Sunday June 16
My dear Sister,
I am thankful that Sunday
affords some respite from household cares
that I may write you a letter – I have been
intending to write every day since Willie went –
Poor Willie his teeth trouble him very
much they are exceedingly tender – I regret
very much that I did not take him
to Baltimore before I ^he^ came home – Dr Pratt
told me that he never filled a tooth
when there was any inflammation about it
as they never failed to be troublesome a
long time – I have had two or three filled
in this condition and suffered with them –
months in consequence – I have a letter
from Henry this morning saying Fred Henry arrived
there Wednesday evening – Mr Blatchford was
at Washington early this week he told me
many things about the people there though
he remained but one day – He is to
attend court in Canandaigua this week –
Mr Winslow's case is to be tried –
I find my whole time so completely occupied
that I hardly find time to write to Henry –
Grandpa has brought me two papers to read

since I commenced this letter and my
eyes are so dim from reading late
last night that I can scarcely see –
Winegar has been here two evenings this
week which was a relief – I have not
written to Serene – I have enquired of her
brothers and find she is as well as usual—
She has never answered my letter which
would alone prevent my writing again –
Then I doubt whether any boy could read
so as to give Grandpa satisfaction – he
wants some person who understands his
particular task to select for him – And
to make the matter intelligible to him they
must perfectly comprehend it themselves –
I do not know what I am to do precisely –
Van Pelt's son John is 20 years old – he is
without employment – I suggested that he should
be employed to read evenings but Pa laughed
at the idea saying he would as soon have
Willie – Until I know something about my
own movements, something about Augustus'
departure I can make no definite arrangements
about any thing – George writes that Sarah
wishes to come here for a visit of some
weeks – I shall not invite her at present –
Frances saw the letter I wrote to Henry
about Augustus – you can tell her or not
as you please that the answer I received

was about what I anticipated – Henry thinks
me unreasonable and in a fair way to prevent
Augustus from succeeding in any thing by
My over anxiety – He is not willing that he
should resign his commission at present –
This is a subject on which we can never think or feel
alike – My own course is clear – What influ-
ence I have will be exerted in every possible
manner to induce Augustus to resign –
If I had the shadow of a doubt before
he came home I have none now – Yet it
makes our life unif uncomfortable to be
in an attitude of opposition continually –
I was not well all last week – The housecleaning
home progressed – we have but one more carpet
to put down – Clarence has a continual
cough and seems exceeding unhappy when I see him
which is not often – he came home from Church
with me this morning – I went last evening
to see Mary Blatchford – she looks and coughs
badly Miss Banks leaves this week –
Clarence says they are to have a party tomorrow
evening – I am invited to attend Miss
Clarks wedding by Mrs Martin – Tuesday
morning at 10 oclock – Mrs Martin
regretted that Frances was not here—
Clara is well – I see her about every
other evening – This is a dull letter.
Grandpa asked Willie if you did not say any thing

about coming out – I told him you were without
help at present – It is barely possible that
Henry may come home we this week as the
Senate are to adjourn from Thursday until
Monday – Monday morning – As my
letter could not go yesterday I thought it
uselss to send it to the Office – I have a letter
from Fred this morning – he is at Washington
of which he says – “The Washington of the
Summer is a very different thing from the
Washington of the Winter – My first impression
was that the heat kept all the people in their
houses, but I find it does more, it keeps them
out of the City – The throngs in the streets, the
hotels, the galleries of Congress have all disappeared
and now there is room to breathe – It is just
now the little office is terribly warm, so are
the streets & so are the debates in Congress –
Father & Mr Schoolcraft have gone to the Capitol –
Augustus has gone to call upon Adjutant
General & report himself “arrived in town”, I
not being acclimated do not venture out
before sunset” – I am afraid Fred is not quite
well as he says nothing on that subject –
I shall be thankful if they do not all get sick –
I have an invitation to Mrs Blatchfords
this morning but as it is quite a party I
shall not go – Your sister
Frances