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Erica (Thorp) de Berry to Thorp family, 7 January 1917
Manuscript letter
[printed letterhead: Pine Mountain Settlement School]
Jan. 7th 1917
Dearest Family,
It seems ages since I’ve written you, and Christmas seems a thing of the far distance.
Since then, Miss de Long has left for the north—(galloping off on Bobby with a two-year old babe in her arms whom she’s taking to visit her mother--) vacation has come and gone, and we’re well launched in the new term, with some new scholars, and the management of the household newly distributed between three of us young’uns. It’s great fun, and things are going surprisingly well –even though one of our most beloved boys
[written cross on L margin]
Could you send me two holders – four our kettle—
[written cross on R margin]
Did the holly ever arrive, and was it fresh?
(p.2) has developed pneumonia. I’m sitting with him this moment, and thank goodness he’s taken a turn for the better. With Dr Little’s wonderful cheeriness, and encouragement we’re not worrying too much—and incidentally, enforced quiet ^in the little house^ and peaceful hours of watching are most soothing. I don’t have the night watch, so don’t worry at all. Then, in Miss de Long’s absence, Bobby is at our disposal, and we manage to tuck in rides at any hour—which are the most refreshing ^and exhilarating^ things I’ve ever experienced!
Since Christmas, the weather has been summery again, and we’ve actually had floods—“tides” they’re called here—making foot logs unpassable, and turning
[letterhead]
(p.3) our quiet mountain-side into a [crossed out: roar] succession of roaring cataracts. It is thrilling, and reminds me so much of Norway – or Rome with the sound of falling water ever in one’s ears! Twice the creeks have [crossed out: been] “riz” so that the mail-carrier couldn’t ride through, and Dr Little couldn’t “get” to see a patient down ordinarily quiet Greasy because of a boiling current which made crossing via log quite dangerous.
We wade about in mud ankle-deep, and house-cleaning becomes a joke. On the way to meals, half the children fall into the new river which has
(p.4) calmly poured down over our road, --and our drinking – water looks like lemonade. However, we’re all thriving under it, and it’s a most glorious sight!
The seasons here are utterly bewildering – floods in January, zero weather in November, summer and then snow in December!
What a shame you didn’t have snow at Jackson! I thought the North had been having blizzards.
Do write me what everyone feels about the peace proposals. I long to know.
It’s so blissful to think that you all know about Marie and Elliott now – Isn’t it perfect beyond all words!
Happiest of New Years to you all, dearest of families and thanks again for all the Christmas things and anything I may have forgotten.
Your Bun.
[written cross on L margin]
Mamma, I charged some Pierce supplies to you in Nov—as I had no bill then – was that all right? I meant to speak of it
[written cross on R margin]
long ago.
Jan. 7th 1917
Dearest Family,
It seems ages since I’ve written you, and Christmas seems a thing of the far distance.
Since then, Miss de Long has left for the north—(galloping off on Bobby with a two-year old babe in her arms whom she’s taking to visit her mother--) vacation has come and gone, and we’re well launched in the new term, with some new scholars, and the management of the household newly distributed between three of us young’uns. It’s great fun, and things are going surprisingly well –even though one of our most beloved boys
[written cross on L margin]
Could you send me two holders – four our kettle—
[written cross on R margin]
Did the holly ever arrive, and was it fresh?
(p.2) has developed pneumonia. I’m sitting with him this moment, and thank goodness he’s taken a turn for the better. With Dr Little’s wonderful cheeriness, and encouragement we’re not worrying too much—and incidentally, enforced quiet ^in the little house^ and peaceful hours of watching are most soothing. I don’t have the night watch, so don’t worry at all. Then, in Miss de Long’s absence, Bobby is at our disposal, and we manage to tuck in rides at any hour—which are the most refreshing ^and exhilarating^ things I’ve ever experienced!
Since Christmas, the weather has been summery again, and we’ve actually had floods—“tides” they’re called here—making foot logs unpassable, and turning
[letterhead]
(p.3) our quiet mountain-side into a [crossed out: roar] succession of roaring cataracts. It is thrilling, and reminds me so much of Norway – or Rome with the sound of falling water ever in one’s ears! Twice the creeks have [crossed out: been] “riz” so that the mail-carrier couldn’t ride through, and Dr Little couldn’t “get” to see a patient down ordinarily quiet Greasy because of a boiling current which made crossing via log quite dangerous.
We wade about in mud ankle-deep, and house-cleaning becomes a joke. On the way to meals, half the children fall into the new river which has
(p.4) calmly poured down over our road, --and our drinking – water looks like lemonade. However, we’re all thriving under it, and it’s a most glorious sight!
The seasons here are utterly bewildering – floods in January, zero weather in November, summer and then snow in December!
What a shame you didn’t have snow at Jackson! I thought the North had been having blizzards.
Do write me what everyone feels about the peace proposals. I long to know.
It’s so blissful to think that you all know about Marie and Elliott now – Isn’t it perfect beyond all words!
Happiest of New Years to you all, dearest of families and thanks again for all the Christmas things and anything I may have forgotten.
Your Bun.
[written cross on L margin]
Mamma, I charged some Pierce supplies to you in Nov—as I had no bill then – was that all right? I meant to speak of it
[written cross on R margin]
long ago.
Archives Number: 1006/004.006.002-005#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 1006/004.006.002-005#001
Public domain
Erica Thorp deBerry Papers (1006/004.006), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Correspondence, Outgoing (1006/004.006.002), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1917 (1006/004.006.002-005), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Correspondence, Outgoing (1006/004.006.002), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1917 (1006/004.006.002-005), (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 27930
Title: Finding Aid to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) Family Papers, 1768-1972 (Bulk dates 1825-1950)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLFP
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLFP
2016-01-30
01/07/1917
Manuscript letter in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Family Papers, Erica Thorp deBerry Papers, Correspondence, Outgoing. (1006/004.006.002)
Public Can View
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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