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Erica (Thorp) de Berry to Thorp family, 24 February 1917
Manuscript letter
En route to
Pineville
Feb. 24 th
Dearest People,
My vacation is over and I’m speeding back to P. Mt. full of new snap & quite ready for work again and the old life.
I left Ede so much better – in such good spirits, with all the poison out of her system, and 2 lbs. gained during the last week! Soon she will be getting up, and trying her wings a bit. And then, beginning with the Alfred Brandeises, wonderful Louisville hospitality will begin to (p.2) shower upon her.
I can never get over their kindness – In addition to all that had gone before, at the last moment Fanny sent me a lovely, farewell bunch of sweet peas, which have comforted a weary 2-hours wait in peanut-shelly, smoky Corbin.
It’s so strange to be going back over the old trail again – the same way from now on, only alone! September seems [crossed out: six] ^five^ years [crossed out: ago], instead of [crossed out: nearly six] ^five^ months ago. Yet here I am, in the same externals (except for a new Spring heat.) The internals are (p.3) quite different, however!
I’ve been lolling in comfort all A.M. absorbed in “Mr Britling”. Of course you all have read it, and can imagine how intensely it carries me back into the war-world after such long absence outside, and how very real its grip is. How extraordinarily well and how clearly he gives all the different reactions! It’s supposed to be auto-biographical, isn’t it?
I have the funny feeling of almost having been [crossed out: home] ^in Cambridge^ again, so (p.4) familiar has the life of telephones & street-cars become even in these short two weeks.
It’s going to be so exciting to see whether Pine Mt. will [crossed out: be] seem in any way different. Of course it will be different, with Spring keenly in the air, but in other ways – The thought of outdoor air again – all day long – makes even a train endurable!
¬¬-- -- -- --
2 days later.
It is different ¬¬ not only Springlike, but summerlike, till today-- 60˚, with all doors and windows open!
And such a softness (p.5) and sweetness in the air!
I walked over the mt. alone on Sunday, as it was too much bother to wait for the mules – and it was just like a day on Sargent or Green. I had to cool off in the shade of a rhododendron, and [crossed out: spent] had a blissful day-dream of nap, gazing into the hazy distance towards Big Black and beyond –
And here I find so many changes First and foremost – we are in the big, new, glorious dining-room, and can move school into the old! (p.6) The luxury of having space and tables & shelves enough, and a school-room that can be a school-room and not have to be quickly transformed into something else! My children are striding along in their writing and all goes much smoother and easier, in consequence. Then I find Spring chairing[?] underway everywhere, and yellow crocuses in the garden! and under the expert (p.7) management of Bill & Beatrice, Pole House has been fitted up most remarkably with all [crossed out: number] ^manner^ of clever contrivances, so that we live here three together as comfortably as can be!
What’s more, I have about one third less work to do having been relieved of all supervision of the housework. That gives me lots more free time, and I can teach better in consequence – so everything is slipping along beautifully!
It was thrilling to get (p.8) back to the darling children again – Three of the boys ran up almost to the top of the mt. to meet me- and the rest, in Indian suits, laid an ambush for me lower down! I can’t wait to have you see them all. (and am so glad Dr Little showed you her pictures. I have a lot, but thought I wouldn’t send them till I could explain.)
Please write about war feelings at home. In Louisville, no one seemed to be interested or excited, yet from the papers we know how stirred the East is
(p.9) What does everyone say and think? –and do?
Papa, I’m going to bother you to send another Italian money order for me – this time to my Italian teacher
Signora Emma Finocchi
Scuola Fusinato
Via Nazionale 157
Rome
of 10 dollars.
Her husband is at the front and they’re in a good deal of distress, I gather. Thanks ever so much.
Think of Mr Foisie’s[?] having left the N’b’h’d House! I can’t bear to think of it, (p.10) for the House’s and our sakes, but am so glad for his, for he did seem so buried there. I knew it was inevitable. He certainly deserves a big job- And Mrs Shaw dead? What will happen, I wonder?
--Do write me about March
Best of love to “y’all”
From
Your
Bun.
Oh, if you could breathe the sweetness of these first Spring nights! They are so magical now that I can’t imagine how I’ll stand the ecstasy of full Spring with things in blossom -----
Pineville
Feb. 24 th
Dearest People,
My vacation is over and I’m speeding back to P. Mt. full of new snap & quite ready for work again and the old life.
