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Fanny Appleton to Zilpah Longfellow, 27 May 1843
Manuscript letter
Boston. May 27th 1843.
Dear Mrs Longfellow,
I cannot answer your daughter’s precious letter without expressing to you, also, the overflowing gratitude I felt in receiving the affectionate greetings you have sent me. A glad tide of sympathy, from our mutual friends, has been constantly pouring in upon the deep sea of our joy, but none, except that of my own family, so rejoices & satisfies my heart as any assurance that our love receives your maternal benediction.
Would that language could [p. 2] reveal to you how fully I appreciate the priceless blessing God has vouchsafed me in your son’s affection & how fervently I pray to become worthy of it, & to improve my character by his. If the fullest harmony in thought & feeling, and strongest confidence in each other, and holiest reliance upon Him, who has guided us to this better country, can ensure happiness to his creatures we feel a faith, no Sorrow can undermine, that it will be ours. We earnestly hope that you will often witness it, and bless our future home [p. 3] with another’s sacred influence. I deeply grieve that ill health has been so long your portion & must now deprive me of the happiness of talking with you face to face.
Heart to heart, I trust you will always permit me, & will learn to love me who offers you a daughter’s fond respect. I have been long orphaned of that holiest tie, & have suffered that ‘mighty hunger of the heart’ which no other can wholly supply – need I say with what peace & comfort I shall share Henry’s blessed fortune in possessing a Mother who loves him so tenderly?
[p. 4] I have urged Mrs Pierce to make us a visit &, if it is not unkind to deprive you of her services, we ardently crave your acquiescence. But do not indulge our wishes if her absence will cause you any discomfort, - if our meeting must be delayed, I will comfort myself with the constant hope of it. I have no right to be selfish in my days of abundance, but when will the heart be taught, like poor Oliver Twist, not to ‘ask for more’?
Accept my warmest wishes, & those of my family, for the restoration of your health & with much love to Mr Longfellow, I remain, -
Respectfully & affly yrs
Fanny E. Appleton.
Dear Mrs Longfellow,
I cannot answer your daughter’s precious letter without expressing to you, also, the overflowing gratitude I felt in receiving the affectionate greetings you have sent me. A glad tide of sympathy, from our mutual friends, has been constantly pouring in upon the deep sea of our joy, but none, except that of my own family, so rejoices & satisfies my heart as any assurance that our love receives your maternal benediction.
Would that language could [p. 2] reveal to you how fully I appreciate the priceless blessing God has vouchsafed me in your son’s affection & how fervently I pray to become worthy of it, & to improve my character by his. If the fullest harmony in thought & feeling, and strongest confidence in each other, and holiest reliance upon Him, who has guided us to this better country, can ensure happiness to his creatures we feel a faith, no Sorrow can undermine, that it will be ours. We earnestly hope that you will often witness it, and bless our future home [p. 3] with another’s sacred influence. I deeply grieve that ill health has been so long your portion & must now deprive me of the happiness of talking with you face to face.
Heart to heart, I trust you will always permit me, & will learn to love me who offers you a daughter’s fond respect. I have been long orphaned of that holiest tie, & have suffered that ‘mighty hunger of the heart’ which no other can wholly supply – need I say with what peace & comfort I shall share Henry’s blessed fortune in possessing a Mother who loves him so tenderly?
[p. 4] I have urged Mrs Pierce to make us a visit &, if it is not unkind to deprive you of her services, we ardently crave your acquiescence. But do not indulge our wishes if her absence will cause you any discomfort, - if our meeting must be delayed, I will comfort myself with the constant hope of it. I have no right to be selfish in my days of abundance, but when will the heart be taught, like poor Oliver Twist, not to ‘ask for more’?
Accept my warmest wishes, & those of my family, for the restoration of your health & with much love to Mr Longfellow, I remain, -
Respectfully & affly yrs
Fanny E. Appleton.
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-013#007
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#007
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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
05/27/1843
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1843. (1011/002.001-013#007)
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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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