File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 12 July 1844 (942e6073-4e1d-4e94-970a-aabab93a78d3).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-014#016

Cambridge, July 12th 1844.
Dearest Papa,
I think you will be glad to know from myself that I can no longer be considered an invalid. I have taken my meals since last Saturday in the Library & am only waiting for some rain to lay the dust to drive out. The drought here is fearful – three feet beneath the earth’s surface it is perfectly dry – I fear for our young trees.
Homeopathy has cured my lameness & I now walk through our spacious rooms very comfortably though rather totteringly as yet. The baby thrives apace & is growing fatter & heavier every day; all the household are devoted to him & are wretched if he cries-; that is the lower House. He is very good on the whole, but keeps his bright eyes open longer than Nurse Blake likes in [p. 2] the day time but shuts them like other folks at night-; he “trains” now & then (nurse phraseology for screaming) but only from hunger – his health is excellent. Tom is with us & still resolves upon sailing in the next steamer. His health & spirits are so much better the other side of the water I cannot urge him to stay – but feel as if his visit had been nothing I have seen so little of him. Poor Sumner is quite ill; fever has been hanging about him for some time, & he is now confined to his chamber. Some of his friends are very anxious about him fearing his iron frame will break rather than bend under illness. I am very glad you enjoy the exhilarating air of Berkshire so much & hope Harriet finds it better than she expected. With her dear ones all with her she cannot feel very lonely.
[p. 3] Tomorrow is the anniversary of our wedding day & you must not forget to drink our healths. We intend to celebrate it by dining Em & Tom in the new! dining room which is carpeted & in order for the occasion. We have had some very warm and terribly dusty days this week, but an east wind refreshed us yesterday & today clouds hang overhead but won’t descend. Tom is eager to have me go to Nahant ere long, & if you were there I would, but fear there is no comfortable corner unappropriated. If I could fly to Pittsfield I should like that still better but the railroad & distance will deter me this summer – probably.
Ask Harriet if she or Eliza know of a good woman fit to trust the care of my manikin to. I am anxious to secure one & it is such an important office I should be glad to hear of the best candidates.
Love to her & kisses to the chicks. Henry’s to all also. Good bye Yr aff Fan
[p. 4 bottom] The baby had 3 cheers in the College yard after the cheering for the pails! Yesterday was Class day & the dancing in the green was very pretty I hear. Ned Bangs, young Emerson (George B’s son [p. 4 top] who used to proclaim the arrival of umbrellas to his Papa’s young ladies on rainy days so few years ago) Greenwod &c acquitted themselves well at the Exhibition. Poor Dr. Noyes lost a child last Sunday – it fell from the chamber window into the street – a girl of four years.
ADDRESSED: HON NATHAN APPLETON. / PITTSFIELD. / MASS.
POSTMARK: BOSTON / [JUL] 12 / M.S.
ENDORSED: FANNY LONGFELLOW / BABY - 1844

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; subject; health and illness; family life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1844 (1011/002.001-014); (LONG-FileUnitName)