A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Child, Lydia Maria
CHILD, LYDIA MARIA,
Wife of David Lee Child, was born in Massachusetts, but passed the early portion of her youth in Maine, whither her father, Mr. Francis, had removed when she was quite young. She found few literary privileges in the place of her residence, but she had the genius that nourishes itself on nature; and from the influence ⟨of⟩ the wild scenes which surrounded her home in childhood, she doubtless, draws even now much of the freshness of thought and vigour of style which mark her productions.
In 1823, being on a visit to her brother, the Rev. Conyers Francis, then pastor of the Unitarian Church at Watertown, Massachusetts, Miss Francis commenced her literary life with "Hobomok, a Story of the Pilgrims;" which was written in six weeks, and published in 1824; ever since that time its author has kept her place as a faithful labourer in the field of literature, and perhaps not one of the American female writers has had wider influence, or made more earnest efforts to do good with her talents. Her next work, "The Rebels," was published in 1825; soon afterwards Miss Francis became Mrs. Child, and her married life has been a true and lovely exemplification of the domestic concord which congenial minds produce as well as enjoy.
In 1827, Mrs. Child engaged as editor of "The Juvenile Miscellany," the first monthly periodical issued in the Union for Children. Under her care the work became very popular; she has a warm sympathy with the young—her genius harmonized with the undertaking, and some of the articles in this "Miscellany" are among the best she has written. During the six following years, Mrs. Child's pen was incessantly employed. Besides her editorial duties she published, successively—"The Frugal Housewife," written as she said in the preface, "for the poor," and one of the most useful books of its kind extant—"The Mother's Book," an excellent manual in training children, though the author has never been a mother—and "The Girl's Book," designed as a holiday present, and descriptive of Children's plays. She also prepared five volumes for "The Ladies' Family Library," comprising "Lives of Madame de Staël and Madame Roland;" "Lady Russell and Madame Guyon;" "Biographies of Good Wives;" and the "History and Condition of Woman;" which works were published in Boston. Besides all these she published in 1833, "The Coronal," a collection of miscellaneous pieces, in prose and verse. The most important step in her literary career was that which she took with the abolitionists, by issuing her "Appeal for that class of Americans called Africans." This appeal was written with that earnest and honest enthusiasm pervading all Mrs. Child's benevolent efforts. The design of the abolitionists is the improvement and happiness of the coloured race; for this end Mrs. Child devoted her noblest talents, her holiest aspirations.
Since 1883, only three works of her's have been published; "Philothea" appeared in 1835, a charming romance, filled with the pure aspirations of genius, and rich in classical lore; the scene being laid in Greece in the time of Pericles and Aspasia. The work is in one volume, and was planned and partly written before its author entered the arena of party; but the bitter feelings engendered by this strife, have prevented the merits of this remarkable book from being appreciated as they deserve.
In 1841, Mr. and Mrs. Child removed from Boston to the city of New York, and became conductors of "The National Anti-Slavery Standard." Mrs. Child, while assisting in her husband's editorial duties, now commenced a Series of Letters, partly for the "Boston Courier," a popular newspaper, and partly for the "Standard," (her own paper,) which after being thus published, were collected and re-issued in two volumes, entitled "Letters from New York." This work has been very popular. Mrs. Child is a close observer, she knows "how to observe," and better still, she has a poetical imagination and a pure, warm, loving heart, which invests her descriptions with a peculiar charm. An English Reviewer has well remarked concerning Mrs. Child:—"Whatever comes to her from without, whether through the eye or the ear, whether in nature or art, is reflected in her writings with a halo of beauty thrown about it by her own fancy; and thus presented, it appeals to our sympathies, and awakens an interest which carves it upon the memory in letters of gold. But she has yet loftier claims to respect than a poetical nature. She is a philosopher, and, better still, a religious philosopher. Every page presents to us scraps of wisdom, not pedantically put forth, as if to attract admiration, but thrown out by the way in seeming unconsciousness, and as part of her ordinary thoughts."