Auburn, N.Y.
May 2d 1869
My dear Gus
It is pleasant to be
able to think of you enjoying a warm
pleasant climate; it is cold and
rainy with us, although the grass is
green, and the trees are in kind.
I suppose Fred has written you of
Aunty's illness, she is getting better
every day. I was there this morning
and saw her walk from her chair
to the bed, she asked me if I had
written to you, and told me to tell
you she hoped to be able to write
to you herself, her whole left side
was paralyzed, the Doctor says
she will probably never be entirely
well again, but will be comfortable,
of course there is constant danger
of another attack. We have been
very busy since your Father's return
making alterations in the house

the pantry, (the old north room,) has
been turned into a very pretty
library, you remember there was
a door into the old library from
it. there is now another one by the
parlor door, the windows are cut
down to the floor, which makes it
exceedingly pleasant. I am now
writing in the yellow parlor, which
was the old front chamber, the
foreign gabling and yellow furnitu[ re ]
have turned it into a parlor.
The arranging of the house, unpacking
furniture & pictures, has kept your
Father very busy, so that he has
not seemed to miss Washington as
much as I was afraid he would.
He talks of – May 9th My dear
Gus, I did not think it would
be a week, before I would finish
my letter, when I was called
away from it. Aunty is very
much improved, has been out to
drive four times, today she walked
from the door to the carriage, &

the back gate. Harriet Bogart is
with her, and Kate Barrett,
Frances was here two weeks, Aunty
expects her back tomorrow. Aunty
had been in her own house a week,
when her sickness came on.
Your Father is talking of travelling
after the 1^st of June, is not decided
whether to go to California, or go in
a ship which is to start from New
York the 1^st of June and sail a-
round the world, it is to take six
months. Fred and Anna are going
with him, they are now very busy
with their house, Fred came up
when Aunty was sick, for a few
days. We have had a Swiss Artist
here for a month painting a life
size portrait of your Father for the
Swiss government, it is nearly finished
and we think will be very perfect.
My family are very well, Mother's
house is nearly finished, will be I
suppose a week from tonight. Mrs

Pomeroy is very well, and wished me
to send a great deal of love to you, as
did Mother also. I sent your letter
on to Mrs Bostwick, and hope she
has answered it before this. Mary
Carpenter is here with your Father, Mr
Risly and Olive are coming this week
we have had very little company, it
has been so cold and unpleasant,
and the house has been in disorder
but it is now ready for any thing and
looks so pleasant I w[ ish ] [ y ] ou were
here to see it. Will is just as busy
as usual, the children are very well
indeed, are out-of-doors almost all of the
time; I am so glad that you are en-
joying yourself, two of your months are
gone, but it seems a great while to
look forward to your coming back, and
I wish the time was safely over, I
miss you very much. I have on tonight
the dress that you took to be cleaned
for me, the dressmaker has made it
wearable, every time I wear this I think
of you, carrying it under your arm
it was so good and brotherly in you.
With ever so much love, and my thanks for your wise


[right Margin] letter. Sister Jenny