquette – Write as often
as you can – Willie is much better – has gone to
the Office with his father – We all have "the cold"—

remainder of the night – Wednesday I succeeded in getting
Mrs Hickson who is a well disposed person a little
deaf, and deficient in judgement – I shall
keep her for the present – I am sorry Abbey
cannot come – When you see her again will you
try to ascertain whether I may depend upon her
coming in the Spring and at what time as I
may have an opportunity of employing some
one else, and Caroline wishes to know how
long I want her – I wish you wol would tell
Abbey that Barton is married – it may influence
her in her decision and it is fair that she should
be apprised of it – he married a farmers
daughter who resides near his uncle – it
appears to have been a very hurried affair as I
am quite sure he had no such intention six
weeks ago– he has gone with his wife to Michigan
intimates that there is something strange
in this marriage but does not specify – I
think I shall keep Elizabeth as I cannot well
do without her – When I get able to take
charge of baby at night I shall get along
very well – I prefer to attend to her myself
during the day – chiefly – Clarence left us
yesterday morning – he looked uncomfortable

all day Wednesday but assigned no reason –
Mrs Lucas was here yesterday – she and Debby are
the only persons I have seen – Now for an answer
to your interrogatory – Six or eight years ago I should
sai have said without hesitation I would not be engaged
in nominating any person but a good Whig for U.S.
so I should have thought any other course of conduct
a dereliction of principle – With more experience
and some observation of similar cases were I a
Whig member ^(and a man)^ I should I suppose vote for
any man selected by Weed and accepted by other
members of the party – I say Weed because
his political sagacity is unquestionable I cannot
say the same of H. Greeley so that a proposition of t[ he ]
same kind from him would raise some dou[ bt ]
of its expediency – M. Sibley is an example of a man
too impracticable to conform in any way to the jud
of others. You asked me for my own opinion so
have given it and not Henry's which would
presume be me to the purpose – I leave
remainder of the page for a postscript to Worden
Henry and Willie have come home – Henry
having written a letter to Worden I am at liberty
to fill out my letter – I received a letter
from Augustus Monday last it had been written
ten days and eight days upon the road
he was well – had heard nothing of Henry's
accident – of course had not received my
letter – I sent for Mrs Smith the day after you
were here but she had made another engagement –
Mrs Richard Smith is said to be very ill –
There was a large party at Burgot Rathbones Wed-
nesday evening and another at Swains last
night – Our father attended both – I can
learn nothing except that both were large
the houses all open and lighted and

music and dancing the prevailing amusement.
Clara would have gone to the latter place
but for her cold which is very bad
Mrs Livingston was a Miss Bradford who married
a son of Harry Livingston's– they all live with Mrs
Bradford in Clinton square near Mr Dwight–
are fashionable and were always very polite
to me – The Misses Skinner are neices of Rufus H
King– there was but one "out" when I was in Albany
and she no way remarkable for without
Mrs Alvah Worden
Congress Hall
Albany
AUBURN N.Y.
JAN 10

[right Margin] fashion or any agreeable qualities – It was just like the waiter to say
you had not come– they make a thousand similar blunders daily
always insist upon having cards left for you carried to your
own room – they are lost in a bar room or publick parlour