File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 9 February 1857 (8697f245-c007-4a6c-99ac-e90b0592e296).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-027#006

Cambridge Feb 9th 1857.
Dear Tom,
I wish you could have peeped into the study, last week, to have seen the juvenile faces when the doll-box arrived, with its fascinating contents. Charley, having been made the happy possessor of a tool-box at Xmas, was called upon for aid, & soon undid the lid, with Erny’s help, while Alice & Edie stood by, dumb with expectation, their eyes sparkling like stars & their cheeks glowing like roses as I opened the inner cover, & revealed the most beautiful of dolls, with all the choice paraphernalia of her toilette. Then such exclamations of delight, as they examined them, but by bit, & rushed with them from me to Rachel, from whose arms baby was gazing wonderingly on. It was really an era in their little lives, & they will probably remember, years hence, the [p. 2] sensation caused by this arrival. I had told Alice, a few days before, what was coming, & of the doll sailing on the sea, & discussed with her the chances of her being sea-sick &c, so she was expecting her with quite a human interest combined with the wonder of a foreign acquaintance. They both dreamed of the doll that night & the next day, the French class coming, they had a welcome opportunity to display her perfections to their little friends. I enjoy with them her charms for it is always a pleasure to see anything so complete & finished. The next day my box arrived, and the two beautiful dresses emerged fresh & fair as if just from the maker’s hands. I have no doubt the ev’g one will be quite resplendent when fully unfolded, & the purple will make a very rich day costume. I am very glad it is both larger & longer than my old measure, & fits admirably. The hoop too I was glad to see, being so much more pliable & moderate than those we have here. It is a magnificent present, my dear Tom, & you were very very kind to [p. 3] be so generous in adorning me. These pleasant arrivals came very cheeringly after a week of sad anxiety. My little baby had been very ill, from her teeth, & had given us some painful, watching nights & days of gloom – but now, thank God, she is relieved, & - tho’ slowly regaining her flesh & strength is quite her lively self again. Today we have your letter, with the enclosure for papa, which he has been expecting. How very sad is Crawford’s condition! His wife sailed in the last Boston steamer & by this has arrived. She left her children behind. If the loss of one eye can save the brain & life they will now think it little, no doubt. In the midst of such a successful career & so much happiness it is a cruel blow.
Our world of snow has turned to a world of rain, a week of oppressively wild weather has left Boston streets in an indescribable state of horror. I went on Saturday with Em, however, to make calls, at the imminent risk of her horses legs. [p. 4] We congratulated the sweet Ella Lowell on her engagement to Arthur Lyman, both youth & damsel models of perfection they say. The solemn & awful death of Brooks has been the great event since I wrote. A lesson our selfish people should stop, shuddering, to learn, but at Washington they honored his funeral as if he were one of those deserving honour, & both Presidents were present! Still, now, many try to make out he was remorseful & even go so far as to hint he took strychnine, but this is very improbable. Curtis has a lively article in Putnam on Southern Literature & the farce lately enacted at the Southern Convention of condemning northern books. It will be like the Papal prohibition, - the best books cut off from them. Hoit the painter is dead, & his pictures having been sold for the benefit of his widow Henry has bought his old man’s head which is really a very striking picture & looks well in the Library. Em dines with me tomorrow & I will ask her of the shirts.
Sumner is enjoying studying maps & guidebooks & thinking of his foreign tour. He has not been so well this milder weather, & walks more feebly, but still expects to get to W. before March. Father says if he goes now people will say [p. 1 cross] he was afraid of Brooks! It is hard to hear one’s friends so maligned, but we know that all the best people appreciate him.
Your James has I believe a place at Mr Sidney Babbitts. Your Parisian Club must be delightful I hope your ménage works well now.
Charley Appleton is a papa!
Yrs affly
Fanny E.L.

• Keywords: correspondence; feal; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; events; death; subject; health and illness; family life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1857 (1011/002.001-027); (LONG-FileUnitName)