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Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, January 1849
Manuscript letter
Cambridge
Friday
Dear Annie,
I am heartily ashamed of myself for letting nearly a month slip by without thanking you for your charming slippers, which were most welcome gifts I assure you. I had finished some time since the only warm pair I had, & was daily wishing for another.
The blue ones are quite too exquisite for common use, so I have put them up in lavender until an occasion calls for them. We have had a very pleasant visit from Stephen, & I have partly postponed [p. 2] writing until I could communicate to you, for him, his plans & intentions, but I believe he has done so himself before me, though I know not if he has decided upon anything very definitely as yet. He has been waiting for an answer to President Polk, which will possibly never come, as the setting sun is indifferent, very likely, to winning or giving favors. I hope he will find some occupation, to his mind, however, & more permanent & continuous than his former labors, for he evidently is happier in action. Mrs Fellows is again living near us, & I went to see her a few days ago, as she was very do- [p. 3] lorous with an Influenza.
Speaking of Stephen’s being here, she said – “I hear Mrs S. has become a Catholic; a Portland lady (a Mrs Brooks I think she said) told me she & a Mr F. & another lady came on to Boston last autumn to be confirmed.” I denied, of course, all knowledge of the fact, but was pained to find M. was so talked about. What does it all mean? I can conceive that Mrs C. could be quite capable of such a thing, but – can hardly believe the rest.
I know not how I overlooked telling you of my sister. In the hurry of writing I suppose. My brother returned after a few days visit only at St Kitts, not being able to endure the heat & the mos- [p. 4] quitoes, & left them quite well after a very pleasant voyage. Her husband was rather disappointed she had not gained more while here, but she looked so differently when she left from what she did when she came that I was somewhat consoled for the shock her appearance gave me. I have heard from her again lately, & she continued to feel the good effects of her visit, the weather having been cooler. She had given a ball to the Governor General who had been making her a visit, so is doubtless pretty well. She will probably never pass a summer there, but whether she will come here or go to England this next one, she has not yet decided. The children were very well, astonishing the tropics with their blooming cheeks.
I have been very anxious to hear from your Mary during these dreadful days of Cholera, & was glad to hear from Mr Green [p. 1 cross] leaf, whom Henry met the other day, that they were well, & had not been frightened away. My sister always begs to be warmly remembered to you in her letters, & was truly glad to have seen you.
In haste but ever affly with best love to all
Yr
Fanny EL.
Friday
Dear Annie,
I am heartily ashamed of myself for letting nearly a month slip by without thanking you for your charming slippers, which were most welcome gifts I assure you. I had finished some time since the only warm pair I had, & was daily wishing for another.
The blue ones are quite too exquisite for common use, so I have put them up in lavender until an occasion calls for them. We have had a very pleasant visit from Stephen, & I have partly postponed [p. 2] writing until I could communicate to you, for him, his plans & intentions, but I believe he has done so himself before me, though I know not if he has decided upon anything very definitely as yet. He has been waiting for an answer to President Polk, which will possibly never come, as the setting sun is indifferent, very likely, to winning or giving favors. I hope he will find some occupation, to his mind, however, & more permanent & continuous than his former labors, for he evidently is happier in action. Mrs Fellows is again living near us, & I went to see her a few days ago, as she was very do- [p. 3] lorous with an Influenza.
Speaking of Stephen’s being here, she said – “I hear Mrs S. has become a Catholic; a Portland lady (a Mrs Brooks I think she said) told me she & a Mr F. & another lady came on to Boston last autumn to be confirmed.” I denied, of course, all knowledge of the fact, but was pained to find M. was so talked about. What does it all mean? I can conceive that Mrs C. could be quite capable of such a thing, but – can hardly believe the rest.
I know not how I overlooked telling you of my sister. In the hurry of writing I suppose. My brother returned after a few days visit only at St Kitts, not being able to endure the heat & the mos- [p. 4] quitoes, & left them quite well after a very pleasant voyage. Her husband was rather disappointed she had not gained more while here, but she looked so differently when she left from what she did when she came that I was somewhat consoled for the shock her appearance gave me. I have heard from her again lately, & she continued to feel the good effects of her visit, the weather having been cooler. She had given a ball to the Governor General who had been making her a visit, so is doubtless pretty well. She will probably never pass a summer there, but whether she will come here or go to England this next one, she has not yet decided. The children were very well, astonishing the tropics with their blooming cheeks.
I have been very anxious to hear from your Mary during these dreadful days of Cholera, & was glad to hear from Mr Green [p. 1 cross] leaf, whom Henry met the other day, that they were well, & had not been frightened away. My sister always begs to be warmly remembered to you in her letters, & was truly glad to have seen you.
In haste but ever affly with best love to all
Yr
Fanny EL.
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-018#039
U. S. National Park Service
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1848 (1011/002.001-018), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1848 (1011/002.001-018), (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
01/01/1849 - 01/30/1849
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1848. (1011/002.001-018#039)
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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 6:03:16 PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 6:03:16 PM
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