File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Mary (Appleton) Mackintosh, 4 February 1859 (7d7134a5-00c4-4519-877f-4f39433124ea).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-029#004

Cambridge Feb 4th /59
Dear Mary,
You will see, by the paper, that our dearly beloved Mr Prescott is no more.
He was seized with another attack of apoplexy, or paralysis, & died in two hours.
It is some comfort that he was spared prolonged suffering, but what a loss he is! It is hard to believe we shall not see his beautiful countenance again, nor receive his warm & friendly greeting. He has [p. 2] looked so well too lately, & his boyish spirits & gentle fun have been unaltered by the previous shock, so that we almost forgot it, & hoped for years more of his delightful presence. Boston can ill afford to lose the sunshine he takes with him, & his hosts of friends will never find such another. He is so associated with life & joy that it was very startling, at his funeral, (in his church crowded to its uttermost capacity) to see the silent coffin borne up the aisle, & hard to re- [p. 3] sign his mortal being. All wept as for a brother. It was very touching to see his wife start forward as they removed the coffin from before her eyes, to take a last look, & then sink back prostrated. If his loss is so much to us what must it be to her & his family!
I send you a paper with some of his friends’ tributes to his memory, thinking it would interest you.
Tom has returned from New York having had a very gay time. It is indeed a fast place from his accounts.
Mrs Charles Parker, Char [p. 4] lotte Greenough) sister of Miss Tom Curtis, has died very suddenly after child-birth.
We had Felton, Agassiz Tom & Mr Lentze, the artist, yesterday at dinner & they were all very agreeable.
Henry has written Sumner of his friend’s death to whom it will be very painful, but he will have the satisfaction of remembering his ardent sympathy in his illness, & strong anti-slavery feeling since that attack.
Love to R. & the children I hope you are feeling stronger & have cheerful visitors.
Yrs aff Fanny.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; document; death; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1859 (1011/002.001-029); (LONG-FileUnitName)