File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Zilpah (Wadsworth) Longfellow, 9 November 1845 (d653a70c-b602-499b-a71e-5cea9555d40f).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-015#022

Dear Mother,
I am inexpressibly gratified by your kindness in working for me such a beautiful shawl. It is especially welcome just now, being just what I have long coveted, but will always be most precious in my eyes as a labour of love from you during hours when you have had so much reason to think only of your poor, suffering self. The colors please me exceedingly. Pray thank dear Annie also, very warmly, for her charming little shoes, which are exquisitely made & dainty enough for the foot of the Princess royal. [p. 2] I hope you do not feel very anxious about me. I have been very prudent of late, and much stronger in consequence, & doubt not all will go as well as possible. I am daily expecting the event, and shall be very well content to have it speedily accomplished. I am afraid I shall not have the pleasure of seeing Mrs Rand.
Henry & Sam are well & active, & send much love to all. The former expects a literary baby [crossed out: before] ere long; - that is, a new volume of poems. He has been writing quite regularly lately, although he sighs that his eyes limit his labors to a few hours a day. I wish very much he had gone [p. 3] to N. York this autumn to get a fresh stock of medicines and advice, but Dr Elliott will be here in the course of the winter.
When you see Marianne please give her my love, & thanks for her letter, which I have been constantly hoping to answer –; writing fatigues me, & therefore I have postponed it, trusting my brother’s would make some amends. Tell her I am spurring Aunt Martha to write for me, but she has such an extensive correspondence that I know not when she will find time. We hope Stephen & the children are well, & that she, herself, is more comfortable & composed. Did my brother’s letter produce any peculiar effects? I am afraid the magnetism, with which it was charged, evaporated on the way –
The Greenleafs have gone to [p. 4] town for the winter, but I trust we shall soon hear from them of Mary’s safe arrival.
Tell Annie I was much pleased to see Mr Pierce, tho’ but for a few moments in the apple-tree one sunny afternoon, & hope she enjoyed very much her visit to Baldwin, despite the dimness of the Autumnal foliage.
Earnestly praying, dear mother, that your health will not suffer severely by the coming cold, & that you will find much to enjoy within and without, I remain, with much love to all,
ever yr affectionate
Fanny –
Cambridge –
Nov 9th [pencil: 1845]
Charlie sends many kisses. He is cutting his 6th tooth, only, and is very hearty & strong.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1845 (1011/002.001-015); (LONG-FileUnitName)