Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to William Henry Seward, July 31, 1866
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Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to William Henry Seward, July 31, 1866
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:cjb
student editorTranscriber:spp:cnk
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1866-07-31
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Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to William Henry Seward, July 31, 1866
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1844-12-09
Death: 1866-10-29
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Washington D.C., US
transcription: cjb
revision: zz 2021-06-06
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Page 1
Auburn, Tuesday –
31st July. 1866.
My dearest Father,
My only advice from
Washington, so far, today, is Fred’s
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
dispatch to say that mine
has been received.
It is the middle of a
charming summer day – quite
cool. Soon after breakfast
I walked out in the garden
and lay down on a sofa under
the bushes by the sun-dial.
Jenny
Birth: 1839-11-18 Death: 1913-11-09
and the children
Birth: 1862-09-11
Death: 1921-10-05
Birth: 1864-11-10
Death:
spent some time with me –
Then Mary Titus
Birth: 1846-01-11 Death: 1913-03-14
came
and read Cooper
Birth: 1789-09-15 Death: 1851-09-14
again – The
soft warm sun-light fell tempered
by the trees – and the trees
themselves, so grand, and tall,
so strong and yet so graceful,
were a delight to gaze at.
far in the air above our heads.
The sky was the softest blue,
cloudless at first – then varied
by faint snowy wreathes that
melted while I watched them –
Sometimes a solitary bird skim-
med swiftly across the heavens,
seeming almost to divide the
blue – then a flock of
birds sailed over the tree-tops –
and then a tame little robin
alighted on the walk, and
stood for some time meditating
before he fluttered away. In
the distance one could hear the
rolling of the wagons that bring
material for the builders – &
sometimes their voices, while en-
gaged upon their work. Bright
verbenas & crimson phloxes, and
pansies of all shades grave &
gay, lifted their faces as
if to smile back the cheerful
greeting of the sun. I thought
of you, among these lovely
scenes – I am so constantly remind-
ed of the pleasure they would
give you – and am always
wishing you could have full
enjoyment of them.
After writing you last evening I
had a call from Ellen
Birth: 1844-09-14 Death: 1920-04-14
, a very
little walk with Mary Titus, &
a pleasant evening alone with
her and her mother
Birth: 1819-10-04 Death: 1898-02-12
in their
cosy parlor. I felt very
well yesterday in the afternoon
and evening – this morning the
chill & the fever came as usual
but now – by two o’clock my
time for feeling well again
is coming. Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
has
been here –but owing to other
visitors I saw little of her.
Nelly seems well again today –
and Willy is as bright & mischievous
as ever. Love to all if
they are with you yet.
Most affectionately your daughter
Fanny