File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Nathan Appleton, 15 August 1847 (3e75cf29-4361-470f-89e8-7467ab570db9).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-017#023

Verandah – Oak Grove.
August 15th 1847.
Dearest papa,
You received, I presume, my last note, altho’ you mention it not in your answer to Henry’s. I only hope it arrived because you would think it strange I should so long delay acknowledging yours. The welcome news from St Kitts will I trust speedily be followed by more & fuller details, but I fear the newspapers will not come to light, & that some ‘Captains clerk’ has lighted his cigars with them before this.
We had a disastrous day yesterday in Portland. We went in to dine & make calls & were arrested in the midst of them by the cry of fire, which came [p. 2] from a ropewalks, which, with all the adjacent houses, was consumed with fearful rapidity Remembering that Marianne’s Longfellow’s was one of them, we drove instantly to her rescue but Henry & James Greenleaf found the house too hot to hold them, & it was all gone in a few minutes. She was away at the time & her poor children, terrified, were running bareheaded after her when she met them. She saved some of her furniture but lost all her clothes, & what was most unlucky the insurance of the house had been neglected to be renewed, with troubles Judge Preble sorely who built it for her. Stephen is away, so you can imagine she feels rather forlorn, but has her father’s large house to retreat to for the present. She was on the [p. 3] spot all day with Henry & James identifying her property, & strange revelations of domestic economy were brought to light by this unroofing of so many dwellings, the ludicrous mingling with the horror of the scene. This ropewalk was on the point of being removed, it was considered so unsafe, but like most things in Portland was long thought of & talked of before done. They should never be upon terra firma.
This week closes alas! our stay here but if the weather remains warm I shall be tempted to linger at Nahant into September, as Henry can be down every night & pass every other day there. I so dread the change from this delicious coolness to the close heat of Cambridge. The children have been perfectly well & full of enjoyment. Your old friend Mr & Mrs Prince of Lowell [p. 4] have been here the last fortnight, & I am sorry they leave tomorrow. They are very nice, quiet, agreeable people, as English as ever.
Vattemare was here for a day or two stirring up the Portlanders, & dined with us, all a glow with his great idea for which he says he is but an humble machine in the hands of a greater Power, & is bound to sacrifice domestic joys, all personal considerations for its promulgation. He was anxious to see Tom that “charming young gentleman” tell him if he is with you. He said he had not paid a sou for expenses since in the country – even the coachman from Augusta to Gardiner refused his fee. This universal sympathy must please him if it only bears fruit likewise. We had a nice excursion lately to the Cape & outer lights where the dismal fog-bell tolls a warning to the mariner, dining at Cape Cottage on our return. Darkness closes my further scribbling as well as lack of room. Love to all
from yr affte
Fanny.

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