Letters from Frances Longfellow //1847년 2월 16일.

[모나리자]

사랑하는 사람아, 나는 그 즐거운 작은 마부를 간절히 찾고 있어. 그가 무모한 속도로 테이블 바위에 쓰러지지 않았으면 좋겠지만, 아니 - 당신은 그를 그곳에서 쫓아낼 수 없었을 거야. 좋은 눈보라가 당신을 그곳으로 유혹할 수 없었으니까. 옛 겨울은 분명히 꽃이 만발한 봄이나 매혹적인 과부 가을에 사랑에 빠졌고, 그녀를 기쁘게 하기 위해 플로렌스 과부에게 와일드 씨의 성급한 예를 따랐어 - 그의 은빛 머리카락과 수염을 염색했지만, 그가 추측할 수 있는 최선을 다해 안개 낀 갈색이라고 생각하니 우리 모두가 그가 본래의 품위를 되찾은 것에 감사해야 할 것 같아.

뉴펀들랜드 속담처럼, 내 유모가 말하길, "푸른 겨울은 뚱뚱한 묘지를 만든다 -" 그리고 많은 우울한 기차가 우리 창문 앞을 지나가며 오번 산을 풍요롭게 했다. 이 끊임없는 동결과 해동으로 잘 지내는 것은 거의 불가능하고, 우리는 [p. 2] 동풍의 지배 아래 즐겁게 넘겨질 거야.

저는 최근에 이모 마사에 대해 매우 걱정이 되었습니다. 제 삼촌은 지난주에 저에게 그들이 그녀가 매우 빠르게 쇠약해지고 있다고 생각한다고 편지를 썼지만, 그 이후로 그녀는 회복되었고, 그들이 그녀의 위험을 지나치게 과장하는지, 아니면 그녀 자신이 완전히 속았는지 정말 궁금합니다. 그들은 그녀의 폐가 심각하게 영향을 받았다고 생각하는 듯하고, 따라서 모든 증상이 그들을 놀라게 하지만, 그녀는 겨울 내내 자신에 대해 매우 쾌활하게 글을 썼고, 가슴에 통증을 호소한 적이 없습니다. 게다가 그녀에게는 부지런한 숭배자가 있는데, 제 생각에는 나이 든 과부인 듯합니다. 그녀는 분명히 그녀가 건강을 회복할 것이라는 믿음에 따라 끈기 있게 버티고 있습니다.

그녀는 오랫동안 병약했고 많은 의사의 희생자였지만 잠재된 힘이 매우 큽니다. 불쌍한 엘리자베스 라이먼은 하바나로 항해를 떠났고, 분명히 빠르게 쇠약해졌지만

하지만 그녀도 많은 숨겨진 힘을 가지고 있었고, 다시 회복되기를 바라기 전에 놀랍게도 회복되었습니다. 그녀의 아이는 겨울 내내 메리와 함께 있었습니다.

[p. 3]

어제 신부인 리지 라이스에게 경의를 표하기 위해 마을로 갔습니다. 그녀는 일주일 전에 결혼했습니다. 그녀의 집은 일몰과 시골을 바라보는 탁 트인 멋진 전망이 있고, 여름에는 꽤 매력적일 것이지만, 지금은 접근로가 다소 황량하고, 거리는 낡은 부츠와 모든 쓰레기 수거차의 쓰레기로 포장되어 있고, 동네는 다소 좁게 정착되어 있습니다. 그러나 비록 작지만 매우 세련되게 정리되어 있고, 그녀의 수많은 예쁜 선물이 모든 빈 구석을 활기차게 했습니다.

그녀의 은제품은 제가 알기로 매우 훌륭했지만, 전시되지 않았습니다. 에클리 부부는 그들 사이에서 많은 부분을 주었고, 그녀의 삼촌인 보드먼 씨는 결혼식 날 그녀에게 10,000달러를 주었는데, 그것은 확실히 그들을 엄청나게 부유하게 만들었습니다. 그러나 의심할 여지 없이 안나 틱너나 제인 노튼이 당신에게 "결혼식에 대한 모든 것"에 대한 편지를 쓸 것입니다. 이 방문 후 저는 틱너 부인에게 가서 이 두 아가씨에게 맛있는 음악으로 우리를 매료시켰습니다.

