One of Fanny’s values that she shared with her mother was that of temperance. This was the act of restraining from drinking alcohol, and was a major movement in the 1800s. Women mainly led this movement, as it was females who were often affected by the consequences of alcohol.

“John had a dozen lemons for whiskey punch, but as mother is principled against offering such an article to visitors, father came to the kitchen telling John, “He need not make the whiskey punch, Mrs. Seward did not think it best to have it.” So the punch is dispensed with, how glad I am!” December 30, 1858