File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Reverend Samuel Longfellow, 26 December 1848 (9c5b8f39-fb53-4e6e-adce-bf46cbdfc64b).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-018#037

Cambridge Dec 26th / 48
Dear Sam,
The holly arrived safely & is cheering us with its bright berries – a most welcome stranger, for I have long wished to make its acquaintance, & do not remember to have done so before, never having been in England in winter.
The fair Fornarina, in the hall, is decorated with a wreath, which becomes her exceedingly, &, in the alcove in the drawing room, hangs a little cross. I sent some of the brightest sprigs to Annie, yesterday morning, as it did not reach me till Saturday night, with a foundation of guava jelly, fruit of a very different clime.
I congratulate you heartily on such a discovery, & should have much liked to see your church in [p. 2] its Xmas robes. How truly, as Shakspeare says in a different sense, “a touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” What a crowd of pleasant associations rush forward at the word holly – from all ages & climes. How many English eyes, in all parts of the world, would have glistened at the sight of those green leaves, as did Pattys, who came sailing out of her kitchen, with a host of tender memories tugging at hear heart-strings, the moment she heard I had such a treasure. What is California gold to this? It cannot create such sacred associations.
Despite the storm yesterday we had a very merry Xmas. We dined in town, & in the evening, Mrs A. had a family-party – with a beautiful Xmas tree for the children. They romped & danced before supper, & while engaged in that below stairs, the tree was lit, & the folding doors were flung open as soon as they ascen [p. 3] ded – a surprise to all. It was a very fine hemlock, & the sparkling colored candles, & many gay presents made it a very pretty show. The top glistened with innumerable love-apples like hovering cherubs, which rivalled the glowing cheeks of the delighted children. Henry won a pair of slippers, I a pretty pair of lace cuffs, & Charley & Erny beautiful toys, one of a farmyard with reposing cow, cocks &c about, in a high style of nursery art. Mrs M’Lellan was there, & was highly gratified with a handsome purse which bore her name. The little candles burned an hour, & the whole thing went off most successfully. We drove home at ten, the children still wide awake & in great glee. Mr Hillard of Alabama has been making father a visit, or we should have remained over night. He seems a gentle minded Southerner – says he should never make a Republic to contain Slavery, but being here, thinks it will [p. 4] die out of itself gradually, when the States get peopled enough with whites to make a competition between white & black labor. He hurries off today, hearing of this great news from Washington, disastrous to his ideas, most encouraging to ours. We passed Thanksgiving week in town very pleasantly, Henry taking part of it for Portland. My sister had a delightful voyage, stopping a day en route at the “still vexed Bermoothes,” & lo! Tom after a few days of tropical life, with its mosquitoes, hot-house atmosphere, in which he says you feel the hot water, & the sensation of being boiled, with the sky like the glass burning over yr head, rushed back, making but a month’s absence in all, & here I hope he will remain all winter. I had a pleasant talk with Mr Peabody last night. The evening-star looks most lovingly into my nursery window these clear evenings, & I like to fancy my darling may be looking thence upon her little playmates. So do they. I told them about Xmas, & of Christ as a little child, so good every body loved him & liked to keep [p. 1 cross] his birthday, which seemed to interest them much. It is curious how the pure faith of children tempts me to talk to them with more confidence than to grown people tho’ they understand so much less. They know not doubt, nor the dreadful Mephistophelian sneer.
Think of poor Mr Emerson, but he is happily calm & is rather relieved that his son was spared a life of insanity Poor Pitt Fessenden has lost his little girl as well as your [p. 2 cross] friend Preble his. Did you miss your pocket book? You left it here [p. 3 cross] but as it contained no money we kept it till we should hear from you. Wont you come for it yourself or shall we send it? With the warmest wishes of the season
yrs hurridly but affly
Fanny
Lowell has written a beautiful Xmas poem

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; holidays; christmas; subject; social life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1848 (1011/002.001-018); (LONG-FileUnitName)