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Fanny Appleton to Mary Rich, 30 April 1843
Manuscript letter
Boston April 30th 1843
Dearest Mrs Rich,
How can I thank you for this precious letter? Words are too poor, & so are looks which you cannot see, but if your spiritual eye which penetrates all matter as a veil ever becoming more transfigured, will fall upon my heart you cannot fail to interpret the blessing you have sent me in these words so rich in meaning & life. They do indeed bring us together inseparably, for such are my daily bread, & souls nourished at the same table surely belong to one home tho’ their bodies dwell far asunder. It is presumption in me such a child in the true life, to claim relationship with one so long an inhabitant of that better country – but I know you can understand [p. 2] how I do so – in all humility & with the fullest conviction of my unworthiness. This certainty of being rightly understood is one of the many blessed privileges granted to those who love Christ. What you say of living in the father, of feeling his presence at all times as the very breath of our existence was like the [crossed out: very] echo of my thoughts – the holiest, clearest reality of my life. Often alas! the perishing interests of every day life seem to hide Him from me, but even when most absorbed – at home, in the street, in society, He shines thro’ the clouds & my heart is refreshed & upheld by an abiding trust in his merciful love. When we have once learned to know him as our Father, for as God we always know him, how wonderfully near we are brought to him when- [p. 3] ever our inward eye glances forth, - how constantly we feel his hand guiding our tottering steps! These are realities which are almost enough to satisfy our highest aspirations in this world, so holy does it & human life become thro their influence, but, alas, they are rare moments after all, our heavy hearts are too often choked up with the dust they breathe. When I think of what will be our life hereafter, if we act faithfully in this, my spirit seems to grow, at the thought only wider than the heavens & yet how soon it trembles back to Earth – over-awed with its own destiny!
I have been studying the Gospels this winter with a class of young girls at our minister’s – a man of most fervent piety & spiritual insight as well as a true Christian [p. 4] in life. He taught us to see the whole meaning in every verse, interpreting it with the greatest simplicity & in perfect harmony with the rest of Scripture. Going over this slowly & tho roughly that divine life I have felt its wonderful harmony & purity as never before. Nothing has struck me more than our Saviours child-like dependance [sic] upon his Father – altho’ endowed with such superhuman powers & excellence. Not that this is a new thought to me but reading his words separately one loses the effect of the whole I a measure. How constantly he disclaims homage, never allowing the glory which he “received from the Father” to darken his filial dependance [sic] & trust, but ever looking to Him for light & guidance until he utters those words so fraught with rest & peace “Into thy hands I command my spirit”
[p. 1 cross] How very interesting Mr. Scotts lectures must have been! I hope they touched many slumbering hearts & awoke a recognition of the brotherhood of humanity in his hearers. My kindest regards to him – his wife & sisters. I had a charming letter from Grace lately which I was very grateful for. All peace be with you!
Dearest Mrs Rich,
How can I thank you for this precious letter? Words are too poor, & so are looks which you cannot see, but if your spiritual eye which penetrates all matter as a veil ever becoming more transfigured, will fall upon my heart you cannot fail to interpret the blessing you have sent me in these words so rich in meaning & life. They do indeed bring us together inseparably, for such are my daily bread, & souls nourished at the same table surely belong to one home tho’ their bodies dwell far asunder. It is presumption in me such a child in the true life, to claim relationship with one so long an inhabitant of that better country – but I know you can understand [p. 2] how I do so – in all humility & with the fullest conviction of my unworthiness. This certainty of being rightly understood is one of the many blessed privileges granted to those who love Christ. What you say of living in the father, of feeling his presence at all times as the very breath of our existence was like the [crossed out: very] echo of my thoughts – the holiest, clearest reality of my life. Often alas! the perishing interests of every day life seem to hide Him from me, but even when most absorbed – at home, in the street, in society, He shines thro’ the clouds & my heart is refreshed & upheld by an abiding trust in his merciful love. When we have once learned to know him as our Father, for as God we always know him, how wonderfully near we are brought to him when- [p. 3] ever our inward eye glances forth, - how constantly we feel his hand guiding our tottering steps! These are realities which are almost enough to satisfy our highest aspirations in this world, so holy does it & human life become thro their influence, but, alas, they are rare moments after all, our heavy hearts are too often choked up with the dust they breathe. When I think of what will be our life hereafter, if we act faithfully in this, my spirit seems to grow, at the thought only wider than the heavens & yet how soon it trembles back to Earth – over-awed with its own destiny!
I have been studying the Gospels this winter with a class of young girls at our minister’s – a man of most fervent piety & spiritual insight as well as a true Christian [p. 4] in life. He taught us to see the whole meaning in every verse, interpreting it with the greatest simplicity & in perfect harmony with the rest of Scripture. Going over this slowly & tho roughly that divine life I have felt its wonderful harmony & purity as never before. Nothing has struck me more than our Saviours child-like dependance [sic] upon his Father – altho’ endowed with such superhuman powers & excellence. Not that this is a new thought to me but reading his words separately one loses the effect of the whole I a measure. How constantly he disclaims homage, never allowing the glory which he “received from the Father” to darken his filial dependance [sic] & trust, but ever looking to Him for light & guidance until he utters those words so fraught with rest & peace “Into thy hands I command my spirit”
[p. 1 cross] How very interesting Mr. Scotts lectures must have been! I hope they touched many slumbering hearts & awoke a recognition of the brotherhood of humanity in his hearers. My kindest regards to him – his wife & sisters. I had a charming letter from Grace lately which I was very grateful for. All peace be with you!
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-013#001
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; Archives Number 1011/002.001-013#001
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1843 (1011/002.001-013), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1843 (1011/002.001-013), (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
Unknown
04/30/1843
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1843. (1011/002.001-013#001)
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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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