Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
the verge of a well-spent life, and wish only to see their children settled in the
world, to depart in peace.
CHARLOTTE
I am very happy to hear that they are well. [Coolly.] Brother, will you give me leave
to introduce you to our uncle’s ward, one of my most intimate friends?
MANLY [saluting Letitia]
I ought to regard your friends as my own.
CHARLOTTE
Come, Letitia, do give us a little dash of your vivacity; my brother is so sentimental
and so grave, that I protest he’ll give us the vapours.
MANLY
Though sentiment and gravity, I know, are banished the polite world, yet I hoped
they might nd some countenance in the meeting of such near connections as
brother and sister.
CHARLOTTE
Positively, brother, if you go one step further in this strain, you will set me crying,
and that, you know, would spoil my eyes; and then I should never get the husband
which our good papa and mamma have so kindly wished me—never be established
in the world.
MANLY
Forgive me, my sister,—I am no enemy to mirth; I love your sprightliness; and I
hope it will one day enliven the hours of some worthy man; but when I mention
the respectable authors of my existence,—the cherishers and protectors of my
helpless infancy, whose hearts glow with such fondness and attachment that they
would willingly lay down their lives for my welfare,—you will excuse me if I am so
unfashionable as to speak of them with some degree of respect and reverence.
CHARLOTTE
Well, well, brother; if you won’t be gay, we’ll not dier; I will be as grave as you
wish. [Aects gravity.] And so, brother, you have come to the city to exchange
some of your commutation notes for a little pleasure?
MANLY
Indeed you are mistaken; my errand is not of amusement, but business; and as I
neither drink nor game, my expenses will be so trivial, I shall have no occasion to
sell my notes.
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