eAuburn August 5^th 1849
My dear Son,
Your letter dated the 17^th of June
came nearly three weeks ago just as we
were leaving for Orange County – I meant to have
answered it while I was there but I found
Grandpa Seward so feeble and suffering that
I gave him all of my time – I wrote you
that he had a paralysis of one side – this
still continues though he can now raise his
arm a little which he was unable to do at
first. He is confined to his bed most of the time
when he sits up some person is obliged to lift
him into a chair – he cannot sit up more
than half an hour at a time – His mind
though considerably enfeebled by age and illness
is upon the whole clear – his eye sight and
hearing unimpaired – The Dr says he may live
in this state many months though he will
never be able to walk again or be materially
better than he is at present – It is a sad sight
to see one so active and energetic reduced
to a condition so helpless – He has in the
house with him – an Irish girl who is his nurse

a widow woman (Mrs Howell) for housekeeper
and a hired man – Caroline Canfield is
there also attending the school – Uncle Washing-
ton lives the next door but one – he sleeps
at Grandpa's and assists in the care of him —
He also has a housekeeper for his family - Sarah
his daughter is 16– she assists in the care
of the younger children of which there are 4 —
Uncle Polydore lives at the old place – he
is married to a second wife who is a
very good housekeeper – Mary takes care of
her younger brothers – Frances came home with
us but is so homesick that I do not think
she will stay long – She is too old to remove
to a new home while the old one remains —
Girls generally have stronger domestic attachments
than boys – it is not easy for them to change
homes at her age when they are too young
to appreciate the benefits of a change for
their own welfare – Frances Worden went
with us to Orange County – she stayed at Goshen
with Mrs Grier – We went the southern route
were detained one day at Binghampton by
Fanny's illness – Frances went from Goshen
to Schenectady to attend the commencement —
Clarence met her there and accompanied her
home – The commencement passed off satisfactorily

Frederick came home by the way of Florida to
accompany me – Your Father being called to
Philadelphia to attend court - however he retur-
ned in time to come home with us – We returned
on the Erie Rail road by way of Ithaca – had
a pleasant journey though rather longer in time
than by the way of Albany – The Cholera
still prevails in our large towns – Buffalo
is suffering severely – much more than Albany.
There have been three cases of cholera fatal
at Port Byron – none here yet – Its con-
tinuance at the West precludes the hope
of you coming home immediately as I would
not have you exposed to any hazard as much
as I want to see you – Two persons died
in Albany last week who had come from St
Louis and were sick when they arrived —
This is the day of fasting and prayer
appointed by the President – We have all
been to Church – Have you a Chaplain
at your station? of what denomination? —
I should be very glad to have you and Fred
become members of the Church – I think if
you will consider the matter prayerfully
you will feel it a duty - "He who confesses
me before men, him will I confess before my
Father" were the words of Him who never erred

Fanny is pretty well again though her health is not
quite as it used to be – Willie went to Canandai-
gua the day before we went to Florida – he is
still there – Grandpa is very glad to have
Frederick at home again – he does not like
to have him out of his room at all –
Fred thinks he will commence the study of
Law immediately – this with teaching Willie
and reading to Grandpa I think will give
him abundant occupation – Aunt Clara is well
and sends love – I will not attempt to tell
you how much we all want to see you
May God preserve you and return you in safety
your affectionate
Mother