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

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
other resource. And after waiting a fortnight in the most cruel suspense, we wrote
a billet, entreating him, if possible, to give some intelligence concerning her. He
replied that he was unhappily deprived of all means of knowing himself, but hoped
soon to relieve his own and our anxiety about her.
In this situation we continued till a neighbor (purposely, we since concluded)
sent us a Boston paper. Mrs. Wharton took it, and unconscious of its contents,
observed that the perusal might divert her a few moments. She read for some time,
when it suddenly dropped upon the oor. She clasped her hands together, and
raising her streaming eyes to heaven, exclaimed, “It is the Lord; let him do what he
will. Be still, O my soul, and know that he is God.”
“What, madam,” said I, “can be the matter?” She answered not, but, with
inexpressible anguish depicted in her countenance, pointed to the paper. I took it
up, and soon found the fatal paragraph. I shall not attempt to paint our heartfelt grief
and lamentation upon this occasion; for we had no doubt of Eliza’s being the person
described, as a stranger, who died, at Danvers, last July. Her delivery of a child,
her dejected state of mind, the marks upon her linen, indeed every circumstance
in the advertisement, convinced us, beyond dispute, that it could be no other. Mrs.
Wharton retired immediately to her chamber, where she continued overwhelmed
with sorrow that night and the following day. Such in fact has been her habitual
frame ever since; though the endeavors of her friends, who have sought to console
her, have rendered her somewhat more conversable. My testimony of Eliza’s
penitence before her departure is a source of comfort to this disconsolate parent. She
fondly cherished the idea that, having expiated her oence by sincere repentance
and amendment, her deluded child nally made a happy exchange of worlds. But
the desperate resolution, which she formed and executed, of becoming a fugitive, of
deserting her mother’s house and protection, and of wandering and dying among
strangers, is a most distressing reection to her friends; especially to her mother,
in whose breast so many painful ideas arise, that she nds it extremely dicult to
compose herself to that resignation which she evidently strives to exemplify.
Eliza’s brother has been to visit her last retreat, and to learn the particulars of
her melancholy exit. He relates that she was well accommodated, and had every
attention and assistance which her situation required. The people where she
resided appear to have a lively sense of her merit and misfortunes. They testify her
modest deportment, her fortitude under the suerings to which she was called,
and the serenity and composure with which she bade a last adieu to the world. Mr.
Wharton has brought back several scraps of her writing, containing miscellaneous
reections on her situation, the death of her babe, and the absence of her friends.
Some of these were written before, some after, her connement. These valuable
testimonies of the aecting sense and calm expectation she entertained of
her approaching dissolution are calculated to soothe and comfort the minds of
mourning connections. They greatly alleviate the regret occasioned by her absence
at this awful period. Her elopement can be equalled only by the infatuation which
caused her ruin.
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