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Erica (Thorp) de Berry to Thorp family, 7 March 1917
Manuscript letter
Pine Mt.
March 7th.
Dearest Family,
It’s so natural to be back in the swing of things again, that Louisville seems like a dream.
Yesterday came the climax of a regular March spell o’ weather – an ice storm giving way to sunshine, with every separate tree on Pine Mt. outlined in silver – It is useless even to try to describe the beauty of it ---! You know [crossed out: what] ^how^ Cambridge Common can be ^similarly^ transformed. Imagine that, on a mountainside of a million trees, shimmering
[written cross on L margin]
Ede is gaining by leaps & bounds & has been out automobiling –
(p.2) far, far down the valley, first tinged with the gold of the rising sun, then in the full sparkle of noon, again in the coppery glow of sunset, and as we saw it last of all in full moonlight.
Paradise is the nearest one can come to it – even that seems scarcely worthy – Today it has vanished. – it would be too dazzling for mortal eyes to behold for more than a day – and we are being gently soothed in soft browns and grays.
Work is so much lighter now, and I get time off for exercise every day – walks ore rides.
(p.3 ) On Sat. Bill and I are going to take our dinner and go off for a long, long jaunt, as we’ve so longed planned ^-on horseback! - ^. Won’t it be glorious!
Bill’s work is varied. She has charge of the youngest on playground, looks after all the Far House boys’ clothes (which I used to do) supervises some outdoor work, and fills in at odd moments. That gives her time for a regular amount of writing each day so that she can keep up her reviewing. I think she’s getting to enjoy it a lot now, and is so good with the children.
(p.4) I hope you have seen Miss de Long’s articles in the last Outlook & Survey. Do call people’s attention to them, for they are so well worth reading.
I can think of no special events that have occurred this last week. Our thoughts have been so turned outward that nothing else has seemed of any importance. Of course, the rising of many waters held up the mail for two days. At the most crucial moment – but it makes the papers all the more thrilling when they do come, and we devour & devour & devour.
Is everything Red Cross (p.5) and enlistment? And do people in general feel that there’s no escape from war or that armed neutrality may do the job? This last incredible treachery of Germany seems to deny the possibility of any reasonable outcome. In spite of everything that has gone before such cold-blooded plotting seems almost too incredible a wantonness and folly – To us, living on vague rumors till the papers come, it is like a melodramatic Oppenheim novel.
How fine that you’re all going up to Vassar to “Cyrano”! I hadn’t even heard of it till Mammas letter came. What a (p.6) final part for Tuk! -----
I’m hoping & praying that nothing will come up to prevent her getting down here the last of the month – but I haven’t heard from her since Xmas. Oh, Mamma, I hope your ankle will be all right to go! –
(I enclose a check for Al to pay for part of my debts. It ought to have been cashed long ago, but as that’s impossible here I’m getting rid of it thus) The poor Franckes – how terrible this strain must be for them. Will Al please send me Marie’s address? I haven’t heard a word from her for so long.
Best of love to all, to Am, B & Robin & all the maids & Bob –
Your lovingest Bun
[written cross on L margin]
Isn’t Ben’s poem fun!
March 7th.
Dearest Family,
It’s so natural to be back in the swing of things again, that Louisville seems like a dream.
Yesterday came the climax of a regular March spell o’ weather – an ice storm giving way to sunshine, with every separate tree on Pine Mt. outlined in silver – It is useless even to try to describe the beauty of it ---! You know [crossed out: what] ^how^ Cambridge Common can be ^similarly^ transformed. Imagine that, on a mountainside of a million trees, shimmering
[written cross on L margin]
Ede is gaining by leaps & bounds & has been out automobiling –
(p.2) far, far down the valley, first tinged with the gold of the rising sun, then in the full sparkle of noon, again in the coppery glow of sunset, and as we saw it last of all in full moonlight.
Paradise is the nearest one can come to it – even that seems scarcely worthy – Today it has vanished. – it would be too dazzling for mortal eyes to behold for more than a day – and we are being gently soothed in soft browns and grays.
Work is so much lighter now, and I get time off for exercise every day – walks ore rides.
(p.3 ) On Sat. Bill and I are going to take our dinner and go off for a long, long jaunt, as we’ve so longed planned ^-on horseback! - ^. Won’t it be glorious!
Bill’s work is varied. She has charge of the youngest on playground, looks after all the Far House boys’ clothes (which I used to do) supervises some outdoor work, and fills in at odd moments. That gives her time for a regular amount of writing each day so that she can keep up her reviewing. I think she’s getting to enjoy it a lot now, and is so good with the children.
(p.4) I hope you have seen Miss de Long’s articles in the last Outlook & Survey. Do call people’s attention to them, for they are so well worth reading.
I can think of no special events that have occurred this last week. Our thoughts have been so turned outward that nothing else has seemed of any importance. Of course, the rising of many waters held up the mail for two days. At the most crucial moment – but it makes the papers all the more thrilling when they do come, and we devour & devour & devour.
Is everything Red Cross (p.5) and enlistment? And do people in general feel that there’s no escape from war or that armed neutrality may do the job? This last incredible treachery of Germany seems to deny the possibility of any reasonable outcome. In spite of everything that has gone before such cold-blooded plotting seems almost too incredible a wantonness and folly – To us, living on vague rumors till the papers come, it is like a melodramatic Oppenheim novel.
How fine that you’re all going up to Vassar to “Cyrano”! I hadn’t even heard of it till Mammas letter came. What a (p.6) final part for Tuk! -----
I’m hoping & praying that nothing will come up to prevent her getting down here the last of the month – but I haven’t heard from her since Xmas. Oh, Mamma, I hope your ankle will be all right to go! –
(I enclose a check for Al to pay for part of my debts. It ought to have been cashed long ago, but as that’s impossible here I’m getting rid of it thus) The poor Franckes – how terrible this strain must be for them. Will Al please send me Marie’s address? I haven’t heard a word from her for so long.
Best of love to all, to Am, B & Robin & all the maids & Bob –
Your lovingest Bun
[written cross on L margin]
Isn’t Ben’s poem fun!
Archives Number: 1006/004.006.002-005#009
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#009
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
03/07/1917
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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