THE

LADIES' REPOSITORY.

FEBRUARY, 1855.

LITERARY WOMEN OF AMERICA.

BY THE EDITOR.

MRS. LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY.

has been recognized in the world of literature, the steady growth and permanent character of her fame as a writer, the wide celebrity she has attained, both in the new and the old world, and,

A of FVV era has in the characteris her productions, we know not of a more appro

NEW era has opened in the literary history above all, the number, variety, and usefulness of

tics of the present age is the great number of female writers that have appeared, the wide celebrity they have attained, and the transcendent influence their writings are exerting upon the taste, the morals, the heart, and the intellect of the age. That this is a true development of womanly nature is evident from the fact, that, with some slight exceptions, their productions are addressed to the moral and religious sentiments, and contain healthy aliment for each. More spiritual and refined in her sensibilities than is the opposite sex, she has a keener and a more truthful perception of all that pertains to our emotional nature, and her delineations often prove more just and natural. We hail this development of woman's talent as one of the most auspicious indications of the time-betokening the dawn of a brighter and purer day in the world

of literature.

priate name with which to commence this series than that of Mrs. Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

The town of Norwich, Connecticut, is honored as being the birthplace of Miss Huntley, afterward Mrs. Sigourney. The first inhabitants, who settled here at an early date, planted themselves in a narrow valley by the side of the little river Yantic. From this spot, however, the tide of population and business has been diverted to more convenient localities in its immediate vicinity. It is called the Old Town, to distinguish it from the parts that have more recently become populous. The place is described as being one of romantic interest. Seated in a basin formed by surrounding hills, it looks up and around upon an almost endless variety of natural scenery. Here craggy rocks, gray with age and beaten by the storms and blasts of centuries, tower above the quiet village. There sloping greens, and limpid streams, and landscape beauty greet the eye and inspire the imagination. It seemed a place designed by nature to develop the powers of the soul-to render the mind vigorous, selfreliant, and strong-and to fire the imagination with conceptions of the beautiful, the grand, the sublime. In the most picturesque part of "Old Town" Miss Huntley first breathed the vital air, September 1, 1791. Her parents were in moderate circumstances; her father devoted himself to agricultural avocations, but had not, at that time, any proprietorship in the soil. Fortunately for

This new development, so strongly marked, especially in American literature, is worthy the attention of the journalist, not only as an event characteristic of the age, but on account of its influence on the present and its promise for the future. The astronomer marks the progress of the sun through the heavens by the movement of its light upon the sun-dial. So would we mark the progress of this movement across the horizon of literature. Each one of the characters that appear furnishes a point of observation, and marks a new stage of progress. To th's end, as well as for the interest and profit of the reader, as we pass along, we propose a series of sketches of the literary women of America. Whether we consider the length of time she necessary, beneficence practicable, luxury impos

VOL. XV.-5

the genius of the daughter, while their situation was such as to beget refinement of taste and manner, it was also such as to make "industry

private. So fearful was she that some one might discover them, that she resorted to various methods of concealment. Having neither lock nor key in her possession, she would hide them under piles of books, or carefully place them away in some spot where no intruder would be likely to discover the hidden treasure.

Another circumstance connected with her early history, and exerting a powerful influence upon her whole character and subsequent career, is found in her early connection with Madam Jeru

sible." Mr. Huntley was of Scotch descent, and for some time served his country as a soldier in her struggle for independence. He was a man of great probity and integrity of character, of fervent piety, of warm and earnest benevolence, and of unbroken equanimity of disposition. He pursued his daily labors with that contented and happy spirit which made his life's thread run smoothly. The genial sunshine of his heart, which beamed on all around him, continued to grow without abatement, and accumulating years had so little effect upon him, that in his eighty-sha Lathrop, widow of Dr. Lathrop, of Norwich, eighth year it was said of him, "His mind was clear, and his step elastic. Age had sprinkled no snow upon his head or his heart. Life was bright and warm with lingering affections, yet with 'loins girt and lamp burning' he serenely waited the summons of his Lord." The maiden name of her mother was Wentworth; and her line of descent is traced back to the old Tory governors who were so highly honored for their loyalty to the crown of England. She possessed strong powers of mind, a remarkable memory, a vivid imagination, and a warm heart. Her educational opportunities had been limited, and her education was consequently defective. But the best efforts of her strong natural powers were devoted, with exceeding care and tenderness, tocility of her disposition-as she sat in her little the nurture of her only child-the subject of this sketch. The daughter was not spoiled by overweening fondness and indulgence, but sedulously trained to habits of systematic order and persevering diligence in the tasks and duties assigned to her.

The situation in which we find the young poetess placed in early childhood—the natural scenery that surrounded her the character and position of her parents, were admirably adapted to the development of her native powers. Even her being an only child, inducing, as it did in her case, the substitution of intellectual pleasures and pursuits for the common sports of childhood, exerted a powerful influence upon her early-almost premature development. Her precocity was remarkable. At the age of three she could read her Bible fluently and correctly. At seven the indications of her genius began to appear more distinctly, and she was often found composing verses for her amusement. One year later she had become "a scribbler of rhymes." At nine she began a fictitious work in the epistolary style, and at eleven commenced keeping a regular daily journal. Into this journal she incorporated her verses and other writings as though they were a part of the record of her life and feelings. All these scribblings, however, were kept sacredly

and daughter of Hon. John Talcott, Governor of the state from 1735 to 1741 inclusive. She was truly "a noble lady of the olden time.” Mr. Huntley became her steward, and his family lived in the fine old mansion. Madam Lathrop had lost her own children while they were yet young, and she now became tenderly attached to this young and timid child that nestled beneath her roof. The attachment was mutual, and so strong did it become while Lydia Huntley was yet a child, that the two became almost inseparable companions. At this period of her life, says one, "What mind, however sagacious, would have recognized in this young girl, remarkable for the delicate richness of her cheek and the sweet do

chair, reading aloud to her beloved benefactress from Young's Night Thoughts or Bishop Sherlock's Discourses-or curiously conning her own rude rhymes at eight years of age-or running in glee over the turf of the court-yard in front of the mansion, decked with roses and sweet-brier, of Madam Lathrop-or rushing through the spruce-arched gateway—or sweeping floors with elaborate skill-or trying to iron-or steadying the young fruit-tree that her father was planting— or dropping the garden-seeds behind him-or spinning upon her mother's great wheel-ever accompanying her industry with a happy song— who would have ever recognized in this girl the future 'Hemans of America? Who would have guessed that she would in later years be the admired of the great-the confidential correspondent of Hannah More-the friend of Joanna Baillie and the Countess of Blessington—the recipient of costly gifts from royalty in honor of her muse-and the most famous of the female bards of her country?"

In the house of Madam Lathrop she enjoyed many advantages which the straitened condition of her parents could never have afforded her. Intercourse with one so noble could not but tend to beget a corresponding nobleness of mind and gentility of manner. Here, too, she became