File:Fanny Appleton to Susan Benjamin, 5 August 1832 (85e281d8-bf70-4f3f-8d54-8472aa16b6ed).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-002#013

Boston. – August 5th 1832. –
 Who could believe, dearest Sue, that shadow and substance could have had so little affinity or correspondence with each other for such a length of time, but alas! such is the fact, and as mine is the blame I will haste to loose it from my shoulders.  I received your last sweet letter while in the midst of my country delights, which I have since been obliged to relinquish for the more sober and certainly less pleasing ones of the city, but the seperation [sic] from our dear friends and “rural subjects of Newton, was less sorrowful, as we returned home to welcome dear Papa, who has been so long absent from us, attending to the arduous duties of public affairs.  I was extremely distressed to hear you had been ill, but could perceive that it had occasioned any alteration in my appearance, at least for the worse, for I have grown surprisingly robust and still continue to be a monster of a girl.  Is not that very odd?
 I just heard that the Cabots have arrived safe here (without having the Cholera) from their tour through the Canadas – how provoked you must be that you could not have accompanied them, but perhaps some day we may go together, and then I am sure I shall not regret your disappointment.  Mr Newton I often see promenading with his [p. 2] beloved, and looking so happy!  They are to be married very soon I believe; and to go to England in October.  Sally has been quite ill, but is now “suffering a recovery” as her “cavalier servente” calls it.  Boston was never duller than at present – and I literally yawn away my time having nothing where with to occupy myself, for how is it possible to do anything such warm weather?  I have faint hopes that we shall go down to Nahant ere a vast while, but there is a stupid mantuamaking business to be accomplished first, which it is doubtful will ever have an end.  My chief delight in [crossed out: the] this somniferous period is, the enjoyment of the cold bath, of which I am extremely fond, and there I spend most of my time, for I do not feel sufficient strenght [sic] or inclination to talk about in the heat, on such fascinating promenades as the city can offer.
 You must know it perfectly despairs me to think of returning to school, for I have been running wild so long, I know not how I shall ever submit to the restraint it necessarily inflicts.  I once thought vacations the most tiresome things in the world, and could not imagine how I could employ myself after leaving school forever, but now I have become so used to it, that I feel exactly the reverse, but no doubt when I am once tamed down to the uniformity of school, I shall like it extremely.  I hear Mr Emerson is very much changed on account of the death of [p. 3] his wife, and I do not wonder at it.  She was an angel of a woman, and they were every thing to each other.  I have not seen of late any of the girls of our Sewing Circle, except Mary Warren and her double shadows, whom she has just deserted for Newport!
 The Cholera as you probably know has not yet made its appearance amongst us, but it appears to be coming nearer and nearer, for it is at Providence, I see, and it has but a step farther to go, but still some persist it will never get here, Boston is so peculiarly situated.  You say in your last letter that if I write before the middle or the last of August I must direct my letter to Hartford, therefore I shall d[o] so, trusting you will get it some time or other.  I hope those Stafford springs will restore your health totally, and that my next accounts from you will be that you are recovered and will return home in September, which you surely ought to do you have been absent such an immense time.  At all events pray write me soon, for I am anxious to hear of your weal, and remembering me to Mary, receive an embrace and kiss from me (the next one I hope will be personal) and believe me as ever your own true
 Fan.
 Addressed: Miss Susan Benjamin. / Park Benjamin Esq / Hartford. –

• Keywords: correspondence; frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1832 (1011/002.001-002); (LONG-FileUnitName)