Select Item below to DOWNLOAD - Once item is selected, right click and choose 'save as'
60bc130f-7996-41cc-acde-680c2116fd8a
Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, December 1841
Manuscript letter
Thursday mng.
I have hardly the heart to write to you, my darling, I am so completely unstrung by this attack of bronchitis, as my Doctor calls my complaint, - (not the throat affection clergymen & garrulous old women suffer from but a species of prolonged cold inflaming all the bronchia of the head & chest) but I fear you may be disappointed in not hearing oftener from me – tho’ your poor eyes will rejoice at my omission. I am still a prisoner to the house not having benefited my lungs by a small walk day before yesterday, altho muffled with muslin to the eyes like a Sultana, by way of respirator, but am so much better that I stand at present engaged to a dinner-party tomorrow at Mrs James Amory’s & to an evening party at Mrs Shattucks after; one dressing serving for both I accepted both but I shall probably cut both. I am willing to go any-where to forget myself – being heartily mortified [p. 2] that such an every-day trouble as this has been able so effectually to muddle my brain & uncork my spirits. Mrs Ritchie invites me to a cose with the Dexters & Prescotts by her fire-side on Saturday, & malgré my desire to resist her oft-repeated seductions of this sort am weak enough to yield – in the hope that such inspiriting effervescence as Mr P’s may fan some life into my languid soul. I mention all this to prove to you how deplorably I am stricken by your absence, - when you desert me I am like a child deprived of leading-strings; leaning this way & that & catching any thing held out to me for a solace & support. Oh come speedily back my better life. The short interval of my return was so little enjoyed, from the confusion of events, that all the long parting yawns before me as if yet without a bridge, & I feel as if you were continually slipping from me as in my dreams. Become fixedly – inseparably mine or I shall fancy this feeling prophetic. I have a strange thing to tell you. Tom passed the ev’g with the Ticknors a few nights [p. 3] since, & who should suddenly make his entrée, in a savage, picturesque costume as if he had jumped from the wilderness in the most impromptu manner possible, but Frank. For such a very civilized mortal the effect was not bad but it has leaked out at the Club that the red shirt was carefully borrowed here & put on for the occasion; a piece of refined dandyism which has set that Pharisaical body into great merriment at the expense of our poor little engineer. I had not courage to ask many questions, & as I have not been out since know not whether he is still here, - but I dare say he has joined his Mamma & you have heard all his ‘wood notes wild’ by this time. En passant, he might civilly have left his card on me but I sh’ant quarrel with him for taking the wiser part of valour. I wrote yesterday to Miss Kinsley about your cloak & she informs me it is yet without a purchaser, & as the season is so far advanced she doubts if it will find one. So you had better make up your mind to appreciate its charms [p. 4] & save yourself the trouble of another selection. I have a long goosical letter from Jewett quite a consolation to my stropified wits for they may flatter themselves they have gained a few new ideas during the last half dozen years while his are still revolving the same - & yet complacently announcing them as new discoveries! Who are you seeing & what doing, my darling? Has Miss Upton distinctly pronounced to you her detestation or resignation to N. York? Have you bowed yr head to the soft dropping showers of platitudes ever-pouring from the mouths of the Manhattan youth? There was one here, lately, whom I looked upon as a moral hero, [crossed out: from who] for [???] have utterance of undeniable truths, - it requires no common courage, a very extra-ordinary mind – to make known to the world that twice 2 are 4. I have finished Madame La Farge & can’t but like it & - believe it. Hillard made us an agreeable visit a few nights since – the last joint action of the camaraderie has been to lectotalism & homopathy [sic]. Harriet has taken her first drive – the rest of my household are thriving as well. I am still unsettled [p. 1 cross] in my reading & await you to weed out my hours properly. All send much love & ardent wishes for yr speedy return Send me the most charming news of yr eyes or I sh’ant dare to pray for a letter.
ever yr
affte F – I hope Mrs Ticknor is amiable eno’ to write, for you deserve something better than my tediousness. Remember me kindly to yr brother.
[p. 4 cross] Will you please send me word what measures your corset-woman in N. York requires, whether I must send her our stays (for Mary is also inclined to patronize her) or simply a tape. I believe yr brother has frequent opportunities wh I can make use of for either. Dont let me bother you about these or any matters – frankly tell me if I do.
