File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 17 June 1850 (80173e7e-0493-4fad-89c1-d0985b9e2430).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#021

Cambridge June 17th 1850
Dear Annie,
I have been under the delusion that I had certainly written you since our return from Washington, but as Henry says he has no remembrance of taking any letter to the Post Office I think I must be mistaken. Pray excuse my neglect in not sooner informing you of our safe return, after a very pleasant journey, to our charming home, which never looked more lovely, as we found it in the freshest bloom of lilacs & apple-trees & all in nicest order.
Henry wrote you from Washington of our adventures 0 & our visits to Franklin Row. Much as I wished you were with us, I feared it would have been too painful to you to see the Commodore in his distressingly helpless condition. Mrs W. I thought looked [p. 2] brighter in complexion, & more active than when at the North.
We were ten days in W. & gave a day to each city returning, reaching home the first day of June. We were very fortunate in weather, having a bright sun always tho’ no great heat any where, & are all much benefitted by the change. It was no slight gain to escape such a month of May as this has been here, with perpetual rains & east wind.
We have had it warm enough until yesterday, & much do I enjoy the repose of my Library after the bustle of travelling. The children were very little trouble & enjoyed every thing. They went to the White House & shook hands with the President, & kept a journal, with papa’s help, of all they saw & did.
My father we found looking very thin & with a good deal of cough, but, since we left him with Mrs Appleton, he has been relieved by a slight operation in his throat, where [p. 3] the irritation lay – the cutting of the uvula a very common necessity I find in these bronchial affections.
They will probably reach home today, having lingered along until the weather should be settled. The chicks have resumed their school with great glee, & had their class here on Charley’s birthday.
We found Sam here, but he left immediately, & talked of joining Mary at Niagara which I hope he will do, such a journey will be a great refreshment to him. We shall go to Nahant about the 1st of July & hope my brother Tom is already on his way to join us, as he has promised so to do.
I forget if I have told you that I expect to be confined the latter part of September, & therefore am not able to go further from home during the summer, or we should pay you a visit. I bore the journey very well & the open air & gentle exercise did me good, but I must now repose until the great event!
[p. 4] I have missed Eliza thus far, but hope she will soon come out & see me.
I have thought much of poor mother during this dreary Spring & trust her health has not suffered severely by its harshness. The warm, sunny days must now continue, & her drives be resumed. I think it would be well for you all to migrate to Washington, or some southern city, for her sake & give her a double enjoyment of the remainder of her life. I should like to see you taking a long farewell of Dr. Nichols & all your Portland ties but you would be comforted by her great gain in health.
Poor Caroline Doane continues very ill, but is, I believe, likely to remain so some time. We hear nothing of Stephen, but Henry has written you all he knows, so I will come to an end with much love to all from your ever affte
Fanny E. L.

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