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Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 22 September 1848
Manuscript letter
Cambridge Friday –
Dear Annie,
I have been wishing from day to day to thank you & dear mother for your notes of affectionate sympathy, - but I have had quite a number to answer, which was so painful to me that I thought you would excuse the delay. Only one who has entered within the sanctuary of a mother's sorrow can understand that peculiar form of suffering, but all sorrow has a sad resemblance which makes the sympathy of the afflicted soothing and strengthening to us & gives us a strong bond of union with them.
We feel that it is a blessed [p. 2] thing to have a child in heaven, to unfold its powers within the unchanging sunlight of Gods love, & to be taught only by holy spirits, and it is a deep comfort to us to dwell upon its life, so happy here, expanding without a pang into far greater happiness. I feel it also a lofty privilege to bring so pure an offering to the Redeemer's feet, & am happy in the thought that it is forever safe within his arms, but we cannot always – “keep – heights which the soul is competent to gain,” & at night the old longing will still come back – “for the touch of a vanished hand” –
And the sound of a voice that is still.”
[p. 3] In the garden she is ever at my side, but now it is a comforting presence, - & has given me a love for it I never had before. I see her many steps in the paths, & her eager hands grasping the prettiest flowers,- & strive to fill my heart only with the thought she is now happier yet, playing with the flowers of Paradise. The whole house is consecrated, likewise, by her memory, & I love to live over & over again the whole of her little life. I talk with the children often of her, that they may not forget her, & they receive with undoubting faith whatever I say. Charley says “Fanny is up in the sky” to all his cousins - & often to me “I wish [p. 4] I could go too-“ He said to Mary one day. “Mamy you are not a good girl” (all this quite out of his own head) because you cry for sis every morning-“ “She was so good” Mary answered – “Then you should not cry for her-“ He & Erny both say little prayers to me now, & they seem to be interested with the thought that they are addressed to Him with whom their little playmate is living.
My remaining blessings are dearer to me than ever, tho’ I feel I can never henceforth call them mine, & at first saw nothing in their faces but the awful Shadow which had entered our home. I am calmer now, & mean to enjoy them as long as they are granted to me.
Maria Lowell has written a beautiful little poem for me which [p. 1 cross] I must copy for you. My sister & her children are with me I was very glad to see James – Henry sends with me much love to all.
I have not seen Eliza P. yet but hope to soon.
ever thy affte
Fanny E.L.
I had a most helping letter from Sam.
Dear Annie,
I have been wishing from day to day to thank you & dear mother for your notes of affectionate sympathy, - but I have had quite a number to answer, which was so painful to me that I thought you would excuse the delay. Only one who has entered within the sanctuary of a mother's sorrow can understand that peculiar form of suffering, but all sorrow has a sad resemblance which makes the sympathy of the afflicted soothing and strengthening to us & gives us a strong bond of union with them.
We feel that it is a blessed [p. 2] thing to have a child in heaven, to unfold its powers within the unchanging sunlight of Gods love, & to be taught only by holy spirits, and it is a deep comfort to us to dwell upon its life, so happy here, expanding without a pang into far greater happiness. I feel it also a lofty privilege to bring so pure an offering to the Redeemer's feet, & am happy in the thought that it is forever safe within his arms, but we cannot always – “keep – heights which the soul is competent to gain,” & at night the old longing will still come back – “for the touch of a vanished hand” –
And the sound of a voice that is still.”
[p. 3] In the garden she is ever at my side, but now it is a comforting presence, - & has given me a love for it I never had before. I see her many steps in the paths, & her eager hands grasping the prettiest flowers,- & strive to fill my heart only with the thought she is now happier yet, playing with the flowers of Paradise. The whole house is consecrated, likewise, by her memory, & I love to live over & over again the whole of her little life. I talk with the children often of her, that they may not forget her, & they receive with undoubting faith whatever I say. Charley says “Fanny is up in the sky” to all his cousins - & often to me “I wish [p. 4] I could go too-“ He said to Mary one day. “Mamy you are not a good girl” (all this quite out of his own head) because you cry for sis every morning-“ “She was so good” Mary answered – “Then you should not cry for her-“ He & Erny both say little prayers to me now, & they seem to be interested with the thought that they are addressed to Him with whom their little playmate is living.
My remaining blessings are dearer to me than ever, tho’ I feel I can never henceforth call them mine, & at first saw nothing in their faces but the awful Shadow which had entered our home. I am calmer now, & mean to enjoy them as long as they are granted to me.
Maria Lowell has written a beautiful little poem for me which [p. 1 cross] I must copy for you. My sister & her children are with me I was very glad to see James – Henry sends with me much love to all.
I have not seen Eliza P. yet but hope to soon.
ever thy affte
Fanny E.L.
I had a most helping letter from Sam.
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-018#031
U. S. National Park Service
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1848 (1011/002.001-018), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1848 (1011/002.001-018), (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
09/22/1848
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1848. (1011/002.001-018#031)
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
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 6:04:24 PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 6:04:24 PM
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