File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Emmeline (Austin) Wadsworth, 28 July 1851 (8e447a81-6466-432b-813a-fcb910c3d199).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-021#033

Nahant Monday
Dearest Emmeline,
How much we are separated in-deed! I knew nothing of all your anxieties until I received your letter – for in Cambridge I am almost wholly cut off from news of you, &, Harriot being gone, I had heard nothing since you left. I most deeply & truly share all your distress so prolonged & renewed as it is destined to be & fervently wish any earthly power of sympathy could alleviate it – but these are things I know not how to speak of, if I were with you the pressure of the hand would I fear be all I could say – for that is the only language I can command for these giant sorrows.
I feel greatly troubled that you should be compelled to so much nursing in your present condition [p. 2] & hope you will try not to overdo it – if not for your own sake for that other life for which you are responsible. I know there is a great temptation to do many unnecessary things, or rather things some one else could do as well, at such a time, & with such a stimulus before you I fear you will tax your strength too far. But the most unavoidable strain upon your nerves is the constant thought of [crossed out: his] your husband’s prostrate condition, of the strength & promise of his life all bowed to the passive helplessness of a confirmed invalid, & to bear that thought must require God’s strongest comfort – may He abundantly uphold you and reconcile you reconcile you to the dreary future, if dreary one ought to call any lot devoted to the relief of another’s burden. Yesterday I was hearing of another strong man brought low by paralysis – Dr Wesselhoft – the [p. 3] Water Doctor at Brattleboro whose memory is so affected that he can only remember the words “father” & “mother” & applies them to every thing tho’ clearly understanding all that is said to him.
The Mrs Hamilton I made so foolish a mistake about turns out to be Mrs Schuyler, who was Miss Hamilton, & whose mother has a cottage here next Mrs Lee’s, & whose equipage, with its snowy steeds, makes as much show as any here. We waded thro’ mud & muck the other night to Mary Parkman’s to drink tea with Mrs Tiffany of Baltimore who was with her for the night, & there found Edmund Dwight recently returned. Miss Ellen was saying smart severities as usual – Jewett says the English girls are far better bred than the Boston ones – less tart & more cordial. He is delighted with a peep at country life they have had in going to various towns, from one hospitable house to another, hunting [p. 4] up Appletonian reminiscences by which it seems, by intermarriage, we are connected with Anne Bolen among others! This charming ruralizing was far better for my father than London parties & I hope he will return to it, but they were to be presented on the 14 of July so had to go return to the great Babylon for that. The Peabody affair Jewett only was at. The company was rather promiscuous he says, tho It was a very splendid [crossed out: affair] ball. Think of cheering the Iron Duke – put down probably to barbaric enthusiasm! Hatty’s letters are very clever. Mary Parkman has lent me 1st Vol of Wordsworth’s life which is interesting of course. Sumner is here, at the Storys, & looks in now & then. I am sorry she goes back to Europe in the autumn (her husband has his fathers statue to make after he has done his life for which he came home & is now about) I do not find her pretentions but sensible & kind & pleasing and in politics we agree which is something in these times when it thrusts itself into every house. I really love Mr Prescott, so forgive me for my [p. 5] hasty word. In writing to you I speak with more freedom than to any other mortal, & give you just the moment’s impression. I was probably in a sober mood & his gay one jarred, for I much enjoy our frequent chats with him & love him, as I said above, for his kindness to those neglected by friends as old. He walks at sunset from the beach & often takes tea with us on his way back. Sumner & Henry had a pleasant dinner with him on Saturday.
Wednesday. So far got I when various interruptions broke off my letter, and now to delay it longer I will hastily conclude. Mary Don has just arrived near us & I go to return the wedding card! Rather late in the day! Did I tell you Mr Mountford preached for us Sunday before last two very racy, feeling discources, peculiar in style & manner, but full of the fervour I like. He came & took tea with us & we found him a very sociable ag [p. 6] reeable man, like so many nice people I have known in England. I have a great heart yearning at times for that country. I feel sure the tone of sentiment is more in harmony with ours than we often find here & Henry has so many warm unknown friends there that I cannot but think he would be happier than here where politics have broken up so many old intimacies. When Sumner goes to Washington next winter we shall be very solitary – Poor Sumner! he looks forward to it with no great comfort. He sees the difficulties of his position so clearly & knows everything he does & says will be misrepresented in the lying papers as it has hitherto. I think his talent is for public life or I should much regret, as he does, our old literary quiet together. Henry had a long & very interesting letter from Freiligrath, the poet, lately & he speaks of the same sad separations, for the same causes, in his group of friends. Pretty Mrs Rogers [p. 7] (Martha Peabody) has been here & is coming back again. Mary (Tom) Dwight has been heard from in England, little Tommy not very well. I hope Heaven will spare them that boy tho’ he does not seem a strong child.
The sea was glorious this morning; after a long tranquillity [sic] it was all alive again & full of its noblest energy – renewing all my old passion for its vigorous freshness & beauty. After a week of great heat it is now like October & I am lamenting my poor baby is so ill provided with warm clothes. She does not look as well as she did – her teeth worry her – but she is always ready to laugh.
Good bye for the present with love to Wm ever affly thine
Fanny E.L.

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