File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Mary (Appleton) Mackintosh, 15 May 1842 (93268c32-09a1-48df-9064-526d52465a03).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-012#003

Boston. May 15th 1842
Dearest Mrs Rich,
Robert’s last letter informed you, I believe, of their purposed return but I write to forewarn you of their immediate arrival having sailed hence direct, for London this day week. Perhaps, however, they have already announced themselves so that all my accounts of them will be amusingly superfluous, but, as it is hardly probable as voyages go, I will give you the news you must otherwise desire. They came to this sudden decision to leave us mainly, I believe, because the means were so comfortably at hand – the quiet of a ship with few passengers, to get on board of which required only the fatigue of driving through a few streets, was so desirable a thing for Mary’s nerves [p. 2] that Robert hardly hesitated a day, & they were off after less than a week’s preparation. Now that they are actually gone I endeavor to believe, & do believe, this abrupt leave-taking was the best for her & us all, & have great hopes that the voyage will do more for her than risking our summer heat, & that in your temperate climate her health will be fully re-established if God ever intends it to be. It has been a great joy & satisfaction to us all to have had them here, this winter, & the house seems sadly desolate & silent without them, especially without Ronny who made the very walls alive with his overflowing vitality, but, for my part, I am so grateful to God & man when I consider that nearly a year now we have [p. 3] been together that I am contented to turn to other sources of happiness. Nothing can be more different than the feeling I have about this departure & the first one. That had much uncertainty to embitter it & ignorance of my own resources against such a new loss, but I feel now that she is only going to another home, to kind hearts who have proved their affection in ways I have myself witnessed & can never forget - & I anticipate her joy in greeting them again. I have fitted myself too to my different position & have learned more truly, thanks to your kind teaching in a measure dearest Mrs Rich, the all-consoling truth that I can never be alone – I am never so. God is rarely far or long from me - & that is a fullness of joy which [p. 4] nothing external can diminish. I should be ashamed to have written about myself at length if you had not often urged it. How dear little Ronny’s growth will astonish you. I should like to see the encounter between him & Susie. How happy he will to be once more in a land of donkies!
I sent by Mary a conducting-rod of my love & constant remembrance of your kindness, dear Mrs Rich, in the shape of a paper-cutter, which being a thing for daily use, will I hope recal [sic] me daily. My Father & brother send their kindest regards to you. Will you give mine to Gower St & Plumstead? Hoping you will soon welcome our wanderers I remain, as ever,
Very affectionately yrs
Fanny E Appleton.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; subject; social life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1842 (1011/002.001-012); (LONG-FileUnitName)