File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Mary (Appleton) Mackintosh, 16 December 1856 (804ca188-6234-41cb-85cf-8207eaf6a80e).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-026#018

Cambridge Dec 16th 1856.
Dear Mary,
I hope you and Robert have come to some satisfactory decision about your winter for it must be very painful to be in such uncertainty, but after your wandering life I suppose it is hard to get fast rooted anywhere. Why do you not try, for a few months, some nice country villa like the one Tom had, near enough to London to slip in easily by rail, and yet free from its smoke & gloom? Still I did hope you would both feel like a turn on the Continent before you settled down believing it would refresh you both & drive away all remnants of Robert’s ill- [p. 2] ness. He would find so many countrymen everywhere & perhaps enough good ones to take away the foreign feeling agreeably with the charm of a brighter sky & balmier air and new & interesting objects to examine. But he loves London so well & has been so long deprived of it I suppose he is reconciled to all its wintry fogs.
Tom seems none too happy in Paris, & I fancy has about exhausted ‘strange garrets’ & will return better contented to remain quietly in dull old Boston. Aunt Sam hoped to secure for him the house next hers but Mrs Parkman prefers to retain it. She is much interested just now in Louisa Bangs’ engagement to Rölker, Henry’s old friend, & the former teacher of German here. He is now settled in New York, thinking to do better there as a law [p. 3] yer which they all regret, but Aunt Sam is glad Louisa has this happiness just now as she felt much her brother’s marriage. Louisa is a very fine girl but I doubt not Rölker will make her an excellent husband. He is very true & reliable and warmhearted & domestic & they have much sympathy in books &c They seem all very happy in Mrs Edward. Sumner dined with us yesterday, the first time I have seen him since he left us. He looked very well & feels that he is really gaining. Six months quiet the doctor demands to restore him but he will not give it. He is impatient to get to Washington but promises to be as prudent as he can. Next summer he will probably go abroad. They have been cheered by hearing of a boat of the Lyman’s found full of stores &c which was thought to prove the passengers were picked up, but [p. 4] now that is dashed again by one of those saved saying it drifted away before occupied. Still we all think Albert Sumner must have been saved. Mr Strong, who was with us at Newport had a mother & sister on board.
The boys have had great fun, tell Ronny, skating on Fresh bond with the students & young ladies – many learning now that invigorating accomplishment. & the moonlights have been like sunshine almost. Miss Davie was here last night to tea, taking advantage of Mr Tudor’s Club, for she generally reads to him in the ev’g. Mrs Tudor is very gay at balls & parties & gives them frequently, rushing from the quiet of Nahant into all this whirl. She remained at N. till the snow came. Miss Davie has gained in looks & health from the great exercise Mrs T. keeps her up to - & seems very happy in her luxurious home. My children are all well tho’ I feel very anxious for the scarlet fever is raging in Boston & I hardly venture to take them in. Baby is getting upon her feet & is very rosy & robust, more lively than my little snow-drop Edie. Alice has a nice little French class here twice a week & is a very quick learner.
[p. 1 cross] Mr Sparks has sent us an autograph letter of Col Trumbulls (who was Washington’s aide while in this house) showing that the study was dining room then, the Library Washingtons study & the drawing-room – reception room. This is very interesting to us. Mr Peabody (the clergyman) won every one so by the beauty of his character they cannot do enough for his widow. A large sum is raised for her & her two boys provided for by Mr Thayer & Mr Swain. Give our warmest thanks to Robert for his kind offers about the boys, but we could not think of separating from them & the Vevey school is now too American to be desirable.
[p. 2 cross] A merry Xmas to you all & a happy New Year! God bless you & yours!

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