Washington City
Jan 2. 1859
Mary,
I have recd. yours of Thursday
last. Our vacation is nearly gone
& I have occupied most of the past
rainy week in franking off documents
and in acting as one of the Committee
in making the preparations and
arrangements for taking possession of
our new Senate Chamber, which we
are to do next Tuesday.
Yesterday (Jan. 1) it cleared off about
noon so that the usual calling had
to be done. I went with Mr. Foot &
we did not go to the Presidents for the
crowd. (we since hear there was no crowd)
We made the following calls, to wit,
Trumbull, Seward, Dickens, Hodge,
Dixon, Cass, Post Master Gen. Brown, Thompson,
Cobb, Toucey, Mrs. Goddard, [ ] Taylor.
Ladies at the Willard, & National, Bell,
Hulseman. Went in at all except
Hulseman’s. All the ladies making
kind inquiries for my wife & daughters &c.
Now ask your mother if I did not
make a good afternoon’s work.
Frances says in her letter to me
that she has now a method of healing
her head ache which makes it much
more endurable. Poor girl, she suffers
much. Her last letter was in good
spirits.
I had seen the death of Lucy
Cushing in the papers. Your account
of the condition of her heart is most
wonderful. Mr. Cushings is indeed
afflicted.
So Dr. Clement who has been so very
busy in expressing indifference as to the
repair of the Meeting house
has finally actually preached on the
subject as you say. Then he has concluded
to forget his former experience in Chester.
I think it will not injure him unless
he talks very indiscreetly, which he will
not be like to do.
I was much pleased to learn that
Mrs. Redfield seems so much better &
I hope she may so remain. I think it
might be of benefit to her that the
ladies should call on her, if he thinks
so & is willing.
My health is much as usual but
I think my hours of sleep grow less.
I now seldom sleep until one o-
clock, but I feel well the next day
& experience no injury for want
of sleep.
My love to you all.
Affectionately
Your Father