Letter from Grace Greenwood to James Fields, Dec 2, 1848

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[page 1] My dear friend.
I was pleased to receive a letter from you, but pained to hear that you were ill, and additionally pained that you should write at such a time. - You should know better than to do so - indeed you should. You wrote that you were "mad with a headache". Well, I am mad at it for tormenting you. Oh presuming head-ache! couldst thou not seek out some vulgar and unpoetical noddle [?], with comfortable rooms to let- quiet lodegings [sic], when thou wouldst not be annoyed by the coming in of the rough and grotesque ideas of wild authoresses [?]. to laugh and rattle and fling themselves about; not by the outgoing of the responsive thoughts of wit and genius. Why didst thou blunder into that +++ attic [?], like the animal with two ears, which said, over ascended to the upper story of a far-famed seat of learning [?].- Henceforth +++ aches! keep clear of the poets' head and heart. for there shall countless forms and sounds jostle and annoy you and there shall ye find no rest! yesterday, arrived those books – what shall I say 

[page 2] grates. Je vous remercie. le doy las gracias. I'm very much obliged to you, for I never before had a realigning sense of what good people were. but you are one of them - you are! - You are clever, both in the English and Yankee sense. You "do good, to all men", women, and +++ .- Seriously now, I thank you with all my heart for those delightful books. – Bolens [?] has always been one of my enthusiasms. he must be a glorious fellow. - Whittier I consider one of our country's glories - a magnificent development of American soul. I like him. +++ costume [?] and all. he is brimful of genius. I am writing letters for the Philadelphia S. E. Post and will make these two volumes the subject of one. will send you a copy. you ask how I am, and what I am "doin". Well, I am in perfect health nowadays. and am reading, writing, dancing a little, laughing a great deal and getting most unpractically [?]. fat. I was going to say, but that is a piggish word – acquiring embonpoint.– I have the roundest arm, the plumpest cheeks, and the doublest chin ever seen on a feminine favorite of the nine, inspected of having been +++ in first. love of being inclined to consumption and religion, and known to be

[page 3] a little in years. - Next, you ask if the sun shines here, and if the people are clever and keep Thanksgiving. I cant [sic] say our sun is quite equal to the one in your direction, which has the honor of pouring its rays on Bunker Hill, and Lexington, and other farmers Fields. I might mention; ours is not much, ordinarily, but manages to cut a shine on Sundays. - Neither can I say much for the cleverness of the people. they have no high appreciation of genius. My dog and I can walk out in the open day, without having our way blocked up by the "frenzied multitude"!! They keep Thanksgiving, after a sort. but the "+++ barbarians" have "no knowledge of the gospel" as regards Pumpkin Pie. I think I hear you exclaim "Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie. Oh Lord!" You did not send me your own little volume. How could you treat me so! - I have read the notices of your late poem with +++ little pleasure +++, and am hungry to see +++ the performance itself. - I think your modesty must do injustice to your deserts when you express so great a surprise at the success of this effort. I have no doubt that you are "wise (and clever,) above what is written "(by the editors,) and that same

[page 4] will be pretty well slowed [?] before +++ your praises are all sounded. I think I shall take your advice respecting my publication. Meanwhile assure your porters [?] that they will not lose largely by the job. assure them that my popularity is a solemn reality. A steam. boat on the Mississippi, was long time named after you, and lately a rare. horse in Kentucky. I think Jones [?] told you that knowing you was the habit of disposing of the autograph letters of distinguished people, I should take extra pains [?] with mine to you. Remark how carefully I crop my is, and dot my ts! and then the sentiments and the language! of these it were scarce becoming for me to speaking full. but I am confident you will pronounce them to be as Mr. +++ would say "+++ +++ ". I have been told that I waste ammunition in bestowing such care and +++ on my private letters. But the habit is on me. To write a brief and careless letter were an exertion to which I feel myself unequal. they must ever be in my most unimportant epistolary communications, a certain finish and picturesqueness. I can do no otherwise. Heaven help me, as Luther said at the +++ of +++. I have written somewhat jestingly, perhaps, but in sad, sober earnest, believe me.
Yours decidedly,
Grace Greenwood.

[page 1 added vertically] My kind remembrances to Mr. Whipple.

[page 4 added vertically] P.S. [?] If your +++ very letter is as +++ +++ +++, I shall expect a +++ +++ +++ in +++!