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Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 30 April 1860
Manuscript letter
Craigie House Monday.
April 30th 1860.
Dear Tom,
The bonnet arrived safely Saturday, to my great surprise & satisfaction. You are very, very kind to anticipate my wants - & you could not have chosen better. It is just the thing. When I returned from town James informed me of the arrival of a mysterious box, & I, thinking it something for Henry, did not at first examine it, but Alice’s bright eyes did, making out the Mrs, - so we had [p. 2] ‘an opening,’ as the milliners say, & she at once said exclaimed ‘Uncle Tom.’ knowing, from experience, the source of pretty things.
She & Edie are in great expectation of tomorrow, May day, when they go to Mrs Sparks’ fancy-ball by day light, Alice as ‘la petite Fadette’ in peasant costume, red petticoat, blk bodice & jaunty cap, & Edie as English Queen – of May, with white gown, wreath of pansies in her hair, & the blue ribbon of royalty across her heart! As far as the children are concerned it will be a pretty sight, but the grown people are much [p. 3] puzzled how to array themselves, & probably will not attempt much. Mrs S. herself will present a landlady of the olden time, which will bear the sun - & as she has a band & dancing the young men & maidens will make out, no doubt, to enjoy themselves. It is Exhibition Day also, which will bring out a good many –
We dined at papa’s on Saturday, or rather I did, with Miss Rogers & young Hazeltine, & papa was well & cheery as usual.
Hatty seems to be enjoying herself, despite the unpromising commencement – of Miss Lane’s illness, - & must with you there [p. 4] to show her all the lions – Mrs Amory & Sue I think have just gone on, so you may be tempted to stay longer.
There is a new engagement will interest Hatty & the Darleys – Miss M’Bumie & one of Mr Jeffries. –
We are having very bright, sunny days, frappe with east wind, not disagreeably – but the dust demands rain. The billiard-room is much nicer raised, & only wants new papering & a varnished floor to look in order. I will cheer up your household if they need it. I had a nice letter from Em, who was ill for weeks with a cold-fever, but is now out again. Her paper shows a most tempting view of the Hotel over [p. 1 cross] looking the lake & snow mountains, with only a garden between it & the boat steps. She was to go to Dresden & he in Paris in May.
We had Mr Lothrop’s sonorous tones in the Chapel yesterday.
Good bye
Love to Hatty
ever yer affte Fanny EL
April 30th 1860.
Dear Tom,
The bonnet arrived safely Saturday, to my great surprise & satisfaction. You are very, very kind to anticipate my wants - & you could not have chosen better. It is just the thing. When I returned from town James informed me of the arrival of a mysterious box, & I, thinking it something for Henry, did not at first examine it, but Alice’s bright eyes did, making out the Mrs, - so we had [p. 2] ‘an opening,’ as the milliners say, & she at once said exclaimed ‘Uncle Tom.’ knowing, from experience, the source of pretty things.
She & Edie are in great expectation of tomorrow, May day, when they go to Mrs Sparks’ fancy-ball by day light, Alice as ‘la petite Fadette’ in peasant costume, red petticoat, blk bodice & jaunty cap, & Edie as English Queen – of May, with white gown, wreath of pansies in her hair, & the blue ribbon of royalty across her heart! As far as the children are concerned it will be a pretty sight, but the grown people are much [p. 3] puzzled how to array themselves, & probably will not attempt much. Mrs S. herself will present a landlady of the olden time, which will bear the sun - & as she has a band & dancing the young men & maidens will make out, no doubt, to enjoy themselves. It is Exhibition Day also, which will bring out a good many –
We dined at papa’s on Saturday, or rather I did, with Miss Rogers & young Hazeltine, & papa was well & cheery as usual.
Hatty seems to be enjoying herself, despite the unpromising commencement – of Miss Lane’s illness, - & must with you there [p. 4] to show her all the lions – Mrs Amory & Sue I think have just gone on, so you may be tempted to stay longer.
There is a new engagement will interest Hatty & the Darleys – Miss M’Bumie & one of Mr Jeffries. –
We are having very bright, sunny days, frappe with east wind, not disagreeably – but the dust demands rain. The billiard-room is much nicer raised, & only wants new papering & a varnished floor to look in order. I will cheer up your household if they need it. I had a nice letter from Em, who was ill for weeks with a cold-fever, but is now out again. Her paper shows a most tempting view of the Hotel over [p. 1 cross] looking the lake & snow mountains, with only a garden between it & the boat steps. She was to go to Dresden & he in Paris in May.
We had Mr Lothrop’s sonorous tones in the Chapel yesterday.
Good bye
Love to Hatty
ever yer affte Fanny EL
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-030#009
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1860 (1011/002.001-030), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1860 (1011/002.001-030), (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
04/30/1860
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1860. (1011/002.001-030#009)
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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
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 5:16:00 PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 5:16:00 PM
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