Saturday Jan 18^th
My dear Sister,
I received your letter Thursday
morning – am sorry to hear you are still
troubled with rheumatism – the weather
has been rather unfavourable for the last
two weeks – to day Winter has resumed
his sway – Henry gets along so slowly
that he sometimes feels discouraged – he
would recover sooner I presume could he
restrain his impatience sufficiently to continue
at home a week or two longer – every time
he goes to the office and uses his arm he
suffers the succeeding day in consequence –
then he will attempt to walk without his
crutches which invariably makes his leg
worse – I most fear that his general health will
suffer from protracted confinement – he
is very pale and thin and last night I
thought had some fever – I am confident
as I always feared that the injury he re-
ceived was much more serious than he believed

Mrs Hickson is still with me she takes very good
care of Sister Fan – next week I must exchange
her for a young girl and then I shall be
chief nurse myself – Sister grows fat and
white – when she has enough to eat she is
very good natured – The other members of the
family are all well – Clara's cold better – Willie
and she are engaged to day in making ice
cream – I think if this north west wind continues
there will be no difficulty about freezing it
We have had a number of visitors the past
week – I have received but two I believe, Mrs
Muir and Jane Perry – The most engrossing
piece of gossip at present is the marriage of our
young "successor" with Miss Elisa Conkling–
The women are are mightily engaged in canvassing
the matter – it has been kept so quiet that
the discovery is now – fr very animating – Mr Cox
and Miss Conkling met first at Mrs Morgan's
party – which being about six weeks ago the
engagement cannot be of very long standing –
He being a clergyman and therefore common stock
the Church have a perfect right to express their
opinion upon all his movements, which they do
individually and collectively – It is the opinion of

some that he ought not to marry out of the Church
I presume Mrs Smith and Caroline are of this number–
others do not like the Conklings — and many
would not object had they been especially consulted
Mary Morgan, Debby and Jane spent one day
this week in disseminating this intelligence and
I believe the village are now fully aware
of the rise and progress of the courtship –
It is said the wedding is to come off very soon – Mrs
Smiths exertions in relation to the gown have been
thrown away! — Are the Peckhams fairly in
society? How did the quadrille succeed? Please
say to Mr Benedict that I was much obliged
by his letter about Henry – Henry may have
forgotten to thank him and it was very kind of
him to write – I wish you to understand that
you are very highly complimented by being
compared to Mrs King – Mrs King is thought
to be quite a pattern of talent and fashion
generally – Now although there is not the
least possible similarity I nevertheless insist
upon your appreciating the compliment as it
is intended – You have not so often as I, heard that
lady quoted as authority of the best kind–
I shall be much disappointed though not surprised
if Abbey does not come back –the old woman
will find it difficult to forgive my having come
to the knowledge of her indignation that I had
presumed to advise Abbey to spend the Winter at home

I shall find no one to supply Abbey's place in all
things but of course shall not urge her return–
We are all invited to a party at Mrs Noye's Tuesday
next – Clara intends to go if she can get her
new dress completed –.
Jane Perry represented the entertainment at Rathbone’s
as very splendid – Tell Fan the gaiety of this
place will I fear have exhausted itself before her
return – Mrs Charles Richardson has a daughter.
Mrs Alvah Worden
Congress Hall
Albany
AUBURN N.Y.
JAN 18