File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 21 October 1850 (7a5c9dde-7375-4a9a-97d9-243d3ae923d3).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#038

Cambridge Monday –
Dearest friend,
I was quite relieved to get your note this morning saying William was better, for I had felt very anxious since your last. We deeply sympathise [sic] with every change in his health for better or worse, & feel with painful reality all the fluctuations they must cause in your spirits.
Many many thanks for your dear words of love during my illness – they often filled my eyes with tears of joy that I had a friend who entered so warmly into my happiness while her own lot was so clouded. But I must not trust myself to say all I felt as I lay upon my couch dwelling upon the past & the present & my many blessings – one of the [p. 2] choicest truly being your unfailing friendship & affection.
I took my third drive today & am thankful to get a glimpse of the autumnal glories before they depart, & yesterday dined below for the first time with Tom & Henry & the children. I am, & have been, remarkably well, with no drawbacks & far greater strength, from the first, than I ever had before, for which I am deeply grateful as well as for my new treasure, for I confess my spirits sometimes sank at the thought of this accouchement (I know not why except they & my strength have been less the last few years) & as did Henry’s as he since confesses.
My darling promises very well in looks & behavior. She is very fat, with very broad shoulders (the image of Sally Perkins be [p. 3] hind) large dark-blue eyes, like Henrys, as well as the general shape of her head, a Grattanish nose & a mouth like mine – she laughs now very cunningly & begins to “take notice”. You may think this description not exactly agreeing with the previous sentence but remember I said promises. Her chief beauties at present are her pretty fingers & ears. At any rate I am very happy in her possession, tho’ more soberly than with my little Fanny. I live in the present & no longer venture to dwell with hope upon the future – tho’ the gift of a girl gave me a delight I have not felt since her departure. I was only two hours ill, & Miss Alexander was only just in time – the ether had hardly time to take effect, but relieved me at the last. I could not get Mrs Blake for the first week, as she was [p. 4] needed by Mrs Bigelow who was quite poorly, but Miss A. got me a Scotch woman who did very well, & I fortunately was well enough not to mind the change. I nurse about as well as usual, but Miss Alice (as I think we shall call her) is such a ravenous young lady that the bottle has to come into service in the 24 hours.
I return your lace as I already had some, & I know you will have more use for it that ever I shall. Cora Shaw has a little girl. Tom begs you to accept the pen as a present. He talks of sailing soon but I hope may not. Poor young Wormeley has burst a blood-vessel coughing – a sad thing for a youth so full of promise. I trust it will not be a serious trouble.
Mary has sailed for Antigua. She sent me by Mrs Story a handsome dress of worsted & silk trimmed with silk braid which comes very à propos. Willy goes [p. 1 cross] today to a country-school at Jamaica Plains - & this is all the news I must scribble you at present for my eyes are not strong & nurse Blake will be after me.
The Nortons have a party tonight for a Mrs Tiffany. They seem very happy in Louisa’s engagement to a sensible business man. Our love to Wm & best wishes – Kisses to the chicks
ever yr fond & true
Fanny E.L.

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