File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 5 May 1844 (ad6343e7-e843-4434-b821-994119b2a4f0).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-014#014

Cambridge. May 5th 1844
Dear Papa,
Yesterday pm (Sunday) Tom arrived, & while Em & Sam & Aunt Sally were drinking tea with us suddenly appeared looking much stouter & browner than usual & full of chat of course. We were most thankful to welcome him, having been expecting him hourly since Friday, & beginning to think it rather strange Judkins should be so behindhand; but they had a very bad passage of head winds & were in both fog & ice for many hours. He met Uncle Wm at the wharf who took him home to tea & then furnished him with a gig in which he came direct to us- & passed the night & has just returned to town to get his letters & see his friends. We hope to retain him at least until your return. He left Mary & Mac well [crossed out: to] & luckily met at Halifax Maria Goodwin & Mr Bent. John Bryant, Tom Bradford & young/ Thorndike returned with him. He seems astounded at the warmth of the weather (it is like June & the forwardness of every thing. The trees are snowy with blossoms, the lilacs are purple, & altogether the season is unusually lovely for us.
[p.2] Warren’s men are busy enough out of doors in arranging the paths & turf & within carpenters are hammering to fill up the cracks. On Saturday the Worcesters fairly left us in complete possession with rooms nicely cleaned & uncarpeted stairs & entries. I enjoy like a child my new suite, & Em & Sam agreed with us yesterday that no modern house can compare with this in architecture & arrangement. Aunt Sally took a solitary promenade thro’ the deserted rooms to indulge sentimental reminiscences of the Past. I hope to get into my new bed-room this week, the carpet woman being engaged & my carpet made. Both economy & patriotism, not to speak of taste, decide me to patronize the Lowell manufacture largely. Do I not properly practice on the precepts you inculcate. If any body grumbles about the Tariff you can tell them that a very fastidious young woman of your acquainttance assures you she infinitely prefers home carpeting for beauty, excellence & cheapness.
It seems very strange to see Tom domesticated here & made me very happy last night to think he was sleeping under my roof. He acknowledges his return was rather accidental, but for John Bryant as a leves[?] I doubt if it [p.3] would have been effected. I earnestly hope his present good looks will continue & that he will not repent it, or find us dull after all the excitement of his late life.
I have been somewhat disappointed not to hear yet from you, & find Emmeline is more favored. Mr Prescott reported dining with you & Drs Wainwright & Potts (what an odd practical joke!) in New York, & Jane Norton[?] has written her enjoyment of the children, but this is all we have gleaned of your doings. Pray give us all your social or public adventure. I have not been to town since I wrote Harriet, but hear thro’ Em of the baby’s welfare. Orpheus & Belshazzar’s feast may draw me in this week tho’ I doubt it while the weather is so warm. Tell Harriet to keep an eye on the style of paper adopted in tasteful houses- perhaps she could get me a few patterns- [crossed out: one] with vines & birds I should like if it were findable. I see at the shops here nothing prettier than I already have. Also beg her to remember the strawberry preserves in Phil. (Em also wishes some I believe) & any little matters she thinks I might like I shall welcome gratefully. I remain perfectly well & strong. We have an exhibition tomorrow. Mr Prescott’s son having a part & collation & as Em comes to that I hope to secure her for dinner. She & Mary Ward [p.4 bottom of page] walked out & passed the day lately & between us we concocted some jocose letters for the Rogers P.O. at Mr Putnam’s Fair, tell Harriet. Tom brought out for Mrs JR Mills a fox’s head set in silver from Mr Colman. He was in at its death! A yankee fox-hunting passon [sic] is a new phase of humanity. What a weak & wicked letter is Mr Calhoun’s on Texas. It has excited great indignation here, & [top of page] is thought the most disgraceful state paper we ever perpetrated. Cautious Daily says nothing however but offers it in silence like an advertisement. Anna Ticknor hear[sic] has the cowpox or some kind of pox. Mr Prescott gave a juvenile dinner at the Tremont for Sam Ward & asked all Henry’s clique but himself. This is strange & has happened twice. We are reading Seatsfield & find some of his [p. 1 cross] southern sketches very spirited. I suppose you are on the verge of the geological celebration & I hope got safely thro’ Baltimore & the convention. Much love to Harriet & the children. When may we hope to see you here again?
Yr loving
Fannikin.
ADDRESSED: HON N. APPLETON. / WASHINGTON

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