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

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
and be assured, my dear, your monitorial lessons and advice shall be attended to. I
believe I shall never again resume those airs which you term coquettish, but which I
think deserve a softer appellation, as they proceed from an innocent heart, and are
the eusions of a youthful and cheerful mind. We are all invited to spend the day
to-morrow at Colonel Farington’s, who has an elegant seat in this neighborhood.
Both he and his lady are strangers to me; but the friends by whom I am introduced
will procure me a welcome reception. Adieu.
ELIZA WHARTON.
Letter III
TO THE SAME.
NEW HAVEN.
Is it time for me to talk again of conquests? or must I only enjoy them in silence?
I must write to you the impulses of my mind, or I must not write at all. You are not
so morose as to wish me to become a nun, would our country and religion allow
it. I ventured, yesterday, to throw aside the habiliments of mourning, and to array
myself in those more adapted to my taste. We arrived at Colonel Farington’s about
one o’clock. The colonel handed me out of the carriage, and introduced me to a
large company assembled in the hall.
My name was pronounced with an emphasis, and I was received with the
most attering tokens of respect. When we were summoned to dinner, a young
gentleman in a clerical dress oered me his hand, and led me to a table furnished
with an elegant and sumptuous repast, with more gallantry and address than
commonly fall to the share of students. He sat opposite me at table; and whenever
I raised my eye, it caught his. The ease and politeness of his manners, with his
particular attention to me, raised my curiosity, and induced me to ask Mrs. Laiton
who he was. She told me that his name was Boyer; that he was descended from a
worthy family; had passed with honor and applause through the university where
he was educated; had since studied divinity with success; and now had a call to
settle as a minister in one of the rst parishes in a neighboring state.
The gates of a spacious garden were thrown open at this instant, and I accepted
with avidity an invitation to walk in it. Mirth and hilarity prevailed, and the
moments ed on downy wings, while we traced the beauties of Art and Nature, so
liberally displayed and so happily blended in this delightful retreat. An enthusiastic
admirer of scenes like these, I had rambled some way from the company, when I
was followed by Mrs. Laiton to oer her condolence on the supposed loss which
I had sustained in the death of Mr. Haly. My heart rose against the woman, so
ignorant of human nature as to think such conversation acceptable at such a time. I
made her little reply, and waved the subject, though I could not immediately dispel
the gloom which it excited.
The absurdity of a custom authorizing people at a rst interview to revive the
idea of griefs which time has lulled, perhaps obliterated, is intolerable. To have our
enjoyments arrested by the empty compliments of unthinking persons for no other
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