File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Anne Longfellow Pierce, 23 June 1845 (2200dd52-3346-4f61-8d8e-ee612c66d752).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-015#024

Cambridge. Monday 1845.
Dearest Anne,
Supposing Sam was writing to you last week I omitted to make known unto you Mrs Fuller’s happiness. After a very short trial she was comforted with the appearance of a little daughter on Thursday afternoon last, & is doing very well. Mrs Greenleaf & Caroline are in xtasies with it, and the latter insists it has roses only in its cheeks – an infant phenomenon! When carrying my felicitations there, I had the satisfaction of beholding Mr Fuller for the first time. What a towering outside he hath. They expect Mary early in July.
On Saturday we had Mr Coxe, the author of Saul, to dinner with young Dana, so I read myself hoarse in the morning to complete the ponderous Mystery, & relieve Henry’s conscience. He is a lively, good-looking, young clergyman, full of talk, & very pleasant & open-hearted. [p. 2] We had coffee in the tree after dinner, & then adjoined to Crawford’s studio. He has made a very noble bust of the President full of character. He has draped him in the Presidential robe, which has a very happy effect.
On Thursday we went to town to do some shopping, but found the streets crowded with people & bands of Odd Fellows. They had an immense procession which we inspected from Father’s balcony, - & a giant tent upon the common, covering an acre of ground.
On our way to Brookline last week to see Emmeline in her rurality, we called upon Mrs Neal at Mr Robinson’s. I so wish you could have seen that place. It was new to me, but I know no one in this neighbourhood I admire more. You approach thro a long avenue, with a most beautiful sloping lawn thickly shaded with noble trees, through which the sun shot long arrows upon the fresh green. The house is of stone & very large & the grounds [p. 3] very nicely kept. Mr. Robinson is rather a vigilnish man, with a fat, comfortable looking dame; & they evidently considered John Neal a wonder – Every slight exaggeration of his in conversation was received with a roar by Mr R., who winking to Henry, exclaimed - “you poets do say such things.”! They showed us the garden, very tastefully laid out, with a fine view of the valley below from its walks, (this place is next Mr Aspinwalls) & bestowed upon me a delicious bouquet of moss-roses.
The weather has been very chilly this week for summer, so that our strawberries & flowers have not ripened very well. I have longed to enjoy the beautiful moonlight out of doors, but it was out of the question - Charley is on his feet all the time, & even extends his walks to the garden paths. He is highly delighted with a herd of custard-colored chickens lately hatched. Sam’s blouse is at last finished, but I have been sorely disappointed in work-women, & have almost despaired of getting any thing done. I have purchased your little flower-vase. We have been waiting to find out the best Dageurreotyper [sic] for the miniature – [p. 4 bottom] Father is to try one for his, & will let us know his success. I hope your purchases gave entire satisfaction, & that Aunt Lucia & Mother think their silks just what they should be. Henry talks ot setting off for Brattleboro’ the moment he is free, & is trying to persuade Sam to do the like. The big book is much praised in the papers, tho’ often with ludi- [p. 4 top] crous ignorance. It might be in two volumes to look well. Is Sophia still with you? Pray write soon & relate your return, which I trust was not like Moses’ with his shagreen spectacle case. Give much love from us to Father, Mother, Aunt Lucia, Marianne &c God preserve you from conflagrations. I cannot get up my flesh or strength yet & have been rather forlorn since you left –
Yrs ever lovingly
Fanny L.
[p. 1 cross] A cousin of mine, Frank Appleton, is just engaged to Miss Silsbee, Mrs Spark’s sister – a very handsome, excellent girl.
ADDRESSED: ANNE PIERCE. / CARE OF HON S. LONGFELLOW. / PORTLAND / ME.
POSTMARK: [ILLEGIBLE]

• 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)