AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS): Charming Missive to a Young Boy Named Charlie

Cambridge, 1867. Letter. Normal folds from mailing; ink a bit light. Near Fine. Superb 4-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED "Henry W. Longfellow" on a 9" x 7" sheet of paper, folded once, to "My Dear Charlie," a young boy as obvious by the content. In full: "I have been so long in answering your letter, that no doubt you begin to think that I am not going to answer it at all. But you see, I am; and my letter will be longer than yours. It comes very naturally to me to begin with 'My Dear Charlie,' because I have a boy named Charlie. He was in the war; and was shot through the body; but has got well again, and is now in St. Petersburg; and whenever I write to (truncated) him I begin my letters with 'My Dear Charlie,' just as I do this. I suppose you have a sled; and I wonder of what color it is, and what its name is. I used to have one named the 'Vanguard'; but that was a good while ago, and I do not know what has become of it. And what do you think of this great snow? You may live to be an old man without seeing the like again. It will be good fun for you to make snow houses and forts. I hope you have a wooden shovel, for I really don't know what a boy can do without a wooden shovel in winter. And now, my Dear Charlie, good bye; and remember that all Charlies must be good boys. That will make everything pleasant and comfortable. Your friend, Henry W. Longfellow." With the envelope addressed by Longfellow to Edward B. Haven, a friend of his son Charlie and the father of the young boy named Charlie, likely named after his friend. Haven and Charles Longfellow shared a home in Japan in 1872. (Inventory #: 021390)