I left Ede so much better – in such good spirits, with all the poison out of her system, and 2 lbs. gained during the last week! Soon she will be getting up, and trying her wings a bit. And then, beginning with the Alfred Brandeises, wonderful Louisville hospitality will begin to (p.2) shower upon her.
I can never get over their kindness – In addition to all that had gone before, at the last moment Fanny sent me a lovely, farewell bunch of sweet peas, which have comforted a weary 2-hours wait in peanut-shelly, smoky Corbin.
It’s so strange to be going back over the old trail again – the same way from now on, only alone! September seems [crossed out: six] ^five^ years [crossed out: ago], instead of [crossed out: nearly six] ^five^ months ago. Yet here I am, in the same externals (except for a new Spring heat.) The internals are (p.3) quite different, however!
I’ve been lolling in comfort all A.M. absorbed in “Mr Britling”. Of course you all have read it, and can imagine how intensely it carries me back into the war-world after such long absence outside, and how very real its grip is. How extraordinarily well and how clearly he gives all the different reactions! It’s supposed to be auto-biographical, isn’t it?
I have the funny feeling of almost having been [crossed out: home] ^in Cambridge^ again, so (p.4) familiar has the life of telephones & street-cars become even in these short two weeks.
It’s going to be so exciting to see whether Pine Mt. will [crossed out: be] seem in any way different. Of course it will be different, with Spring keenly in the air, but in other ways – The thought of outdoor air again – all day long – makes even a train endurable!
¬¬-- -- -- --
2 days later.
It is different ¬¬ not only Springlike, but summerlike, till today-- 60˚, with all doors and windows open!
And such a softness (p.5) and sweetness in the air!
I walked over the mt. alone on Sunday, as it was too much bother to wait for the mules – and it was just like a day on Sargent or Green. I had to cool off in the shade of a rhododendron, and [crossed out: spent] had a blissful day-dream of nap, gazing into the hazy distance towards Big Black and beyond –
And here I find so many changes First and foremost – we are in the big, new, glorious dining-room, and can move school into the old! (p.6) The luxury of having space and tables & shelves enough, and a school-room that can be a school-room and not have to be quickly transformed into something else! My children are striding along in their writing and all goes much smoother and easier, in consequence. Then I find Spring chairing[?] underway everywhere, and yellow crocuses in the garden! and under the expert (p.7) management of Bill & Beatrice, Pole House has been fitted up most remarkably with all [crossed out: number] ^manner^ of clever contrivances, so that we live here three together as comfortably as can be!
What’s more, I have about one third less work to do having been relieved of all supervision of the housework. That gives me lots more free time, and I can teach better in consequence – so everything is slipping along beautifully!
It was thrilling to get (p.8) back to the darling children again – Three of the boys ran up almost to the top of the mt. to meet me- and the rest, in Indian suits, laid an ambush for me lower down! I can’t wait to have you see them all. (and am so glad Dr Little showed you her pictures. I have a lot, but thought I wouldn’t send them till I could explain.)
Please write about war feelings at home. In Louisville, no one seemed to be interested or excited, yet from the papers we know how stirred the East is
(p.9) What does everyone say and think? –and do?
Papa, I’m going to bother you to send another Italian money order for me – this time to my Italian teacher
Signora Emma Finocchi
Scuola Fusinato
Via Nazionale 157
Rome
of 10 dollars.
Her husband is at the front and they’re in a good deal of distress, I gather. Thanks ever so much.
Think of Mr Foisie’s[?] having left the N’b’h’d House! I can’t bear to think of it, (p.10) for the House’s and our sakes, but am so glad for his, for he did seem so buried there. I knew it was inevitable. He certainly deserves a big job- And Mrs Shaw dead? What will happen, I wonder?
--Do write me about March
Best of love to “y’all”
From
Your
Bun.
Oh, if you could breathe the sweetness of these first Spring nights! They are so magical now that I can’t imagine how I’ll stand the ecstasy of full Spring with things in blossom -----
Archives Number: 1006/004.006.002-005#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 1006/004.006.002-005#007
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
02/24/1917
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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