File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 16 October 1857 (bd136fd6-1559-479a-9293-0d4797c08794).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-027#012

Cambridge Oct 16th 1857.
Dearest Emmeline,
As I suppose you will not return to Boston while this heavenly weather lasts, and the woods retain their coronation robes, dropping their largesse of gold as if bank suspensions were unknown in their superior realm, tho’ alas! they will soon be bankrupt like the rest of the world, I venture to write again.
I should have done so sooner but I was hoping to be able to report to you the lovely looks of the bride you have sent us, but, tho’ we knocked at her door as soon as we heard she was [p. 2] visible, there was no admittance, and she has not yet found time to return the visit, neither do I hear of her from others, and tho’ I hoped to have some kind of party, to please her, it has seemed impossible while such sad reverses were occurring and so many friends forced to resign home & fortune.
So gloomy a time as this I have never known, - and even school boys & school girls have hardly any other topic than the frequent failures, it so comes home to them from their own & their friends losses.
The Eliots are to have much sympathy, for as at their age such trials are far heavier, but they meet it nobly, as do all the rest of the family – the girls cheerfully resigning trinkets & dresses & all bent [p. 3] on active exertions of some kind.
Mary Parkman, whose fortune fortunately was not involved, still, having her sister’s family with her, has determined to begin a little school & has I hear already a dozen children. Her sister Lizzie just married Cabot & sailed for Europe.
The Nortons go today to Newport for the rest of the winter, Charley’s health making it desirable, not so much for the sake of climate as for quiet, & freedom from the excitement of seeing too many friends. He looks sadly ill I think, bent & feeble, & I fear is too good to be long in this world, but they seem hopeful about them.
They offered their house here to the Eliots, for this winter, but they have decided to take Mr Charles Lyman’s offer instead.
[p. 4] Mr Thayer has left excellent bequests, & seems to have won more respect since his death than ever before. The Sam Lawrences have had to sell both houses I hear, & their prospect seems melancholy, with so large a family, but let us hope every thing will right itself bye & bye. My papa says there never was such trouble with so little cause, & puts it all upon the strange conduct of the N. York banks, contracting to suddenly their liabilities & having no concert together.
Mary Warren’s engagement to the other Hammond has made a fluttering among Hattie’s set of girls & will put matrimony into all their heads.
Tom has bought a snug little house near us, which is getting in order for him. We are very glad, you may be sure, to have him here. He drove me lately to Mrs George Lyman’s lovely place, & she asked kindly of you. We did not know what was hanging over her two sons, [p. 1 cross] & poor Mrs George soon to have her sixth baby! Mrs James Lowell I have only seen once, & thought her very pleasing, but I wish he had married Jane. Today & for a week as warm as summer. How beautiful it must be with you!
I hope your boys are all thriving. Mine go now to Tom Bradford’s school in town & like it much.
My baby is the greatest talker, & can tell Sophocles, Homer & all the busts in the Library. Kind remembrances to Mrs James.
Yr affte Fanny.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; social life; school; family life; subject; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1857 (1011/002.001-027); (LONG-FileUnitName)