File:Frances (Appleton) Longfellow to Charles Sumner, 1 May 1844 (b20c2d8b-abeb-4dd5-b431-9db69ff0bf09).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-014#013

Dear Charles,
For many days I have been wishing to tell you how full are our hearts [crossed out: have been] of sorrow & sympathy for you, but I have been so painfully excited whenever I have thought of dear Mary, especially since I saw, the other day, her sweet face so full of mortality, that I have not ventured to dwell upon her image. The thought that so much material grace, & beauty, & refinement, (if that can be called material which the soul transfigures) must perish is cruel enough for the present, but that [p. 2] so pure & lovely a character, so child-like in its natural development, must pass from our life is what we must pray to forget. Oh do not feel that it ever can leave us -, that it will be far removed from our sympathy & love. Is not the memory of such a person much more dear to us, needed by us, - a richer portion of our lives than the visible existence of many friends? I do not attempt to console you, wounded to the heart as you must be by the inevitable shafts of a coming sorrow, but I can not resist the desire to assuage the bitterness of your pain by the expression of our heartfelt sympathy.
We hoped to see you, last night - Pray come to us to-night if it will be any comfort & pleasure to you to rest under our roof. I shall expect my brother every other day this week, & alas! my hospitality can only extend, at present, to one.
I am very thankful my flowers gave Mary a moment’s joy. Her unconsciousness of what lies before her is most touching – May God lead her gently over the threshold to the better Land! so gently & peacefully that we shall rather follow her thither than perceive she is leaving us here –
I cannot speak of Medora after Mary. It is indeed coming back to this world, but, in justice, I will say she appeared better on Saturday, more natural & woman[p. 4]ly, I can’t say girlishly, than I expected to see her. Some allowance must be made for her Greek nature & worldly life, - and a woman’s heart cannot be judged by her conventional manners, - but I hope the best for Sam’s happiness is evidently so wholly entrusted to this venture.
ever affly yrs
Fanny L.
Cambridge.
May 1st

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; death; events; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1844 (1011/002.001-014); (LONG-FileUnitName)