File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 26 December 1851 (7e5dfc33-30b9-4d53-a27a-14507498973d).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-021#043

Cambridge Dec 26th 1851
My dearest Emmeline
The sight of your handwriting was very cheering to me but I am grieved that you do not gain your strength faster – I fear you have been, & are, tempted to do too much. You must spare yourself until you get quite strong not only for your own sake but for all those who are dear to you. Think how important your health is to them & guard it as you would theirs. This I consider one’s simplest duty – tho’ it is hard always to obey it.
I am thankful your baby is so [p. 2] strong & robust, & I trust will continue so. Have you a good nurse? As the New Year approaches my heart flows out towards you more warmly than ever, and God grant all my good wishes may be prophetical, but I do not venture to make them too confidently.
I had a pleasant long chat with Edward last night at my papa’s, while every body else, old Mrs Sumner among them, was whirling past us in a merry reel. We had the usual group of children & parents – the tree with its welcome fruits. My little Alice was quite the belle of the evening, actually keeping awake, & singing & dancing about [p. 3] with the greatest glee, the youngest there & therefore of course a great object of attraction. It is pretty to see what a magical effect a baby’s entrance has upon young & old. They are visible fairies & exert a peculiar influence.
Has the Kossuth enthusiasm of New York reached your quiet regions? To me, he is a most interesting character, historically, & I cannot help believing him an honest, devoted patriot, but in Boston there is very little sympathy in him or his cause. They have a fashion of disbelieving in all possible republics but their own, & their hearts are not easily touched by the misfortunes of any modern hero. His visit [p.4] to this country saddens me because the excitement he has caused must raise in him false hopes which cannot & perhaps ought not to be gratified. We should not engage in foreign wars, & after all he will be greatly disappointed – Still money seems to be freely offered him & that I suppose, he chiefly needs.
His speeches are wonderful for a foreigner & in such illness & worry – the one about his wife & children very touching Think of Sam’s being caught in a revolution! It seems as if the French were stunned by such audacity, but one cannot tell how they may take it later. You must be anxious to hear from Elizabeth about these days.
I hope all your darlings are well & that this extreme cold does not reach you. The Nortons receive every Tuesday & it is a pleasant thing for us who now shall not often go to town. The Assemblies have begun, but we do not [p. 1 cross] go to them this year. There have been so many pleasant private balls we do not care for others. One at Mrs John L Gardners was charming, with a pyramid of camellias & a procession of other beautiful flowers – We had a very grand dinner at Mrs Bacons for Mrs Brooks. My hand is too stiff to write more – with love to Wm & Mrs James – ever
Yr loving
Fanny E.L.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; subject; social life; holidays; christmas; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1851 (1011/002.001-021); (LONG-FileUnitName)