Monday Jan 15^th
My dear Sister,
Not wishing to write again under the
influence of a sick head ache I did not
write yesterday as I would have done other wise
Then I supposed that about this time you
would see Henry and Clarence and would not
be so likely to miss a letter from me — I have
just finished a letter of condolence to Aunty
Cary — Lucinda died last week with congestive
fever so the Newspaper says — They will
feel her loss greatly — Her kind attentions to
them made her appear very amiable last Summer
I wish Walter would go home and live with
his wife but I suppose he will not particularly
if he has any practice in Buffalo — I was
much entertained with your letter and intend
to read it to Mrs Hills suppressing names so
that she cannot make any mischief — she
really enjoys hearing your letters which in
my humble opinion are infinitely more en-
tertaining that the court gossip of Madame Sévigné
Her letters are sprightly and interesting because they
evince so devoted an attachment to her daughter
but I cannot say that they meet my expectations

What do you think? — Our family is reduced to eight
which seems quite small — Henry and Clarence
left Friday morning I have heard nothing
from them since — Clara came and spent
the afternoon with me Friday — She has now
an attack of influenza — Jane Perry is at
John Dills again with Alice — I am not
sure that they will not go to Aunt Clara’s
again but she thinks not — some Some one told me
that Perry talked of going to California — I think
he had better go — I called the other day
upon Mrs Clary — she is pleasant and unpretending
Henry went with me to call upon the wives
of the Professors — Dr Hicox looks very thin
though he is better than he has been. Mrs Hicox
is amiable and agreeable — Mrs Smith was a
Livingston of New York — not particularly attractive
though exceedingly well bred — Mrs Hopkins
I did not see and did not wish to —
We also called to see Miss Powers e at Nelson
Beardsleys — she was out — The Blatchfords
were engaged — A rapid thaw has succeeded
our very cold weather of last week — the
snow is melting away — I feel sometimes as
if we were melting with it our new house leaks
in so many places that we are literaly
deluged — Mr Blatchford is felicitating himself
upon the prospect of a more comfortable home

next Winter — he says they almost freeze where
they are — I have only seen Mary in Church
she looks better than she did last Summer —
I have been reading a book entitled the Influence
and Education of Women — by Mrs D Reid an
English woman — with a preface by Mrs
Kirkland — the book is written with much
ability and did it not assert a claim
to more rights than the lords of creation
are generally willing to allow, I think it
would have elicited some complementary
notices from the press — Although I cannot
yet say that I think women ought to vote
and be eligible for become office holders
yet I will say that if there is no other way
of elevating them I would rather see them
more masculine than to see them what they
are now — Mrs Reid makes many sensible
observations on the subject of education — Her
book gives evidence of a strong mind combined
with much modesty and delicacy — She
never attempts to convince by sarcasm — but
reasons logically and with entire freedom
from passion — I should like to see an
answer to her book written with equal good
temper — I anticipate much pleasure in reviewing
it with you — Grandpa is so lonely
now Fred has gone that I have written

to Catherine Huson to come and make us a visit
while we are alone — Clara has not come
yet — Willie took me in the sleigh with
John’s pony all about the village last week
very much to his gratification — Fanny went
along — Fanny reminds me of Fred in her
determination to learn to read — she will say
her lessons when Willie does — I do not want
her to learn yet — if she lives I want her
to play for three years to come — Eliza
is getting impatient for you to come home — She
cannot agree with the girls and they do
many wrong things by her — Her mother
is quite engrossed with her new husband
and housekeeping — I think it very probable
that you will be detained until Spring and
then you will not stay long with me —
I wish Mrs Catlin would take her daughter
there — she remains in about the same state
though less violent — I hear nothing from
Augustus — The Clol Cholera has w swept off many
of the 8^th his old Regiment stationed in Texas —
Gen Dix I see has lost a brother — Love to
Frances tell her six weeks will not last always
your own Sister —

[left Margin] h

Unknown

1849