I have hardly the heart to write to you, my darling, I am so completely unstrung by this attack of bronchitis, as my Doctor calls my complaint, - (not the throat affection clergymen & garrulous old women suffer from but a species of prolonged cold inflaming all the bronchia of the head & chest) but I fear you may be disappointed in not hearing oftener from me – tho’ your poor eyes will rejoice at my omission. I am still a prisoner to the house not having benefited my lungs by a small walk day before yesterday, altho muffled with muslin to the eyes like a Sultana, by way of respirator, but am so much better that I stand at present engaged to a dinner-party tomorrow at Mrs James Amory’s & to an evening party at Mrs Shattucks after; one dressing serving for both I accepted both but I shall probably cut both. I am willing to go any-where to forget myself – being heartily mortified [p. 2] that such an every-day trouble as this has been able so effectually to muddle my brain & uncork my spirits. Mrs Ritchie invites me to a cose with the Dexters & Prescotts by her fire-side on Saturday, & malgré my desire to resist her oft-repeated seductions of this sort am weak enough to yield – in the hope that such inspiriting effervescence as Mr P’s may fan some life into my languid soul. I mention all this to prove to you how deplorably I am stricken by your absence, - when you desert me I am like a child deprived of leading-strings; leaning this way & that & catching any thing held out to me for a solace & support. Oh come speedily back my better life. The short interval of my return was so little enjoyed, from the confusion of events, that all the long parting yawns before me as if yet without a bridge, & I feel as if you were continually slipping from me as in my dreams. Become fixedly – inseparably mine or I shall fancy this feeling prophetic. I have a strange thing to tell you. Tom passed the ev’g with the Ticknors a few nights [p. 3] since, & who should suddenly make his entrée, in a savage, picturesque costume as if he had jumped from the wilderness in the most impromptu manner possible, but Frank. For such a very civilized mortal the effect was not bad but it has leaked out at the Club that the red shirt was carefully borrowed here & put on for the occasion; a piece of refined dandyism which has set that Pharisaical body into great merriment at the expense of our poor little engineer. I had not courage to ask many questions, & as I have not been out since know not whether he is still here, - but I dare say he has joined his Mamma & you have heard all his ‘wood notes wild’ by this time. En passant, he might civilly have left his card on me but I sh’ant quarrel with him for taking the wiser part of valour. I wrote yesterday to Miss Kinsley about your cloak & she informs me it is yet without a purchaser, & as the season is so far advanced she doubts if it will find one. So you had better make up your mind to appreciate its charms [p. 4] & save yourself the trouble of another selection. I have a long goosical letter from Jewett quite a consolation to my stropified wits for they may flatter themselves they have gained a few new ideas during the last half dozen years while his are still revolving the same - & yet complacently announcing them as new discoveries! Who are you seeing & what doing, my darling? Has Miss Upton distinctly pronounced to you her detestation or resignation to N. York? Have you bowed yr head to the soft dropping showers of platitudes ever-pouring from the mouths of the Manhattan youth? There was one here, lately, whom I looked upon as a moral hero, [crossed out: from who] for [???] have utterance of undeniable truths, - it requires no common courage, a very extra-ordinary mind – to make known to the world that twice 2 are 4. I have finished Madame La Farge & can’t but like it & - believe it. Hillard made us an agreeable visit a few nights since – the last joint action of the camaraderie has been to lectotalism & homopathy [sic]. Harriet has taken her first drive – the rest of my household are thriving as well. I am still unsettled [p. 1 cross] in my reading & await you to weed out my hours properly. All send much love & ardent wishes for yr speedy return Send me the most charming news of yr eyes or I sh’ant dare to pray for a letter.
ever yr
affte F – I hope Mrs Ticknor is amiable eno’ to write, for you deserve something better than my tediousness. Remember me kindly to yr brother.
[p. 4 cross] Will you please send me word what measures your corset-woman in N. York requires, whether I must send her our stays (for Mary is also inclined to patronize her) or simply a tape. I believe yr brother has frequent opportunities wh I can make use of for either. Dont let me bother you about these or any matters – frankly tell me if I do.
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-011#005
U. S. National Park Service
Permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this website.
Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; Archives Number 1011/002.001-011#005
Public domain
Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1841 (1011/002.001-011), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1841 (1011/002.001-011), (LONG-FileUnitName)
Image
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
2021-06-16
12/01/1841 - 12/30/1841
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1841. (1011/002.001-011#005)
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
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 6:50:32 PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 6:50:32 PM
1011-02-01-11-05 p1+4.jpg
jpg
4.2 MB
Historic