File:Caroline Frances Appleton to Fanny Appleton, 28 June 1835 (e320ab40-83ab-4c3d-95ac-9a8e631b92d6).jpg

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Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.002-002#016

Lowell July 22d 1835
½ past 3 o’clock Wed- aft--
Now Since the Steamer with his long black tail has taken his departure, and all the noise and bustle therein attendant, has vanished. I set me down dear Fanny to answer your last pretty country letter. The afternoon is delightfully pleasant; hot indeed if you gaze at the red brick factories and the glaring sun, but quite cool in this our snug little parlour; and every thing propitious for my giving you a long Lowell epistle, I feel in a mighty pleasing humour this afternoon, and it seems as if I had a vast deal to say, tho’ I have my doubts if I finish this sheet without complaining, for want of matter &c, --. I received your letter a week or more after it was dated, wether [sic] that was owing to you not sending it as soon as you wrote it, or its laying in Boston, I know not. however this explanation will account for my not answering it before. William (as I suppose you are already informed by his letter,) has at last gone bag and baggage, for nobody knows how long; he went away in good spirits, pleased with his ship and Captain, and heartily tired of Boston . (since your sad departure) Before he left us he gave me a seal, and was afterwards for taking it back, as he said he must have it to seal his letter to you, I refused, for the motto was altogether too sentimental to come from such a
[written vertically in right margin]
Can you recognize the enclosed portrait! -- The writing will inform you who is the artist; pray do not let it fall into the hands of your ‘Phillipi’ friend. ----
[page 2] graceless hero, I told him you would not read the epistle with such a tender beginning, (I seal my own however with it, merely to show you the [crossed out: d] the device.) Oh! “ma belle cousine” your bright eyes have fairly done up that brother of mine! He has left us as true an eamourante’; as wever was read of in the chronicles of Cupid, wether [sic] of you or your beautiful Present, it is to be judged of on his return. And so our ‘hero of the Yard Stick’ over Apollo, of the Mall has actually had presumption to aspire to the heart and hand of the Adorable Marissa, the belle of New Ipswich! When will wonders cease! imagine such a new relative! Picture to yourself, some future day, the arrival of Mr and Mrs B -- in your great city, the introduction of the relatives, Aunt B-- arriving to visit her daughter who resides in the city and a variety of such interesting incidents! Ha! Ha! I never laughed so heartily as I did when Sam, told as of his offer, his week spent in New Ipswich, and his letter to Aunt Sam. No fear of his mistaking me for any relative of his fair lady, if ever we chance to meet again’ I would I had you here to talk with about this family denouement! I envy you your delightful residence, you country air, your fields and meadows, but pray dear Fan dont [sic] lose all taste for the town, or do not be so perfectly persuaded you would lead a country ^life lest you share the fate of fair ‘Julia’, now I can boast both a city and a country life -- Six o’clock sees me wandering towards the pretty village of Middlesex, or leaving in a [seveue?] over the falls of the Merrimac [sic]-- then’s the time for enjoying oneself, when the dew os on the grass, and each step seemed to glitter with diamonds, when the air is cool and pure and the birds (for I have at last ound out that we have such animals here) with their cheerful twitters are filling the air, where as yet the stir and action of Man is still and [page 3] and everything tells of an hour unfit to be wasted in sleep -- Then in the evening dressed our “Sunday habits’ do we formally tramp thro’ the dusty streets, and crowed [sic] sidewalks, and pay those most dreaded visits. (which we used to abhor so much) hear all the scandal, and news stirring, and come home tired and heated; here you have ‘ma belle” our two extremes middle we have none the day time is not here a time to be mentioned, for none but those whom necessity compels [sic], we tread the streets of Lowell at such an hour. your roses we have, without all the trouble of gathering them, and have them insectless too, a charm two valuable in my eyes to be overlooked. You in your delicious retreat stand a fair chance of losing your heart among the flowers and streams, and I am quite apt to torn a morilizer over the wickedness and stupidity of this [ge[missing paper]ation?] may remember a certain Dr. -- you have little [[missing paper] me abro[missing paper]?] well report says he has offered himself to a young Lady (who shall be nameless for fear this should miscarry) was accepted, was engaged for a fortnight, at the end of that time was most strangely dismissed, and in a fit of [mingled?] anger and disappointed love set sail for France! There’s a tale for you! worthy to adorn a novel! I am quite laught [sic] at by family, and Sam insists upon pitying me, for what he knows best! Behold the vanishing of your dream! So you see I can wear the willow if I choose, but it shall be a garland of roses --. I was glad to hear by your letter that Charles was better - but ^by latter account we hear he is not so well, I hope it is not so, pray write us and tell us truly, Mother is quite anxious about him. Boston from all accounts is most terribly dull, every body has deserted it, suppose you have heard of Mrs. Lecain’s having a stroke of the palsy, quite a serious affair for a lady as old as she is.
[above address - this follows page 3]
Aunt W- has reutnred from her Journey quite a short one. Uncle William was up here today with part of his family, on their way to Mont Vernon, they half filled the omnibus that was waiting for them. Are you not astonished at the lenght [sic] of this scrawl, I am sure I am, I ought to have left off long ago, for my pen is waxing horrible. I will therefore conclude
[page 4 top] [endorsed] C.F.A. / July 1835.
[12th?]
[addressed:] Miss Fanny E. Appleton / Care of F. A. Gold Esq. / Pittsfield / Mass.
[postmark - incomplete impression:] LOWE / [J??] / 23
[page 4 bottom]
in a few words. Mathew [sic] desires to be remember to you all and hopes you will take care of yourselves. Give my love to Mary and write me soon.
Thine ever affectionate
Caroline.

• Keywords: correspondence; document; manuscript; frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; 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)}}

|date=1835-07-22 |source=

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This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.

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Contacts

NPS Unit Code

LONG NPS Museum Catalog Number

LONG 20257 Recipient

Depicted Place

Accession Number

e320ab40-83ab-4c3d-95ac-9a8e631b92d6 Publisher

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