File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 15 July 1848 (142d73ed-1e12-44dd-bec4-cf0fbf352b2f).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-018#001

Cambridge Saturday –
Dear Annie
Your note greeted us pleasantly on our return yesterday, but it was little consolation for the loss of your presence. If they could know what delight it is to me to have you near me, they would not have begrudged you a day of your visit, but I can well understand why they hold you, at home, so fast. I so wished you could have remained with us thro’ our Nahant visit. The weather [p. 2] was delicious the latter part of it, & the moonlight so soft & beautiful. The children had one bath upon the little beach near us, but we found the stones so disagreeable we gave them another upon the large beach, which they enjoyed highly – pattering over the smooth sand. Even little Fan was dipped in the great sea, & was not appalled by the size of her tub, tho’ Charley was frightened at such an expanse & had a vague idea of being swallowed up.
We saw many friends while [p. 3] there, & were very pleasantly entertained by them. Mrs Paige gave us a very handsome dinner, & an exceedingly merry one, with Mr Prescott, the Motleys, Fletcher Webster &c, & Mrs Charles Amory a social tea-drinking, & the afternoon before we left Sarah Lawrence had a very pretty child’s party, to which we took our four eldest, - but Charley & Erny were so sleepy from their bath they did not join much in the fun. Mrs Tudor sent me a splendid bouquet from her garden, & I so much regretted not taking you there, for it [p. 4] must be now a still greater curiosity than when I saw it some years ago. We all feel very lazy today, from the change of air, altho’ it is a delicious day too & not too warm, but are finishing our packing, & hope to get off on Monday for Pittsfield. The children look much better for their week of salt air.
Caroline Greenleaf left word here that Mary was expected today, & I do hope we shall not be disappointed in a sight of her, provokingly short as it will be, before we leave. Many thanks for the bird-poem, which is indeed charming – full of a mother’s first emotions of tenderness & awe.
I hope Aunt Lucia is enjoying her visit & that Father has recovered from [p. 1 cross] the fatigue of his expedition. The garden looked lovely last night by moonlight. I walked in it with Henry without bonnet, so dry was the air, & heard the students singing on the river. I feel most grateful for yr labours of love in it.
Mary feels stronger sends her love to you. I wish you could have had more time to know each other. With love to all ever yr aff Fanny L.
[p. 2 cross] I have sent for some Farina & will write you the directions when I get it. We came upon the steamboat in a thick fog.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; places; united states; ma; nahant; subject; travel; family life; social life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1848 (1011/002.001-018); (LONG-FileUnitName)