Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.106.844 |
Title |
Letter from Frances "Fannie" (Phillips) Emerson to her aunt Harriet (Phillips) Emerson |
Object Name |
Letter |
Dates of Creation |
August 17, 1873 |
Scope & Content |
Handwritten letter dated August 17, 1873 from Frances "Fannie" (Phillips) Emerson at sea on the ship "Friedlander" to her aunt Harriet (Phillips) Emerson in York. In the letter Fannie writes about how board she is on the ship and how their travel has been slow due to a lack of headwinds. She also writes about how she assumes her aunt Elisa has died since last hearing from her family and about a "Little Liny" who has had all his loose teeth taken out and is healthier and happier now. She writes extensivley about her sewing, and the different processes she has taken. She ends asking for news about her family members and sending her love to all. Transcription: My dear aunt, I have nothing whatever of interest to write you, not even can we have we have an idea where the ship will go. Very likely you may have heard before this I can only say that we are very well and impatient to arrive. Two weeks ago we were in hopes to have been in by next Sunday but we have had so many light winds that our calculations are all upset . We are about a thousand miles from Liverpool and time drags slowly by. If it was not for sewing I don't know what I should do. I have not done much this passage I never was so idle. This minute I can't think of anything I have done. We like this ship very well only she don't sail very well in light winds and we have had so many of them this time. We got round that "dreadful Horn" [Cape Horn] very comfortably , tis always better coming this way, you know. We had a "Pamper" off the River Platter, which was quite heavy. The sea was very heavy but since then the weather has been very pleasant and delightful, and if one was not satisfied with living on shore, this ship would be the place for one. Oh I am longing so to hear from you all but I fear you will have sad news about aunt Elisa yet it will not be sad for her. I am sure she is at rest and peace now and that is something she never knew on earth I fear. Tis only sad for you who are left to miss her. For although you did not see her often you will miss her. I have thought a great deal about her, and you all and of the dear ones who have gone from earth. It seems to me I think of everything and remember everything they ever said to me. Having no one but Lent to speak to of course I have a great deal of thinking to do and I remember better things that others forget because I have nothing to take up my attention. Little Liny[Tiny?] is in better spirits and health than I ever knew him. We have taken out all his loose teeth and his health is better and he has not had an ill turn this passage. He finds it difficult to keep his tongue in its proper place and he will do it looking at us with his tongue half out his mouth, but a gentle reminder will enable him to dispose of it. Lent has also lost a tooth. His gums recede as his fathers would and this tooth pained him very much yet our prong[?]seemed very firm in the jaw. But the carpenter managed to extract it with a pair of pinchers, delicate instrument, and he (Lent) is very happy today and could eat his plum pudding very comfortably. As for me I have lost no teeth and I am very well, and fat as a pig. I must tell you how I have had to manage for sewing silk. I thought I would try and make over my summer silk. So I thought I would take the over skirt and trim the under skirt; as it had never been trimmed and so I could not wear the waist twas so small. I could match it and have a new waist and overskirt. Tis a very common pattern and I sew plenty of it last winter. I bound the Ruffles, five narrow ones, with blk silk, an inch wide on the bottom and about a quarter of an inch on the top and put them on with a cord about 1/2 inch from the top and trimmed the front breadth up to the waist. Before I commenced & found I had only a part of a skein[?] of twist and no sewing silk but after much tribulation I remain brave[?] that Abbie stitched my waterperry[?] cape the day before I left home and that it took two spools of silk for it so I just ravelled the silk out. I had another cape stitched on the same machine and did the same with that. I couldn't help blessing the dear little "Willcox and Gibbs" [type of sewing machine] yet. I think it not a good poor woman's machine. It takes so much thread and silk. Twas a great job to fix the dress. I never made any trimming before and I was in constant fear that my sewing silk would give out, but it just finished it and it looks very pretty to me out here. I saw one trimmed with the ruffles bound with blk and I thought it would be nice to fix mine too. I shall have a blk vest to the basque and I think it will look very well. Emma and Abbie do too much trimming that it doesn't seem much to them but twas a great task to do all by hand and I got sick of it several times. Aug 26th We are in the channel at last. Have had a a succession of headwinds til we were well nigh distracted, but we hope to arrive soon at our house. Tis an anxious trying time for dear Leonard, but he is very good and patient. I have written so much and have not said our word about that dear little baby of Rand's. I have thought of them so much and long to see it. How it must have grown and what sweet ways it has now, give them my love. We both send much love to you all each and all separately and indivisibly and long to hear from you. Lent is so anxious now, he cannot write but sends a heap of love. Lovingly and affectionately your own Fannie Love to Edward, Lucy, Emma, and all. |
Collection |
Emerson Family Collection |
People |
Emerson Family Emerson, Andrew Leonard, Capt., 1837-1909 Emerson, Frances "Fanny" Louisa (née Phillips) Emerson, Harriet Jane (née Philips), 1808-1890 |
Search Terms |
19th century Friedlander (ship) York |
Subjects |
Clothing and dress Family letters Maritime history Ports Sailors Sewing Sewing equipment & supplies Shipping Ships Toothaches Travel Weather Women |