File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 8 May 1854 (7ba62003-b5fc-4aaa-addb-2179025da032).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-024#006

Cambridge
May 8th 1854.
Dear Annie,
How I wish you could have been with us on Thursday. The torrents of rain deprived us of the very few friends we had invited, but Sam made the ceremony most touching & beautiful by his earnest, tender manner & fresh expression of its deep significance. I wished it could have been appreciated by more witnesses, & that you especially could have been present. The quiet twilight of the rain, the solemn listening of the servants, the presence of the children, with difficulty awed into sufficient propriety by such a strictly [p. 2] family party & dear baby looking & behaving so sweetly & cooing gently thro’ the whole made a picture I shall often see in that room, already hallowed by similar ones, but none to me so beautiful. It was such a happiness to me to have the benediction fall upon my child from one bound to us by more than the mere pastoral sympathy, & from so pure & fervent a spirit. I wished much my own family at least could have enjoyed it with me, but as Sam seemed to think it impossible to come again until August, & as Henry was disinclined to have it postponed, there is nothing to regret. [p. 3] The Saxon name of Edith fits well baby’s fair, sunny countenance & blue eyes. It was Henry’s choice.
We went today to see Mrs Sumner who has just lost her sister Mrs Codman. She departed serenely, prepared & with a most happy willingness. John has lost a most devoted mother.
Miss Davie, my sister’s governess, is with me having finished her engagement with Mrs Lawrence & with no other plans arranged. She is a great comfort by walking with Alice & teaching her a little & reading to us & the boys & can teach them at Nahant if she accepts no more permanent situation. She is a very sensible nice person [p. 4] & will be useful to us all. The chicks are so fond of Henry they give him little leisure, & I am glad they can be drawn off him by some one beside myself that he may enjoy his new freedom entirely. I hope, dear Annie, those dreadful domestic chains, whose weight I know a little, will release you for some days to us this Spring. I hear baby’s imperative voice, my chain (of flowers) so I must say adieu, with Henry’s love,
Yr affte
Fanny.
I forgot to say a word about the Exhibition which we all attended to see Willy make his debut & was sorry Sam did not arrive in time. He got thro’ admirably, & appeared calm & gentlemanlike beyond most of his conpeers.

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