Auburn. Tuesday.
7th August. 1866.
My dearest Father,
Your letter of the 5th
came last evening. Alas! Alas!
what depravity your doves evince.
I feel any efforts of mine
to reconcile a family so divided
would be quite useless. I
know of no such difficulties among
the robins here – and the four
little chickens just hatched in
the barn–yard are yet innocent
of any disrespect to their mam–
ma. But the squirrels are
fierce and blood thirsty – and

[left Margin] I am ashamed to
send you a letter
so disfigured by
erasures but it
is too late to
attempt a neater
one.

make war upon the robins even
to the killing & devouring of one
too young to protect itself.
I am glad Mr Horner stays with
you. I have very pleasant remem–
brances of him. I am sure he
will enjoy a visit with you.
Mrs Horner is with his esister
and called to see me yesterday -
but to my regret I was not able
at the time to go down to see
her.
If you should come home
about the 15th or 16^th that
will be next week – and
how agreeably near at hand
it seems. Will will be back
before that. We should all

be glad to have you come.
Queen Emma’s visit will be one
of novel interest. I would like
to see her.
The evening mail which brought
your letter, brought one of the
same date from Dr Norris– He
suggests that I consult Dr Hall –
but I have many reasons which
make me unwilling to do so –
personally I do not like Dr Hall. Dr
Norris speaks of ^benefits from^ changes of scene
and circumstances – and suggest that
if I become ennuyé at Auburn
I pay a little visit at Mr
Wharton’s – and to other friends.
If I were well enough a little
change of that sort would be

[left Margin] If you should see Dr. Norris would you please give him my
thanks for his kindness in writing.

a very pleasant & I think beneficial
thing – but not now. I think the
doctor does not understand that instead
of not improving my health has
gone backward very much since I
came home. I saw have been for some
days able to do almost nothing but
lie down, or drive out propped by a
pillow and with chill and fever &
loss of strength require so much waiting
upon and so much rest that I should
be uncomfortable both to my entertainers
& myself were I anybody’s guest.
All this refers to how I have been
and now comes today’s statement &
that part of yesterday which came
after I sent my letter. Jenny and I
went out to drive between six and seven – &

it was very pleasant indeed. The sunset
was gorgeous. This morning I woke feeling
stronger than I had done for many mornings.
Soon after breakfast I set off with eWilliam
in the buggy. The air was very mild,
and the warm sunshine soon dispelled
my slight chilly symptoms. We passed the
camp ground – now a field like other fields.
The earth once beaten & hard by daily
use for parade – was covered with soft
green – and laborers were cutting it for
sod. Through the toll gate, with pause
to give the smiling gate-woman her money –
past the chestnut trees and fields
of clover – gazing at the graceful
elms in the distance, then passing
them too, & coming to the oaks and
the lake itself. Five miles up – with

the loveliest views of the lake, its
colors changing and beautiful, its ripples
sparkling in the sun – Ah! What
a sky – so clear & warm & blue –
oh, what a wealth of sunshine!
I came home somewhat wearied – but
so charmed by the drive. I shall
try to be out all I can – and I am
sure it is doing me good. For really
I am better to day – stronger – and
passed the morning without
a chill – and with a short
time of fever. Dr Robinson
was here yesterday – & left me
powders of which I have
taken two – & the fact that
they are both brown and bitter
inclines me to think that they have virtue.
Do I not weary you, as I
weary myself with ll these a
details of my sickness? I have fancied
you would want to know from
day to day – but so many days
are alike – that I am disposed
to think it would be better not to
mention chill & fever – but only
record such days that may occur without
them. Mrs Perry has been here
& sends her love to you. Most affectionately your daughter
Fanny