File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 10 June 1850 (962557cc-6ff3-4d85-af5c-29978773c072).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#020

Cambridge. June 10th 1850.
Dear Mary,
This steamer carries away quite a precious freight from us. Dr Howe goes therein to seek health at some German water-cure – Lizzie Wadsworth to see Europe for the first time, & others for various reasons entrust themselves to Judkins tempted by his wondrous luck in short passages. Harriet Crowninshield & husband have sailed, or are near it, in a packet, & I trust will be both benefitted by the voyage, for it is very sad to see a young couple disabled so early in life, with children needing all their strength. Our Professor Gray & his charming wife, another invalid, go in the same ship with them.
Since our return home the weather has been delicious, & much do we enjoy the quiet of our Library, gazing thro’ the open window at the darkening foliage [p. 2] on the trees, musical with birds, the soft clouds overhead & the general, but gentle, sense of universal life which fills the air, like an incense, at this season. It has been very warm, so welcome to me after the long spring, & I just sit & enjoy it without desire to move. On Saturday (Charley’s sixth birthday coming on Sunday) he had half a dozen chicks of his school class, Darises, Pierces & strange Florence Sparks, with the children from town to play with him, Mrs Sumner & Jewett being the only grown guests, & we thought of Eva’s little fête & wondered where the fair-haired, gentle lassie was at present. I believe I have Mr Darwin’s right address, but as I am not certain write rather at a venture. Are you thinking of Scotland about these days, or have not yet exhausted the London season?
I hope the Lawrences make a successful début, & keep their grand iloquence of style within due bounds. They are so truly kind-hearted that [p. 3] I hope any defects in taste will be pardoned, for it seems our destiny never to send abroad the best specimen of American manners. Mr Everett did very well but then Madame! Mrs Bancroft did very well but then Monsieur! & so on.
Papa & Harriet linger still at Baltimore much enjoying Georgie’s charming hospitality, & the easy, pleasant society of that cordial city. A physician renowned for bronchial troubles has father under his care, & has, we hope, effectually relieved his cough by cutting the elongated uvula which kept up the irritation in his throat. It was rater a painful operation Harriot writes, being done with caustic, but soon over. Poor papa! he is so patient under all this new experience of illness, and never complains, altho’ Jewett says, when so reduced in strength in Cuba, he was very low-spirited for a few days & really feared he was seriously ill. I think the bracing air of Berk [p. 4] shire will do him more good than anything, for this trouble in the throat was caused by weakness. Have the wonders of cod-liver oil been fully appreciated in England for all cases of cough & lung complaints when not hopelessly bad? It seems to have a marvelous fattening, strengthening soothing effect, & the French disguise it in a way to be swallowed with ease. Pray recommend it if you hear of any sufferers from these causes.
Emmeline returns to Geneseo as soon as her sister has sailed, & I know not when I shall see her again. We went together the other day to see Gliddon unwrap a mummy which he believe to be a priestess of Thebes but which turned out to be a man, some[crossed out: where] how put, by mistake, in her coverings. Jewett thinks she (Em, not the mummy) never looked so charmingly – she is very stout & blooming & her children look better as the weather grows warmer. Uncle Sam has lately bestowed $20.000 upon the heirs of the friend who first advised him to come to Boston – a noble gift. He is making smooth his pathway to the grave [p. 1 cross] by the fragrance of perpetual charity. Love to all your Scotch cousins. I hope you will much enjoy your visit among them & grow strong in the good mountain air.
With Henry’s love & kisses to the chicks, ever thy aff
Fanny E. Longfellow.

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