File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne (Longfellow) Pierce, 16 January 1846 (267b60ba-eaa5-4f69-b955-e14cbff99937).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-016#001

Craigie House
Jan 16th 1846
Dearest Annie,
Henry’s unexpected presence among you will seem a very speedy fulfilment [sic] of your gently uttered wish to that effect. I console myself for these yearly absences by picturing the joy written upon each face of the family circle as he appears to greet them, & heartily wish I could sometimes witness it with my own eyes. I trust he will find you all well, & able to enjoy his visit.
He must tell you what a charming [crossed out: little] gift God has graciously given us. Charlie so completely filled my heart that I felt as if I could never have a child I should love so well, unless it were a little girl, &, I am ashamed to [p. 2] say, welcomed this darling with no slight pang of disappointment, but it was very short lived. He has won upon me as much as Charlie did in the same time – perhaps more, as I comprehend better how to take care of him, & he is more constantly with me by night as well as day. He sleeps by my bedside in his little crib, & is so quiet & good that the touch of my finger is sufficient to rock him gently asleep after each meal. I have nursed him entirely until this week (when I found myself obliged to give him a draught of the bottle) & he has thriven famously. He promises to be a great beauty. His eyes are very large, & he observes people & things as much as a child twice his age – besides cooing & laughing very deliciously. His head is better formed than Charlies was, but is quite as bald. I think he looks exceedingly like Henry, particularly in the shape of his head & eyes. So much for maternal portrait painting.
What shall we call him? Our minds are somewhat divided between Henry and Ernest. Can you propose a better than either? but I imagine you will not care to go beyond the first.
Aunt Martha selected your worsteds, & I hope to your satisfaction. I am greatly interested in the success of your Fair & wish I had a leisure pair of hands to help you. Tell Mother, with my love, that her shawl was as useful as ornamental in my sitting-up days & matched very prettily my dressing-gown. I am not very strong yet but am fast becoming so & was happily able to attend my friend Emmeline Austin’s wedding on New Year’s day, by dint of some resolution & great desire to be present. I am glad to hear of Eliza Potter’s resignation to the hands of improvement. Give much love to her from me - & with a great deal also to all the family – ever your loving
Fanny.

• Keywords: frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); document; correspondence; long archives; frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1846 (1011/002.001-016); (LONG-FileUnitName)