Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1011/002.001-015#018

Brattleboro.’ Aug 7th 1845.
Dear Annie –
Not a line has reached us from Portland for such a length of time that we begin to be very curious to know what you are all about. Sam makes not his appearance, and the Dr says it is getting almost, if not quite, too late [crossed out: for him] to effect any thing for him this vacation, but he is anxious to know his decision as he has been reserving a room for him which is in demand. 3 or 4 weeks are the least in which a cure could be accomplished, & I suppose months would do better. It is a slow process, and the Dr is rather tried by having patients go away after a short trial, thereby spreading the impression that he makes no cures. Henry’s eyes cannot probably gain much, but I think his general health will undoubtedly, he enjoys the perpetual bathing so much, & is tempted into so much exercise & appetite. He is [p. 2] summoned every morning at three o’clock, & I see, half in my dreams, a wavering of lights, & hear a mysterious whispering in German, steps descend the stairs & cross the road, then all is silent. He goes, for convenience, to the Dr’s opposite, & is there swathed in wet sheets with blankets over them, & after reposing until the perspiration is brought about, is plunged into the bath. He then returns to breakfast, & between 9 & 10 walks to the douche, which is on the opposite side of the ravine, there tries divers baths, &, drinking at every spring, walks till dinner-time. At 5 in the afternoon he has another bath & walk, & thus concludes his labours for the day. The female hydropaths wear large straw hats, & of course are not very elegantly attired, so they appear, wandering over the hill-sides, not unlike Swiss peasants, in keeping with the scenery! – I am charmed with Brattleboro,’ tho’ I miss the fine outline & pure air of the Berkshire hills, which, (the air) strengthened me greatly the few days [p. 3] we passed there. But here the walks & drives are very lovely, & the Connecticut at our feet, & other clear streams near at hand, add a great charm to the views, tho’ now the extreme drought has robbed them of half their size.
The Channings have a delightful situation, & have now Mrs Professor C. & a Miss Russell with them. Louisa Higginson I have also seen, &, at last – Aunt Nancy. I was charmed with the latter, whose fresh antiquity reminds me of Mrs Rich, Mackintosh’s eldest sister, a dear friend of mine. What glowing, dark eyes - & easy, pleasant manners she has. I hope to see her often. Mrs H. is far from well, & was to leave yesterday, with her daughter, for a journey, but they will probably return before we leave.
Tell Sam James Coleman has been our pioneer to the pretty places, but has now cone to the White Hills, & his friend Richardson preached here lately. We heard, last Sunday, a Mr Huntington a new one to me, & had a sensible, tho’ not remarkable discourse. We have [p. 4] quite nice lodgings, overhanging the village; its smoking roofs, in the morning light, against the shadows of the wall of mountain opposite please my eye greatly. The patients amuse us often with their merry games, for many are pretty lively, tho’ some almost helpless, but the feeblest begin to mend. The Dr has two houses filled, & others quartered about the village, about 50 in all. A very nice person, a Mrs Alford, I know, & Caroline Sturgis, who is ever wandering, but none others. My brother arrived in the last steamer, & we are expecting him here every day – a great joy for me, particularly as I, necessarily, see but little of Henry. Charley is growing manlier every day. He has almost passed baby-hood entirely, & hurls about the kittens here like an infant Hercules. I delight to see him so well & strong, tho’ should take more comfort in him if he were quieter. We still hope to get to Portland, but cannot yet say when. Henry feels obliged to attend Commencement which is a pity.
Much love to all, & pray let us hear from you soon.
Yr loving
Fanny –
[p. 1 cross] Henry wishes you to say to Commodore Wadsworth that Mrs Sandford will not be able to take Alex.
We much regretted losing the Nichols’ visit. Our love to them

• Keywords: correspondence; long archives; frances e. a. longfellow papers (long 20257); frances elizabeth (appleton) longfellow; people; document; travel; health and illness; subject; Correspondence (1011/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Letters from Frances Longfellow (1011/002.001); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1845 (1011/002.001-015); (LONG-FileUnitName)