File:Caroline Frances Appleton to Fanny Appleton, 11 November 1833 (9957ec31-cf73-4906-aa50-6d1088bed352).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.002-002#004

Nov 11th, 1833.
My dear Cousin,
Are you dead or alive!- I am sure your silence justifies my asking that question; here is a month past since you returned from Pittsfield and not a word have I heard from you, it is true when Mary was up here she said you would have written but- I have forgotten the reason why you did not, but it is certain I never got a letter, believing you will profit by the little oration I have just finished I will drop the subject and turn toward more welcome ones. I arrived safely as you doubtless heard from your sister, was rather more melancholy coming back than when I was going down, but who could expect me to be merry when I was going to such a place! even tho’ it is home; but I did not break my heart and am still living. You must never expect me to tell you any news, for there is none here (in my [hive! [?]). The weather is so delightful at present, that I think it would do you good to take a short trip up here, & you had better come “en cheval.” by the by, have you taken any more rides? You must write & tell me how you enjoyed your journey, what adventures you met with &c -- I shall be much interested to know. I wish I had any to tell you, but I will tell you of a new kind of vegetable/ [page 2] lately discovered__ Dalhais ! [sic]_ I will recount how I found it out. One day going to Samuel’s counting room fully prepared to [carry?] of [sic] some trophy, I [lit?] upon a basket containing (as I thought.) Sweet Potatoes, so I took a beautiful large one wrapped it up and was coming off with it when in came Sam! (he was not in while I was stealing) I showed my trophy triumphantly to him when lo. behold! he bust out a laughing and told me I had got hold of a Dalai [sic] root! you may judge of my consternation ! but one looking and smelling if I was not so sure it was a dalha [sic]i, so I told him I would take it home and cook it and at any rate see how it ate, off I carried it and roasted, and a [‘?] beautiful Sweet Potatoes it was, but when I told him, he said that it certainly was a Dalha [sic] root and I should be poisoned before next morning, but as I am still living and as this Dalhai [sic] root was beautiful eating I thought I would recommend such kind to you he says the poison is long taking effect, and that I may not see the effects for perhaps three or four years !! When I began this epistle I intended it to be a long and if possible an interesting one, but Sam had a chance of sending it today, so I must conclude rather in a hurry. If I do not receive an answer soon (and a good long one) I shall think you intended to [wit.?] Remember me to all your family and believe me ever,
your affectionate
cousin. Caroline

• Keywords: correspondence; frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; manuscript; document; appleton family; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters to Frances Longfellow (1011/002.002); (LONG-SubseriesName); J.W. Andrews - C.F. Appleton (1011/002.002-002); (LONG-FileUnitName)