Washington Dec 22^d
My dear Sister,
What a blessed thing it is that
Sunday comes to break up the devotion to
worldy things which which swallow up
so much of every other day – I have been trying
since I received your letter to find one hour
of leisure to answer it, but if such an hour came
I have been to weary to do any thing but sleep –
From nine to twelve I devote my time to teaching
the children – this has become quite important to
Willie and when you come to help me you will
see how impossible it is with his imperfect vision
for him to learn any other way – From 12 to 4 visiting
or receiving visits is indispensable for any persons
who pretend to be in society in Washington – Sometimes
company at home or an engagement for the evening
consumes the remainder of the time or I am too
fatigued to do any thing but go to my bed –
Washing and dressing myself and Fanny occupies the
hour before breakfast which comes at 8 and by
the time I have put my room in order and given
some necessary directions to the servants, it is 9 oclock

[top Margin]
I have not told you about the satisfactory letter I had
from Augustus

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Augustus Seward

Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1889-05-08

& Clarence

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Clarence Seward

Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24

– dated at Florence

x

the 16
of November – they will be home early in March –

I do not pretend to keep house – that is done by
the servants – I found that either that or teaching
my children must be relinquished so I chose what
I thought the most important – You will find much
that is disagreeable, much that conflicts with our
home training to make you uncomfortable here but
I know my dear sister that a little reflection will
reconcile you to it all – I sometimes fear it is only
endurable to me from the knowledge that it will
only endure ^be^ for an a season – I am glad you are
determined to come as I feel now that nothing but sickness
will prevent you – I hope you will keep well yourself –
I have your letter written last Wednesday also a few
lines from Fred saying all is well at home –
I will write in this letter what I wish you to get for
yourself in New York as I know you will forget –
The fur which you will find either on Canal St – Broadway
or where the enclosed card directs – The minx if
you prefer it has the sanction of Mrs Webster , for fashion –
it is less common than the stone martin though I think
less pretty – You may find somithing you will prefer to either –
I procured my cap at Mrs Richmonds – Broadway – but she
did not deal fairly with me and I would not go there again.
I think you will do as well at Artkin & Millers – I bought
a very pretty embroidered pocket handkerchief for $2 – the
price reconciled me to the embroidery as I do not approve
of very expensive articles of that kind – I wish you would
get one for yourself or more if you like – These are at
Mrs Richmonds – Inside handkerchiefs and lace undersleeves

you will also find there – also at Stewarts – Dresses
very open in front are much worn also loose sleeves
& under sleeves of lace – I will write the direction &
prices in the card I send – I wish you would
get for me a chemisette embroidered in front with
or without a collar – no cuffs – I find none
here – get one for yourself if you think you will
wear it – Henry will send a check for you to Fred –
It is not pleasant to occupy much of a letter
with these things but they are in some degree
indispensible – Any thing else you may think of that
I do not you had better get in New York, that is
if you can conveniently – there is little choice here
though indispensible articles can be obtained –
How much I want to see you and how glad I shall
be when you come – I cannot write – Tell Frances
many enquiries are made about her and many
flattering compliments are paid her – all of which I
try to remember – I miss her exceedingly as I do
Fred – I like Wilder very much – He is
an honest true hearted man with a fearless indepen-
dence which commands respect – withal he is
as little trouble as possible about the house –
I found on his bureau the daugereotype of his father &
mother – & I discover many evidences of native refinements
which I hardly expected – He will never be a man
of fashion but how infinitely more respectable than a
mere man of fashion you can easily comprehend –
The children are making preparation for Christmas &
are as busy as two squirrels – Dear Willie deserves
commendation for endeavouring cheerfully to substitute other

amusement for the more agreeable occupations which
he had at home – His indefatigable spirit as
well as his generous nature remind one of his father –
We are at home this rainy Sunday playing Church –
I have written all this before commencing with the
occupations of last week – Monday evening we went
in the rain to hear Jenny Lynd – The crowd was
excessive – no proper arrangement having been made about
the seats, each was striving for the best – this was
remidied by numbering the next evening – Being obliged
to go early we waited nearly two hours before the
concert commenced – The audience in the mean time
employed themselves in making a great noise when
any man they thought sufficiently distingushed appeared –
Gen Scott was received with great applause – Mr Webster
moderate – Mr Filmore about the same – But Henry
Clay a Southern man called forth cheering loud
& long and the very graceful manner ^with^ w which he
received these demonstrations, made me regret
that he was not the great & ^good^ man that I once
thought him – I had gone to the concert prepared
for disappointment and were it not that Augustus,
who is never extravegant, had spoken warm commendation
of Jenny, and in another letter he said I must hear
her before she left America, I should have been half
disposed not to have gone at all – But the first tones
of her inexpressibly sweet voice dispelled all doubts
and before the first air was half completed the
tears were running down my cheeks – I have
never heard any human voice which could give