File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Zilpah (Wadsworth) Longfellow, 19 February 1847 (9fa37576-ba26-406a-8a08-d6b54683988e).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-017#008

Cambridge Feb. 19th 1847.
Dear mother,
Your charming little mats were exceedingly welcome, and I should have thanked you for them long since. It is a great pleasure to have pretty things about me associated with a kind remembrance, worked in love, & not the cold purchase from my own purse, which so many must necessarily be. They furnish a room almost with living faces, the noblest kind of furniture, & make one feel always within reach of friendly hearts. I wish I could make some such return, but alas I am not much skilled in handicraft, & before I was married rarely ever had a needle in my [p. 2] my hand. Being much alone a book was a better companion, for I think one desires society while sewing.
I was delighted to hear thro’ Sam, who dropped down upon us last night, that you had been able to drive out. I have been hoping all winter that the remarkably mild weather we have had extended to Portland, but Henry did not give a very encouraging account from his visit, bringing back a severe Influenza. However, it was quite cold here just those few days he was gone, so he would have been as likely to feel it if he had been at home. The constant thaws & dampness have caused more illness than our usual winter weather, & have quite reconciled me to a dry atmosphere, altho’ as hard to breathe as steel filings.
I have been fighting off Influenzas [p. 3] all winter, & not always successfully, but since the children’s first attack they have remained very well. Erny had his first walk in Beacon St the other day – I mean on his own feet, - & very cunningly he looks with his red gaiters & white hat & feather. He promises to be as rosy as Charley, & is as round as a ball. He follows Charley’s example in every thing manly, & plays ball with great vigour, besides being ambitious to master the wheelbarrow & all the carts! I have a very nice nurse, & take great delight in seeing the children so well & happy. Charley has fattened up since his teething was completed, & has grown much gentler, & more affectionate & quiet. He has great joy in an imaginary post office & express cart, &, tho’ slow to acquire notions of obedience, is a very good little boy on the whole. So much for the nursery, which I know you love to hear about, [p. 4] and which I love to describe to willing ears.
Sam has had a formal call to West Cambridge, & I cannot but hope he will accept it, if he feels strong enough to undertake any parish at present. He has decided, I believe, to resign Newburyport, which would be too much for him, & does not seem to me at all desirable, tho’ I have not ventured to say a word, until he spoke very plainly about his health. Writing is so exhausting & exciting to him that I wish he could have leisure to prepare, gradually, a quantity of sermons, & not be compelled to write so often. W. C. is charming in summer, & I shall rejoice if he can be so near us.
Tell Annie I had a note lately from Anne Stevenson who is in N. York enjoying herself highly. Please tell her, besides, that I am in no hurry for my piece of work, & did not think of letting it interfere with her charitable labors, but thinking she might have nothing on hand, (if that blissful state ever arrives to her,) sent it on to be made up square into a cushion for the back. I imagine she would not wish to undertake enough of it for a [p. 1 cross] chair cover, nor could I tax her busy hands so far. With much love to Father, Aunt Lucia, Marianne, who I hope is now well again, & dearest Annie – ever yr affectionate
Fanny
We had a visit the other day from Mr Wadsworth of Duxbury, Representative in Boston who recalled some of Henry’s childish reminiscences.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; subject; family life; health and illness; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1847 (1011/002.001-017); (LONG-FileUnitName)