Washington, Jan 25^th 1852
My dear Sister,
I have your two letters from our
dear, old, home– how much it is like you
and how unlike any body else to go there
and stay alone– and to like to be there–
I think my heart has felt lighter since
I I have known that you were in the house–
I am disturbed by what you write about
Aunt Clara– Were it not so intensely
cold every where I ^should^ urge you to come
with hereher here immediately– I could
make you comfortable if you were over
here– I fear the result of this high
state of nervous excitement– It may
result in insanity or death– there is a
small chance that both the mind &
body can escape– Will it be of any
use to send Abbeyto Clara– I have always
found her much better company than none
and perhaps she might be useful in some way
I would pay for any work she might
do or I would pay for her board there

[right Margin] Mr Schoolcraft

x

John Schoolcraft

Birth: 1804-09-22 Death: 1860-06-07

disapproves of Henrys resolution in Relation
to Hungary– what do you think of it?– Your own
Sister

or she might work to pay for her board
so many hours each day– I have not heard
from Abbey but think she is by this
time probably ready to leave Albany–
Will you write to Clara if you think
this a desirable arrangement– it seems
to me that she ought not to be left alone
I wrote to her when I first came down
saying I wished her to come here and meet
Augustus– I do not know that she ever
received the letter– did she say any
thing to you about it– It is not probable
that Augustus will ask a furlough to go
North– the [ nagigation ] of all the
western rivers is impeded, some entirely
stopped; by ice so that I can hardly
expect Augustus until next month–
Dont you think it best for you & Clara
to come down then?– The weather here
is intensely cold– the thermometer yesterday
morning was 6 deg below zero– I have I
think never felt the cold more– the
snow is 6 or 7 inches deep all the
time– there has been very good sleighing

here for the last two weeks– It is said
there has not been such a Winter in 20 years.
From all the accounts we have it is a
very severe winter at the North also–
If you went to see Mrs How– do write me
how she is? & how is Mrs Miller– somehow
or another since Pa died I have felt that
every bodys life was much nearer a termination
than it was before– Poor Willie will always
be one of those who will suffer from misrepresen-
tation– he is frank, fearless ar confiding– &
indiscreet– without doing more wrong than
other boys of his age would were the same
latitude allowed them, he does it in so open
a manner that that he can never escape
the observation, the malicious observation of those
who delight in the short coming of others–
That his heart is uncorrupted I have not the
shadow of a doubt– no boy of 12 years whose
morals were perverted could occupy themselves
cheerfully all day with the simple pleasures
which he does– He is generous, affectionate
humane and manly– I think he will do active
good for his race if he lives to attain the
age of manhood– I am much happier
to have him with me & he seems contented–

I feel under great obligation to the Titus family
for their kindness to him which was amazing–
Madame Pulszky spoke to me in high terms
of Lucretia Mott but said nothing of the
incidents which you describe– I do not doubt
their truth– Kossuth pleading the cause of
his country and asking aid from all Americans
was much less independent than was natural
or agreeable to him– We have only the
reports that you have about Mr Webster
nothing further has transpired– Mrs Willard
is here and asks often about you– she is going
home to endeavor to obtain an endowment for
her school from the Legislature– Henry intends
to go to Goshen some time this week– I hear
no further from Sarah Seward– I shall say
nothing about her coming here & sincerely
hope she will not come– George is to be
married before long– so writes Frances
Grier– it is no matter– I hope they
will not torment Henry to death as I sometimes
fear they will– We have three or four gentlemen
to dinner ^almost^ every day– Green boards here which
will be gratifying to Wilder– Remember me to him
when you write– Henry has see Miss Cushman
the actress and is much pleased with her–
she does not play here– I am teaching the children
which with the other occupations keeps me very busy–

[right Margin] Willie & Fanny take lessons in
dancing & French

[center Margin] I hope the letter which I
sent to Auburn
found you
there–