File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, 4 May 1850 (99c0098a-4e52-4bab-b64d-0483103e649d).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#013

Cambridge May 4th 1850 –
Dear Alex,
Your wee notes came just in time by way of stirrup-cup or good-bye before we turn our backs on Castle Craigie for the sunny South. My enmity to east winds grows greater every year, & as we know May will be poisoned with them we have decided to run away for that month & have also the pleasure of meeting my father on his return from Cuba & Charleston. How far we shall get depends on the fatigues of the way with the children & myself but we hope to reach Washington & be back by the 1st of June. So you see you must resign all hopes of seeing [p. 2] Henry at present, & the bust will turn to marble before he can admire it. How can John Neal’s mobile features ever bear such a petrifaction? He has not much of the Greek repose.
We hope to get off on Monday noon to pass the night at Springfield, where Mrs Appleton & Mr John Codman will join us the next day, to whirl away to New York, which we shall reach for a late dinner. We heard today, from my father. He is much better but still has some couch, & is enjoying so well the hospitalities of friends near Charleston that he is in no hurry to come North. We may return home before him, as Henry must be here in June for his examinations. We have engaged a cottage at Nahant (in the village) for the vacation, which we can have to ourselves, with the comfort of rooms all on one floor (dining in the hall) [p. 3] so our summer is pretty well disposed of. I hope this journey will do us all good. It will be a pleasant change for Henry to see some of his old friends, - & I shall enjoy the novelty too if I feel strong enough. Charley has been quite ill lately with a severe cold, & has grown so terribly thin the Dr thinks his food does not properly nourish him, therefore on his account also I shall be glad to go. We remain probably two days in New York, & then go on leisurely –until we hear further from papa.
I received yesterday a snowy box of wedding-cake from Cary Greenleaf - & was told of the wedding, by Miss Hodges, as a very quiet one in church, all gaiety being given up on account of the terrible affliction of her friend Marian Webster. Those poor girls & their mother bear up with the faith in his innocence which has supported [p. 4] them thus far, & the hope of the Governor’s pardon. If a new trial is had he may be saved, but every day his character is so blackened by new stories (too true alas! many of them) that he will have little left to live for unless to purify it.
I am sorry to say I always forgot to ask my sister about the English Longfellows. I hope the family-tree will bear pleasant fruit for your leisure hours. I cheerfully grant yr request, for an old married woman need not be shy of her age. Know then that I was born the 6th of October 1817 just ten years after my revered husband, whom I married the 13th of July 1843. Our children are –
Charles Appleton L. born June 9th 1844.
Ernest Wadsworth L. born Nov 23d 1845.
Fanny L. born April 7th, 1847. died Sep 14th [sic] 1848.
---“---
With much love to all ever yr affte
Fanny E.L.
Please tell Annie that Henry has just dis [p. 1 cross] covered a new kind of picture frame which can be had cheap (it is (carved wood) & which he proposes for the engraving of Dr Nichols & can get on his return. I mean to write her but yr note took precedence this time. I hope mother will bear the Spring lightly. I wish we could carry her with us.
I saw a certain wedding in the paper lately which must have given you a pang, but remember Miss Bella is left!!!
[p. 2 cross] Have you heard of Stephen yet? Henry has written Smith & Goodwin but has had no answer from either.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; health and illness; subject; family life; social life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1850 (1011/002.001-020); (LONG-FileUnitName)