File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Zilpah (Wadsworth) Longfellow, 25 August 1850 (7a8fc415-da73-43b5-adc7-2cc85250d34c).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-020#029

Nahant. Aug 25th 1850
Dear mother,
I fear you think I have been very neglectful of your wish to hear from me, but as writing is very fatigueing [sic] to me just now I have postponed constantly the effort. And, in truth, I have very little to say that would interest you, our life here is so quiet & regular, except to express my sincere sympathy with your home trials & how fervently I wish they could be lightened. My thoughts were much with you at the beginning of this month, & I trust your spirit was upheld as the sad anniversary of your great loss returned. We were truly grieved to hear Stephen was so ill – how pleasant home must be to him & your [p. 2] devoted care.
We have passed a very agreeable vacation here, - among so many friends, & have much enjoyed our informal intercourse with them, our quiet little cottage & the near presence of the sea. I am much stronger in this air, & have been remarkably comfortable on the whole, getting, usually, a walk every morning after breakfast & a drive upon the beaches in the afternoon. The children have been perfectly well, & in riotous spirits, and so brown you would hardly know them as here they are able to be all day in the open air & much frequent a shady beach near us where they bathe & play with quantities of other children for this is one great nursery. Erny has picked out a wife among them, & they have several ardent attachments. They were, on [p. 3] Friday, at a very pretty child’s party given by Mrs Charles Amory, where were two little boys in Turkish costume to add to the gaiety of the scene. But our time of freedom is drawing to a close, & Henry is obliged to resume his duties on Thursday next. If he does not find it too troublesome to go back & forth, & the weather continues very warm, we shall probably remain another week, but not longer than the 5th of September.
The children were highly pleased with their paper animals, & have cut out from them quite a number. They are very fond of drawing & cutting out what they draw, but lessons have to wait till they return to school. I do not know that I have any particular anecdote for you except one which touched me at the time. Erny was one night [p. 4] very tired & sleepy & was muttering his prayers so indistinctly that I begged him to speak more plainly. He said “God can hear me if I only whisper cant he?” Which was too true for me to gainsay. We have very fine preaching here, - some of the best Boston clergy-men in town. A very good sermon last Sunday from Mr Bellows of N. York, & the previous one Mr Lathrop favored us with nearly all Henry’s “Psalm of Life” which we sat under as meekly as possible. How is your good Dr? Thank Annie very warmly for the little shoes, & the pamphlet on the ministry at large which interested me much. Had a letter yesterday from Sam who has returned to Fall River after a very pleasant visit to the Isle of Shoals I have been hoping to see Mary here & am glad to know she is so well – Much love to her & all. Alex must consult Miss Cooper’s book for a name for his new estate. Is he established there [p. 1 cross] yet? Many kisses from the children to dear Grandmama & much love from Henry & your ever aff
Fanny.
We should like to hear how Stephen is from time to time.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; subject; family life; social life; places; united states; ma; nahant; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1850 (1011/002.001-020); (LONG-FileUnitName)