Monday Feb 12 1849
My dear Sister,
Another week has come around and I
am still alone with Grandpa and the children
I suppose you did not see Henry when he went
back to Washington he sent me word by
telegraph and wrote a few lines – Since then
I have not heard from him – There is a vast
deal of speculation about his sudden return every
one seems to think it in some way connected
with Judge Conklings difficulty and they are
exceedingly anxious to know all the particulars
which I am exceedingly happy not to be able
to tell – The judges family are so unpopular that
I believe there are very few persons in the community
that would not be glad to have him impeached
but this is entre nous – Margarette I think
has designs upon me similar to those she
had some years ago – she is very affectionate
I shall now have tact enough to avoid a
similar entanglement – Tell Fan she must
get well and go to Washington with me one
winter before she changes her name –
Collier acted so like the father of evil that
for once I am glad Henry was elected–
The opposition papers represent him as a great

[top Margin] He wrote a nice little letter to Willie

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William Seward

Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29

all about ponies – Willie
is engaged answering it – Mr Burns

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Lawrence Burns

Birth: 1789 Death: 1866-09-11

has a
party Wednesday – Love to Frances –
Your own Sister

bug bear to the South – It surprises me how
little he is understood even by his political
friends – Disinterested benevolence must be very
rare to be so hard to comprehend –
We all went to Mrs Marvins party last Thursday
it was pleasant – the house is entirely changed
four rooms were open on the first floor
three of them communicating with folding doors
There were about 60 there a very great proportion
of our Church – Mrs Blatchford danced all
the evening which I suppose is an evidence
that she has gone through the season of mourning
Pa enjoyed the supper – the oysters being pickled
made him sick the next day – Mrs Steele
did not appear not having spirits to meet so
large a party – Mrs Wright and David were
there – Mrs Wright made many enquries about
as did many others – I could not tell them
when you were coming home – Saturday I went
to see Mrs Abbott to make some enquries about
Emma sojourn with Dr Vanderveer– Mrs Abbott
was from home I afterwards met Clara who
told me that Emma was under the care of the
Dr a year – at that time he visited in the
city – The Dr told her she could be cured but I
suppose she did not stay long enough – My talk
with Clara was not very satisfactory – The family
are not remarkable for close reasoning or
originality I believe – However they thought the Dr

a very good man – If Emma had stayed another
year she might perhaps have had some
health for the next six years which she has
not had – I also missed seeing Mrs John
Hurlburt upon whom I called So long as your
confidence in the Dr is unimpaired you will not
be willing to leave in opposition to his advice
if you should have a great while longer
to stay what would he think of your
having a respite – come and stay a month
with me – I believe Charlotte Morgan did so
I know just how tiresome it is – I can look back
upon no time when I was a boarder that
does not now appear infinitely "stale flat
and unprofitable" – Your house I suppose remains
closed, that will not need you until next
May – Worden I heard had been to Canandaigua
and returned to Albany – Among all the
people at the party the other night was Emily
Worden without Warren – She looks old and
homely – She made numberless enquires about
you and Frances – was afraid you would
feel neglected by her not calling – and many
other equally silly suggestions – she concluded
by inviting me to come and see her – I replied
in the conventional form that I should be very
happy to do so – She is very weak but I
believe well meaning – Yesterday Pa and
I and the children went to Clara's to eat pot pie

and a great many other good things– I
stayed at Church in the morning long enough
to go to the grave with the remains of old
Mrs McDonald who has died at last with
the cancer which has afflicted her so long –
The mourners were Dennis and his wife and
Mrs McDonald and her soon son – The sexton
and James Bostwick lowered the coffin into the
grave – Mr Ayrault was obliged to remind
the sexton that a shovel full of earth must
be thrown upon the coffin before he could proceed
with the services – That one shovel of earth
how it thrills through the frame of the mourner
– when there is any – All there were perfectly composed
I suppose Catherine would have wept but she
had exhausted herself nursing her mother and
was left at home – I shall fill my letter without
telling you that I have another letter from Augustus – dated
the 9^th of Jan – He gives a very amusing account of a Ball
which he attended in Texas Christmas – I would copy
this part of the letter but Clara has it – They were 2 days
going 40 miles – walked the latter part of the way and
sent back oxen to draw their wagon out of the mud
The dancing commenced about sundown & continued until
morning – Gus says "it was one continued unintermitting
reel – I tired and went to bed at one – coming to
the conclusion that the people in Texas could
dance reels longer without stopping than any
I had ever seen" – The ladies came on horseback
He says he will apply for a furlough this Summer

[left Margin] h

Hand Shiftx

Lazette Worden

Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03

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