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Fanny Appleton to Nathan Appleton, 24 December 1832
Manuscript letter
Boston. Monday. 1832.
Imagine me, dearest Papa, seated up at the table in solitary blessedness, surrounded by a whole bevy of candles, amusing myself by endeavouring to entertain you, with a letter which should have been sent long ago. – Mary and Charles have just taken their departure for a birthday fête got up by Mrs Kirkland for the benefit of Miss Elizabeth Cabot, and Master Tom has wandered no one knows whither.
Charles you see is going to make his début into the world, and discover how much philosophy it contains. I should have assuredly appeared also had I not divers very cogent reasons for the contrary. – It is an entirely youthful affair, I believe, and will no doubt be quite fine. – Only think out! tomorrow [p. 2] is Christmas, and you far away, and Mother confined up stairs – we shall have but a sorry family circle. – Aunt Sam has kindly taken compassion on our loneliness, and invited us in there to dine. – We had a famous fair today in favor of Mr Tuckerman at Mrs Marshalls. – The things were very prettily managed, and made quite a show. – There were a great may people, many of whom purchased considerably. – Mr Cushing was expected but sent instead his man “Ahoo” and his purse which did us well. As you may suppose he bought all he could come across, and among them the Swiss peasant which I had the honor of adorning. – Mr Mason was flourishing about and bought several things which he hardly knew what to do with. The precise sum obtained is not yet discovered, though no doubt quite large, and Mr Tuckerman, or rather the poor of Boston, must be infinitely indebted to the industry of the young ladies. –
[p. 3] Mother is not quite so well today as she has been and feels quite weak. – I have been reading to her this afternoon a very curious & interesting account of a man who was confined in a dungeon till he was 17, and when released was simpler than a child concerning every thing around him. Could not walk as he had never moved from a sitting posture, all that time. His different sensations are extremely curious. – I do think you go beyond every one in expressing [????]. Ever since you [??] so famous in regard to the thermometer, and last Sunday your letter which you predicted would arrive at ½ past nine came at 10 minutes past. – I have entirely recovered from the illness I had when you went away, and occasionally feel quite bright. – Mary told us your story about Mr Lee down the street – she says he is in jail for different debts and that poor Mrs Lee is inconsolable. – There is no particular news. Mr Gardiner Greene was buried Saturday and Mr Lyman the elder is very ill, and [p. 3 cross] hardly expected to live. [inserted above, different hand?: “(he is getting well now)] – Mr Sears has a fine iron railing in front of his mansion, and Miss Anna is going to be married the 17 of January. – The weather continues to be pretty cold, but love have had no its appearance. – Charles has had a letter from your Uncle with that ominous black fender & I suppose fancy remember me to him. Write me very often do, even if you get not very speedy returns to your letters. Excuse this scrawlasourous mess. –
Affectionately
Your own
Fannie
Addressed: Hon Nathan Appleton. / M. C. / City of Washington. – / D.C. –
Postmark: BOSTON / DEC 25 MS
Endorsed: Fanny / Dec 25 / 1832
Imagine me, dearest Papa, seated up at the table in solitary blessedness, surrounded by a whole bevy of candles, amusing myself by endeavouring to entertain you, with a letter which should have been sent long ago. – Mary and Charles have just taken their departure for a birthday fête got up by Mrs Kirkland for the benefit of Miss Elizabeth Cabot, and Master Tom has wandered no one knows whither.
Charles you see is going to make his début into the world, and discover how much philosophy it contains. I should have assuredly appeared also had I not divers very cogent reasons for the contrary. – It is an entirely youthful affair, I believe, and will no doubt be quite fine. – Only think out! tomorrow [p. 2] is Christmas, and you far away, and Mother confined up stairs – we shall have but a sorry family circle. – Aunt Sam has kindly taken compassion on our loneliness, and invited us in there to dine. – We had a famous fair today in favor of Mr Tuckerman at Mrs Marshalls. – The things were very prettily managed, and made quite a show. – There were a great may people, many of whom purchased considerably. – Mr Cushing was expected but sent instead his man “Ahoo” and his purse which did us well. As you may suppose he bought all he could come across, and among them the Swiss peasant which I had the honor of adorning. – Mr Mason was flourishing about and bought several things which he hardly knew what to do with. The precise sum obtained is not yet discovered, though no doubt quite large, and Mr Tuckerman, or rather the poor of Boston, must be infinitely indebted to the industry of the young ladies. –
[p. 3] Mother is not quite so well today as she has been and feels quite weak. – I have been reading to her this afternoon a very curious & interesting account of a man who was confined in a dungeon till he was 17, and when released was simpler than a child concerning every thing around him. Could not walk as he had never moved from a sitting posture, all that time. His different sensations are extremely curious. – I do think you go beyond every one in expressing [????]. Ever since you [??] so famous in regard to the thermometer, and last Sunday your letter which you predicted would arrive at ½ past nine came at 10 minutes past. – I have entirely recovered from the illness I had when you went away, and occasionally feel quite bright. – Mary told us your story about Mr Lee down the street – she says he is in jail for different debts and that poor Mrs Lee is inconsolable. – There is no particular news. Mr Gardiner Greene was buried Saturday and Mr Lyman the elder is very ill, and [p. 3 cross] hardly expected to live. [inserted above, different hand?: “(he is getting well now)] – Mr Sears has a fine iron railing in front of his mansion, and Miss Anna is going to be married the 17 of January. – The weather continues to be pretty cold, but love have had no its appearance. – Charles has had a letter from your Uncle with that ominous black fender & I suppose fancy remember me to him. Write me very often do, even if you get not very speedy returns to your letters. Excuse this scrawlasourous mess. –
Affectionately
Your own
Fannie
Addressed: Hon Nathan Appleton. / M. C. / City of Washington. – / D.C. –
Postmark: BOSTON / DEC 25 MS
Endorsed: Fanny / Dec 25 / 1832
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-002#014
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; Archives Number 1011/002.001-002#014
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1832 (1011/002.001-002), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1832 (1011/002.001-002), (LONG-FileUnitName)
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
NPS Museum Number Catalog : LONG 20257
Title: Finding Aid to the Frances Elizabeth Appleton Longfellow (1817-1861) Papers, 1825-1961 (bulk dated: 1832-1861)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#FEAL
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#FEAL
2016/01/30
12/24/1832
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1832. (1011/002.001-002#014)
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Organization: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
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