Canandaigua Oct 6th
My dear Augustus
I received your very welcome letter
a few days after my return from Auburn but my time has
been so completely occupied with household cares and
perplexition that until now I have not had a moment
I could devote to answering it — I had a very pleas-
ant visit with your dear mother who was more than
usually lonely in consequence of Fred’s absence — dear
little “sister Fan” is the prettiest creature I ever saw and
is a great comfort to your mother — Willie is quite a
man in feeling & energy of character — While I
was at Auburn he “drove me out” in Grandpa’s estab-
lishment (which though none of the most elegant is
never the less quite safe) with all the self possession
of a boy ten years older than himself. Cousin Frances
went to Detroit a few days before I left home for Auburn
and & on her return spent a week with me at Grandpa’s
At Detroit she saw many old acquaintances among
others the Hills and Throop family — Young Horace Hills
is a beautiful minister of the “true church” and George
is also pursuing theological studies — Horace is at
present an assistant of bishop McCloskey but expects
“a call” to a new church which is building in
Detroit — the Misses Hills are teaching school and
are much more agreeable now than they were when

they considered themselves young ladies of fortune
thereby affording another illustration of the truth
of the remark that “the users of adversity” are serviceable
Mr. Throop — who has been, since at Detroit, cashier of
a bank is at present suspended from the office and
it is quite doubtful whether he ever again resumes it —
Montgomery (or Gummy as they used to call him at home
when a child and which name from his personal apper-
ance is quite applicable now) has left college or rather
was sent home, and is now reading law in his father's of-
fice— His foreign education seems to have contributed but
little to his mental progress or to his personal ^good^ habits
Mrs. Throop I believe has concluded to keep the last of
her boys in this country — Eliza Throop is engaged to be
married to a young gentleman of a very rich family —
your Cousin Fan did not discern any other particular
advantage he possessed — probably none.
Isaac Miller who went from Auburn a poor man
with a thousand unpaid pecuniary debts, is living
in handsome style in a cottage a mile from the city—
the property of his sons perhaps he thinks so - I am sure I hope
he does — The last item of information in regards to Fan’s
journey west is that she and her father brought home with
them a dog (a beautiful one) part spaniel, part setter
which bid fair to rival the Webb’s in troublesome
qualities — there is one comfort however – he is too large
to be carried about by hand as was theirs —
There is nothing new in Canandaigua of course — the weather is not
as hot as it was in the summer when you were here but it is

unpleasant not withstanding and dull beyond your cousin
Fan’s power of endurance — Poor Horace Cook was carried
home from Seneca Falls (where he has been ever since his
dreadful misfortune) on Thursday — He is doing well
but it will a great while before he will again be
able to be out and then he will be a cripple for
life — Frances is writing to Mrs. Mott (Miss Pelham that was)
who is permanently settled with her cousin husband
in her Aunt Mother’s family — Fan had a letter from
her last week – she spoke very highly of her visit to West
Point (the wedding party was there while you were home) of
the politeness of the cadets & the beauty of the place —
Fan is already making her calculations to attend your
next year’s B[ a ] ll — I never know until you went from
were that you would not to have another vacation or a
least not to return home again until the expiration of
the next two years — Your mother says Fred is well again and
beginning to get accustomed to the vicissitudes of college
life — Do write when you can - although I always hear
from you when your mother receives a letter from you
it is more satisfactory sometimes to have a letter myself,
I must leave a small place for Faan to add a postscript
Your affectionate
“Aunty”
e