Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.002-002#005

[endorsed:] C.F. A.- / Dec. 1833._
[addressed:] Miss Frances E. Appleton / Boston / Mass
[tear in bottom center]
Monday Dec. 16th 1833.
My dear Fanny,
You must thank Samuel for my being so dilatory in answering your amusing letter [;?] but the truth is he came home so enraptured [y] with your pictures, & Mary’s à là [Clack?], that he set me directly down to draw for him, and truly I have not had a spare minuite [sic] till now to write to any body, but Mother declares I should not touch a pencil for a week. I have no news, but what you must have heard by this time. Have you heard of the fire we had at the Merrimack House! if you have heard some about it you cannot have learnt all the affair, so I will tell you from the begining [sic]. One night (I forget how long ago) I was awakened by hearing a noise in the entry, but that did not alarm me as I thought it might be the man coming to light the fires, but it became louder & it sounded to me like, “murder! murder! I started up & listened with all the ears I had, & then I heard “Fire, fire! Mr Smith! fire! fire!” I awoke mother & we sprung out of bed faster (at least I did) than usual out of such a comfortable nest, & ran into our parlour, then in rushed Mrs S_ her little Adeline perched on her shoulder like a frog, she told us Mrs [Holcotts?] room was on fire (it was the next one but oposite [sic] us,) then such a time as their was, Mother half terified [sic] to death, Mrs S_ trying to keep her quiet, I almost [page 2] inclined to laugh, Adeline S_ looking half asleep & half frightened! but at last the welcome cry came “the fire all out!” we then all got over our bustle & crept back to bed. Mother did not recover from her fright for the two next days. The origin of the fire was this. The Lady left her clothes on the sofa in the parlour (a queer place), & pulled the sofa close to the hearth, & when the man came to light the fires, he dropped some coals on the sofa & then_! a silk dress, all her under cloaths [sic], false curls,! combs & [brushes] ! shoes and stocking, & a worked [spencer ?] hand kerchief were all consumed! & half the sofa was burnt all through! I am by degrees becoming accustomed to this horrid place, but it appears still more dreary in summer than winter & I now live on the hope that spring will come some time or other! Mother has not been well lately nor Samuel either, & I am obliged to bear the health of the whole family. I assure you this letter will not be long as I have to go out in a few minutes to inquire after the health of one of our neighbours. We have received letters from William. you can imagine how delighted we were, I anticapate [sic] his return with the greatest eagerness. Remember me to all the friends that take the trouble to inquire after me. I should be obliged to you if you would tell me in your next letter how to direct a letter to Elizabeth. Remember me to your family and believe me ever your most affectionate cousin,
Caroline
P.S. I have reserved the poscript [sic] for a message from William he desires me to tell you that he shall try & get yours scarfs, [sic] & shall also expect a kiss for Commission he appeals to me if I think it unreasonable! Tell Aunt Sam also, he says he cannot get her an orange coloured [sic] scarf but he will get her a handsome scarlet!
C. F. A.

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