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

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
Poe described Sedgwick as “one of our most celebrated and meritorious writers.”
Besides her six novels, Sedgwick published biographies and children’s literature.
She never married.
4.5.1 From Hope Leslie
Volume I, Chapter IV
“The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent,
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us—oh, and is all forgot?”
Midsummer Night’s Dream
On quitting Everell, our heroine, quite unconscious that she was the subject
of painful suspicion or aectionate anxiety, sought a sequestered spot, where she
might indulge and tranquillize her feelings.
It has been said that the love of a brother and sister is the only platonic
aection. This truth (if it be a truth) is the conviction of an experience far beyond
our heroine’s. She had seen in Esther the pangs of repressed and unrequited love,
and, mistaking them for the characteristic emotions of that sentiment, it was no
wonder that she perceived no anity to it in the joyous aection that had animated
her own soul. “After a little while,” she said, “I shall feel as I did when we lived
together in Bethel; if all that I love are happy, I must be happy too.” If the cold and
selsh laugh to scorn what they think the reasoning of ignorance and inexperience,
it is because they have never felt that to meditate the happiness of others is to
enter upon the ministry and the joy of celestial spirits. Not one envious or repining
thought intruded into the heaven of Hope Leslie’s mind. Not one malignant spirit
passed the bounds of that paradise, that was lled with pure and tender aections,
with projects of goodness, and all their cheerful train.
Hope was longer absorbed in her revery than perhaps was quite consistent with
her philosophy; and when she was roused from it by Digby’s voice, she blushed
from the consciousness that her thoughts had been too long withdrawn from the
purpose of her visit to the island. Digby came to say that his wife’s supper-table
was awaiting Miss Leslie. Hope embraced the opportunity, as they walked together
towards his dwelling, to make her arrangements for the evening. “Digby,” she said,
“I have something to conde to you, but you must ask me no questions.”
“That’s crossing human nature,” replied the good fellow; “but I think I can
swim against the current for you. Miss Hope.”
“Thank you, Digby. Then, in the rst place, you must know, I expect some
friends to meet me here this evening; all that I ask of you is to permit me to remain
out unmolested as long as I may choose. You may tell your wife that I like to stroll
in the garden by moonlight, or to sit and listen to the waves breaking on the shore—
as you know I do, Digby.”
Page | 781