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Fanny and Maria Appleton to Nathan Appleton, 28 February 1832
Manuscript letter
Petition of the poor sewing circle. –
A number of damsels instructed in sewing,
Have resolved to write and set about doing,
Some things for the poor, in this dreadful cold weather,
And to work every Monday, P.M all together.
We have scissors and thimbles, & needles and thread,
But of cotton and flannell, both yellow & red,
We have used up our stock, and now pray the kind-hearted
To help us to means to get once again started,
In cutting and fixing, and hemming & stitching,
To make little beggar girls look so bewitching!
We are Appleton Mary and Appleton Fanny,
Two very nice damsels who work well as any,
In Boston; and Benjamin’s Susan & Mary her sister
Can finger things well and wants none to assist her –
There is one that can cut, & can work, & can so stitch
As to please you right well, and that’s Mary Bowditch.
Then a couple of Lucy’s, Misses Nichols & Read,
Who work so well that no teaching they need,
And Miss Charlotte S. White, so famous in tambour,
And Warren, Miss Mary, who easily can pour
A torrent of wit, & can read like a Syren,
Whether Shakespeare or Waverly, Klopstock or Byron;
And sober Miss Whitney, who works very steady
Though to throw in a smile, she always sits ready,
[p. 2] Then there is the modest and civil Miss Welles,
Who in cut stitch and back stitch all others excels;
And Isabel Amory, modest and quiet,
Can you beat her at sewing? – we pray you come try it.
And lastly Miss Sullivan, Ann called or Mary
Who keeps the accounts and is our actuary –
But never mind her; ‘tis the stock we all seek
And hope you will help us to something this week;
For Monday is coming – and we’ve nothing to do: -
So give us the wherewith, and we’ll sit down to sew.
-- [in ink] If you can make out to read this dear papa I have no doubt you will agree with me in thinking it very good – It is by Mr Sullivan who is always full of his jokes and who has entered into our Sewing circle with much spirit. You will not be able to appreciate the character of the damsels very well, but I can assure you they are toute à la nature – I would have made it more intelligible but am in a great hurry as I have to write a doleful composition, and that must be sent to Mr Tilden tonight. – You have not favored me for a vast time with a letter; but I do not deserve it. - - This afternoon I went with Mary to Mr Osgood’s room to see his pictures and I think he has a great deal of talent and I like his style much. He has a very pretty picture of Burke and also his brother. There is a most demonaical head of Monseiur Gouffe, the man-monkey which Goe amused himself with painting during [p. 3] his sitting, which amused us very much It is truly terrific! – Cold enough at present and snow still remaining - - The rest of the paper is reserved for Mamma – I shall soon express myself more fully –
Adieu – Votre filia querida –
Fan-
I wished to say to you my Dear Husband – that I have settled the difficulty between the servants, without parting with either – when I came to an understanding with John – I found he had made up his mind to go in the spring so now – I shall be looking out for a Man. I have no money for Mrs Rogers – do you think you think you can afford her any? I regret that I did not see Mr Tilden this Mng. had there not been a mistake about it; I should have had that pleasure – When to you expect May? and in what manner do you intend that she shall travel. I am interrupted, by two, or three young Gentlemen – and cannot proceed.
Ever your affect
M.
Endorsed: Fanny / Febry 28
A number of damsels instructed in sewing,
Have resolved to write and set about doing,
Some things for the poor, in this dreadful cold weather,
And to work every Monday, P.M all together.
We have scissors and thimbles, & needles and thread,
But of cotton and flannell, both yellow & red,
We have used up our stock, and now pray the kind-hearted
To help us to means to get once again started,
In cutting and fixing, and hemming & stitching,
To make little beggar girls look so bewitching!
We are Appleton Mary and Appleton Fanny,
Two very nice damsels who work well as any,
In Boston; and Benjamin’s Susan & Mary her sister
Can finger things well and wants none to assist her –
There is one that can cut, & can work, & can so stitch
As to please you right well, and that’s Mary Bowditch.
Then a couple of Lucy’s, Misses Nichols & Read,
Who work so well that no teaching they need,
And Miss Charlotte S. White, so famous in tambour,
And Warren, Miss Mary, who easily can pour
A torrent of wit, & can read like a Syren,
Whether Shakespeare or Waverly, Klopstock or Byron;
And sober Miss Whitney, who works very steady
Though to throw in a smile, she always sits ready,
[p. 2] Then there is the modest and civil Miss Welles,
Who in cut stitch and back stitch all others excels;
And Isabel Amory, modest and quiet,
Can you beat her at sewing? – we pray you come try it.
And lastly Miss Sullivan, Ann called or Mary
Who keeps the accounts and is our actuary –
But never mind her; ‘tis the stock we all seek
And hope you will help us to something this week;
For Monday is coming – and we’ve nothing to do: -
So give us the wherewith, and we’ll sit down to sew.
-- [in ink] If you can make out to read this dear papa I have no doubt you will agree with me in thinking it very good – It is by Mr Sullivan who is always full of his jokes and who has entered into our Sewing circle with much spirit. You will not be able to appreciate the character of the damsels very well, but I can assure you they are toute à la nature – I would have made it more intelligible but am in a great hurry as I have to write a doleful composition, and that must be sent to Mr Tilden tonight. – You have not favored me for a vast time with a letter; but I do not deserve it. - - This afternoon I went with Mary to Mr Osgood’s room to see his pictures and I think he has a great deal of talent and I like his style much. He has a very pretty picture of Burke and also his brother. There is a most demonaical head of Monseiur Gouffe, the man-monkey which Goe amused himself with painting during [p. 3] his sitting, which amused us very much It is truly terrific! – Cold enough at present and snow still remaining - - The rest of the paper is reserved for Mamma – I shall soon express myself more fully –
Adieu – Votre filia querida –
Fan-
I wished to say to you my Dear Husband – that I have settled the difficulty between the servants, without parting with either – when I came to an understanding with John – I found he had made up his mind to go in the spring so now – I shall be looking out for a Man. I have no money for Mrs Rogers – do you think you think you can afford her any? I regret that I did not see Mr Tilden this Mng. had there not been a mistake about it; I should have had that pleasure – When to you expect May? and in what manner do you intend that she shall travel. I am interrupted, by two, or three young Gentlemen – and cannot proceed.
Ever your affect
M.
Endorsed: Fanny / Febry 28
Archives Number: 1011/002.001-002#004
U. S. National Park Service
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Correspondence (1011/002), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1832 (1011/002.001-002), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, 1832 (1011/002.001-002), (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
02/28/1832
Manuscript letter in Frances Appleton Longfellow Papers, Series II. Correspondence, A. Outgoing, 1832. (1011/002.001-002#004)
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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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