File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Thomas Gold Appleton, 26 November 1860 (ad5b34da-efed-47c9-98d5-2bb8fa0d6362).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-030#027

Craigie Castle
Nov 26th 1860 –
Dear Tom,
I’m happy to inform you that Mrs Plaisted took possession of your house on Friday, and that your cook & outstanding bills have been paid, so that you can begin again in the Spring with a clean slate.
Mrs P. would like to remain until June when her daughter’s vacation at Agassiz’ commences. Her son is also with her, but having business in Boston will be only home at night, & I think you could not have there a quieter [p. 2] family. The daughter seems to be a nice quiet [crossed out: demure] damsel. As your cook had a good deal of company I think it is as well she is not left wholly in possession. She will come back to you gladly whenever you return. I locked every thing ‘about’ in the attic - & Mrs P. I am sure will take excellent care of what the house contains.
We are getting very anxious about the little Prince – Such an unheard of passage, & such dreadful storms! They have probably gone somewhere to repair damages, or are waiting for each other, scattered by such gales. If anything disastrous has happened there will be mourning in two nations, [p. 3] for I am sure we should feel it nearly as deeply as England.
The crazy prophecy of the tipsy Englishman in N. York “You will never be king” would have a strange fulfillment – But I will not imagine any such horror.
Thanksgiving is at hand, & we dine with papa as usual. He is better & stronger since the colder weather, & I took him, on Saturday, to his daily game of billiards. Berger has been here, amazing the lovers of the cue, and Charley witnessed his amazing performances with great delight. Carrie Appleton is to be married on Wednesday, at 12 noon, at Sam’s new house, with about 30 guests, - all of the family except Mrs Thayer with whom Mrs [p. 4] Webster is staying. It will be rather trying for Mrs Marianne as Carry Blatchford wo’nt speak to her – then the encounter between Mrs Webster & Mrs Fletcher will be far from pleasant – I wonder they did not have it in church, but Edgar preferred it so. We dined with him & Cary last week at papa’s & found him very pleasant.
Our papers are full of secession rumours & consequent panic in the money market, but the southern members are engaging winter quarters in Washington & it may all end in smoke as before. Nobody can tell much until after their Convention meets, for the reports are very unreliable & there are probably more sensible, sober men there than appear.
In College we have had great excitement in Naty’s class, & papa is greatly troubled lest he should get dismissed with [p. 1 cross] others. Felton carries out his opposition to “hazing” Freshmen, & having suspended some Sophs caught in it – the class bore them in triumph on their way & wear the rope of the cart in their button-holes, & are in a great state of rebellion. This vacation week we hope will quiet them down. I had Miss Sedgwick & aunt to tea the other night with a few others. The Nortons are back. Mrs Cushing has a ball for her son’s bride, & Pauline Agassiz is to be married in a day or two, and her brother has been. She goes to Europe – enough a la Tuckermann.
Yr aff Fanny E L.
Henry ordered the weekly Advertiser & Courier to be sent. We know not how to send the photographs. Edgar promised to see to the N.Y. florist.
[p. 2 cross] Willy was at Cincinnati last & had been dining with John Bell. [p. 3 cross] Agassiz’ Museum had a fine opening & looks exceedingly well.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; document; social life; holidays; thanksgiving; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1860 (1011/002.001-030); (LONG-FileUnitName)