Auburn March 24^th 1849
My dear Son,
I was unexpectedly gratified by
the reception of your letter yesterday dated
Feb 11^th – I am glad to hear you continue
in good health – Grandpa is very curious
to know how much you weigh – I fancy
it is much less than he did at your
age however – I think Grandma used to
say he was always portly – Your father
does not yet return from Washington – The
Extra session of the Senate will probably close
this week when he will return home –
If he goes South again next month I shall
probably accompany him as it seems necessary
for me to go to Washington to make some
arrangement for him next Winter – I suppose
my Winters or a part of them will be spent
there while he is in the Senate – Gen
Taylor (I suppose I must say President Taylor)
continues very popular – I have a great
desire to see him –

I am much inclined to quarrel with you because
you do not tell me when you are
coming home – it is a subject that engrosses
a large share of my thoughts sleeping
and waking – It is difficult to realize that
you are coming at all, but I trust in
His goodness who has preserved you thus far –
Fred comes home this week to spend his
last vacation – He stops by the way at
Boonsville to make Charley Williams a
visit – Clarence says it is the sister
but Clarence who has never been out of
love since he was fifteen is not the
best authority on such subjects – Fred
I fancy is much less susceptible –
I have so many things to tell you that I
cannot write that if you do not come
home pretty soon I shall forget half of them –
Our dear little Fanny has been sick with
scarlet fever – she was confined to her
bed some days but is about house again
now – She talks a great deal about
her “dear brother Gusy” and is sure she
shall know him when he comes home
but I think she is mistaken –

Willie continues well and wades through
the mud for amusement every day –
He was training yesterday with a company
of his own age – How much he reminds
me of you in his sports – I pray that
God may give him a portion of the moral
strength which he has bestowed upon you –
The company for California, over land, set
off one day last week – One of the wagons
got set in the mud before they were
out of town – I hope it was not a bad
omen – I do not know that this com-
pany included any persons that we know
I believe it numbered 70 persons –
Aunty writes very encouragingly from Flatbush
She says the Dr thinks he will be able
to pronounce Frances cured next month
when they will come home – very glad
of a release – I sent your letter on
the day it came – Before you receive
this you will have received one from
Frances which she sent more than a
week ago – Henry Cheesbro is to go and
bring them home – I am better to day
than I have been for a month – indeed
I feel quite recovered from the effects of

the influenza and my subsequent confinement
with Fanny – Aunt Clara is well and says
she is going to write – I have fears that
the Cholera may return with warm weather –
An infested ship came to the Quarantine
in N. York about two weeks ago but the
disease does not spread – We are just
now in the midst of the Equinoctial Storm –
Wind, snow, and rain alternately – We do
not begin to think of making garden until
next month – Fred I believe intends
to study law not precisely because he has any
prediliction of that kind but because there
seems to be nothing else for him to do –
He will graduate in July – Clarence
continues his studies and writes in the office –
He sends love – as do Aunt Clara and
the children – I send three bills of John
Earle – Do my dear Child say you are
coming home soon – it is so pleasant to
feel that ones anticipation have some
foundation – Dieu vous garde –
Your affectionate
Mother