검은색 드레스를 입은 안나는 어머니만큼이나 나이가 많아 보이고, 이미 다소 '보이드'하고 늙은 처녀처럼 되어 가고 있습니다. 저는 [p. 4] 디컨 부인이 그녀에게 말을 걸고 르가레 씨에 대해 가볍게 말하는 것에 대한 그녀의 독실한 분노에 [글을 썼음]이 꽤 재밌었습니다. 하지만 저는 수다를 떨지 않겠습니다. 다만 아가시즈 씨가 에버렛 씨와 일주일을 보내는 것에 대한 피어스 교수 부인의 재치 있는 이야기를 하나 해야겠습니다.

그녀는 그가 곧 전할 빙하에 대한 강의를 준비하고 있다고 말했습니다. 아쉽게도 저희 휴가가 끝나가고 있습니다. 헨리는

저와 그의 책들과 함께 집에서 너무 행복했고, 저는 그와 많은 사귀는 것을 두 배나 더 좋아해서 마치 세상과 그 무례한 걱정에서 격리되어 있던 약혼 시절의 즐거운 시간을 다시 찾은 것 같았습니다.

어제 아버지를 뵙러 갔는데, 다시 건강하고 쾌활한 모습을 보고 기뻤습니다. 그는 오랜 친구인 스넬링 씨를 많이 그리워하지만, 지금 일어나는 모든 일에 예전처럼 열정적으로 관심을 보이고, 마지막으로 그를 봤을 때보다 훨씬 좋아 보였습니다.

파티가 넘쳐납니다. 다음 주에는 사순절에도 불구하고 매일 밤 무언가가 있습니다. 줄리아 하우는 매주 음악 모임을 열고, 보스턴에서 이번 겨울을 예전보다 더 즐기고 있는 것 같습니다. 브리머 양은 목요일 초대장을 받았습니다. 불쌍한 존 브라이언트는 아기를 잃었고 [p. 1 cross] 그 ​​아픔을 뼈저리게 느낍니다.

많은 실망을 겪은 후로 그가 매우 안타깝습니다. 켄트 부부가 돌아왔고 그녀는 다른 자매의 외로움을 견뎌내고 있습니다. 에버렛 양도 뉴욕에서 길고 즐거운 시간을 보내고 돌아왔습니다. 시드니 브룩스 부인은 며칠 동안 매우 아팠습니다.

이제 당신이 돌아올 날을 세는 것이 두렵습니다. 당신을 내 팔에 안고 사랑하는 당신을 위해 기쁨으로 울고 싶습니다. 봄과 함께 와서 당신의 새로운 삶으로 우리를 기쁘게 해 주세요. 우리도 당신의 행복한 마음 속에서 새들이 노래하는 것을 듣게 하세요. 그리고 잔인한 동풍이 그들의 즐거운 약속을 침묵시킬까봐 두려워하지 마세요! 새에 관해서 당신의 아버지는 당신의 귀여운 작은 동양 새들 중 한 마리의 슬픈 순교에 대해 말씀해 주셨습니다.

그는 불 속으로 날아가 구출될 수 없었습니다.
윌리엄과 엘리자베스에게 가장 친절한 추억을 전하세요. - 그리고 헨리의 사랑으로 당신의 진실하고 충실한 F를 -

Cambridge Feb 16th 1847.

I am looking eagerly, dearest, for the merry little postilion. I hope he has not fallen over Table rock in his heedless speed, but no – you cannot have despatched him thence, for no goodly snow-storm can have enticed you thither. Old winter has evidently fallen in love with blooming Spring or that fascinating widow Autumn, & to please her has followed the rash example of Mr Wilde with his Florence widow – dyed his silvery hair & whiskers, but as the best he can assume it is a misty brown I think we should all thank him to return to his original dignity.

