File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 20 August 1855 (562cc506-b19c-4190-a855-f07827c3d18f).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-025#011

Newport. Monday.
Dear Papa,
The announcement of Mr Lawrence’s death in Saturday’s paper, was of course no surprise to us, but the absolute certainty of any sad fact always brings with it a peculiar solemnity, & we feel as it were freshly, in the loss of his genial presence, how agreeable it always was. His hearty welcome & genuine kindness of heart will be long remembered by all, but to you who have known him so long & intimatelyly his absence henceforth must make a great void. [p. 2] Do not let it sadden you too much dear papa. Life is very like a watering-place where one must try not to regret too much the departed, but enjoy as long as possible the fresh arrivals, tho’, to be sure, this is much easier in theory than in practise. We shall meet them all again when we get Home, but it is dreary to have one’s fellow travellers fall off on every hand.
We shall hope a few days here will cheer you up after this sad farewell. The weather promises now to be fine, after all manner of changes from dog-day heat [p. 3] to October coolness. Mr Everett has been tempted back again, & is with the Brookses, - who seem, as Hillard would say [??] to keep diamond sand in their hourglass. We had a pretty Regatta here, & are constantly invited to yachting parties, but I prefer terra firma for my pleasures. ‘Hops’ come off every other night but I see none of them, but we get all the names of the belles & their dresses, in our Newport paper, which must be pleasant to the victims described. The Longworths are at the “Ocean’ & we see much of them. [p. 4] She was a Miss Rives, niece of your friends, & is a very pleasing little woman. The boys play daily with ours & enjoy with them Charley’s new acquisition a Shetland pony, as obstinate as most of the race, which consoles him a little for the loss of his Nahant boat.
We hope to see Mr Prescott here after his mournful duties are over. The Sears’ have been promised a visit.
Miss Hensler’s visit was very pleasant, & her Concertt [sic] very successful. She sings today for Mr Millard, & we, as Bostonians, feel bound to go. Mrs Phalen gave us a charming musical party with the Italians [p. 1 cross] to sing. They have a splendid Villa on the sea with a staircase like the Sear’ in Boston.
With love to all
ever affly Yrs
Fanny E.L.

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; subject; ri; newport; united states; places; events; death; travel; sailing; social life; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1855 (1011/002.001-025); (LONG-FileUnitName)