File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 21 May 1848 (e95584ec-74a4-49a3-84c8-c53ade051ab3).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-018#014

Cambridge Monday
May 21st
[pencil: “[1848]”]
Dearest Anne,
I believe Stevy forgot, in his letter to his mother, to communicate the news of my sister’s happy arrival, which took place a week ago tomorrow - & was quite a surprise at the last, as she did not come by the steamer we expected but after it a few days – by a sailing vessel.
My joy in seeing her again, after so many years, was somewhat subdued by her appear- [p. 2] ance, & the disappointment it gave me. A year in that tropical climate & the anxieties she has been through, losing one child, & constantly fearful of another (about Erny’s age who has been much affected by the heat there) have thinned her miserably, - & she is like the wreck of her former self, but I hope her native air will restore what she has lost. She seems stronger than when here before, & feels better than she looks. Her children are charming. The eldest, Ronny, who I saw last a [p. 3] baby of a year old, is a nice, merry-looking little boy of 7 – her next a girl Eva, is very pretty, with golden curls & a pensive, gentle air, very like her mother, all say, at her age, & then there is little Angus a rogueish, cunning fellow, a nice playmate for Erny. Tho’ he looks nearer the age of baby – Erny seems quite a man beside him tho’ only two months older. They have been at my fathers, that Mary may see all her Boston friends & cheer his heart after such a long separation, but will come to me in a few days. [p. 4] The three intensely hot days of last week were not very beneficial to her baby, & one of the nurses who is ill. But now – what a change again! Stevy went again, on Saturday, to look after his ship, & found little hopes of its sailing for another week! He is very impatient, finding Cambridge so dull that he most go to town every day to see something going on. He is a very well-behaved, quiet boy, & gives me no trouble whatever - & the children enjoy much his companionship. Patrick Greenleaf invited him to Charleston, thinking he would be more amused there, so near the Navy Yard &c, but he is shy strangers & doesn’t seem inclined to go. The lamps have arrived, safely I believe. I have not yet opened them. We were not much amazed at Mrs Dearings engagement. Pray give her our felicitations. One here, Mary Dwight to your Dr Park [p. 4 cross] man unites two huge families & is of great interest to all her friends - She is a very remarkable girl & he simply a good fellow, so many feel disappointed, but I have faith it will be for her happiness. I had a nice letter from Mary lately. She fears James cannot leave as early as usual on account of business matters, but I hope will not make it too late.
If the shirt found under Stephen’s pillow is not his I cannot explain the mystery. It has porcelain buttons & is of cotton in the skirt but without a mark – Perhaps he will know it by these tokens. It is nicely done up so he can claim it at any moment. Love to all
ever aff
Fan –
Cant you come & take a look at us all soon? It is so lovely here, lilacs in perfection &c

• 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); 1848 (1011/002.001-018); (LONG-FileUnitName)