As the saying is in Newfoundland, my nurse tells me, “a green winter makes a fat churchyard –“ & many gloomy trains have passed before our windows to enrich Mt Auburn. It is almost impossible to keep well with this constant freezing & thawing, from which we shall [p. 2] be pleasantly delivered over to the domination of east winds.

I have been very anxious of late about my aunt Martha. My uncle wrote me last week that they considered her failing very rapidly, but since then she has rallied, & I am really puzzled to know whether they exaggerate her danger exceedingly, or she is entirely deceived herself. They seem to consider her lungs seriously affected, & therefore every symptom alarms them, but she has written all winter most cheerfully about herself, & has never complained of any pain in her chest – She has moreover an assiduous admirer, an elderly widower, I believe, who evidently perseveres upon faith in her regaining her health.

She has a great deal of latent strength altho’ so long an invalid & the victim of so many doctors. Poor Elisabeth Lyman has sailed for Havana, apparently rapidly declining,

but as she, also, has much hidden strength, & so marvelously revived before it is to be hoped she may again. Her child has been all winter with Mary.

[p. 3]

I went into town yesterday to pay my respects to the bride, Lizzie Rice that was. She was married a week ago. Her house has a fine, open view of the sunset & country, & in summer will be quite charming, but now the approach is rather forlorn, the street being paved with old boots & the refuse of all the dust carts, & the neighborhood rather thinly settled. However, within tho’ small it is very tastefully arranged, & her innumerable pretty gifts enlivened every spare corner.

Her silver, which was very splendid I understand, was not displayed. Mr & Mrs Eckley gave a large portion of it between them, - & her uncle, Mr Bordman, presented her, on her wedding day, with 10.000 dollars, which was certainly floating them off handsomely. But, doubtless, Anna Ticknor or Jane Norton will write you “all about the wedding.” After this visit I went to Mrs Ticknor’s, & got these two damsels to charm us with some delicious music.

Anna, in her black dress, looks almost as old as her mother, & is already growing somewhat ‘voide’ & old maidish. I was [p. 4] quite amused with [written over: by] her pious indignation with Mrs Deacon for venturing to address her, & speak flippantly of Mr. Legaré. But I wont gossip – tho’ I must tell you one witticism of Mrs Prof Pierce à propos of Mr Agassiz passing a week with Mr Everett.

She said he was preparing himself for his lectures on the glaciers which he is soon to deliver. Our vacation is drawing to a close alas. Henry has been so happy at home with

me & his books, & I so doubly happy in having so much of his society, that it has been like a renewal of the beaux jours of our engagement, when we were shut in from all the world & its impertinent cares.

We went in yesterday to see your Father, & I was delighted to find him again so well & cheerful. He misses much his old friend Mr Snelling, - but takes as lively an interest in all that is going on as ever, & looked much better than when I last saw him.

Parties abound – every night next week there is something despite Lent. Julia Howe has weekly musical soirees, & is enjoying herself more this winter than she has before, in Boston, I imagine. Miss Brimmer has, I see invites out for Thursday. Poor John Bryant has lost his baby [p. 1 cross] and feels it keenly.

I am very sorry for him after so many disappointments. The Kents have returned & she props herself against loneliness by another sister. Miss Everett is also back from a long, gay visit in New York. Mrs Sydney Brooks was very ill for a few days.

I fear to count the days now for your return. How I long to hold you in my arms & cry with joy over you beloved. Come with the Spring & gladden us with your new life – let us, too, hear the birds singing in your happy heart & to fear no cruel east winds to silence their joyous promises! A propos of birds your father told me of the sad martyrdom of one of your dainty little orientals.

He flew into the fire & could not be rescued.
Give kindest remembrances to Wm & Elisabeth, - & with Henry’s love ever thy true & faithful F’s –