Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale
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credit. 1851 Boston. "Printed for the Publishers." Attached to the end, without page break, is a short narrative poem with prose introduction, "Henry and Julia, a tale of real life" (omitted from this e-text). 1864 Philadelphia, Lippincott. With two exceptions, this is a reprint of the 1851 edition, including obvious typographical errors and with identical punctuation. There is a new frontispiece (the 1851 edition had none). The "Henry and Julia" poem is omitted. Instead, the final page compresses the last two pages (one full page plus seven lines of text and a four-line footnote) of the 1851 edition into one, using a noticeably smaller font. 1870? New York, Leavitt & Allen. The date is hypothetical, based on librarian's notation. The book is probably a reprint of the 1836 Boston edition, which has the same page count (significantly different from other known editions); 1836 is also a plausible date for the frontispiece.
General Differences:
In the 1804 and 1811 texts, dialogue is usually punctuated as
"To this place (said Melissa) have I taken...."
with some variation between brackets [] and parentheses (). In the 1870text, dialogue has "modern" punctuation with single quotes:
'To this place,' said Melissa, 'have I taken....'
The earlier versions are _more_ likely to use "American" spellings suchas "jail" (but "gaoler") and "honor"; later editions (published in theU.S.) use "British" spellings such as "gaol" and "honour". The olderform "shew" appears only in the earliest editions.
The spelling "stupify" is used consistently, and "vallies" is almostuniversal. The spellings "discreet(ly)" and "discrete(ly)" seem to havebeen used interchangeably. Names in "New" such as "New London" weregenerally hyphenated in 1804; later versions have fewer hyphens, butthey never disappear altogether.
The ampersand & appears a few dozen times in the original (1804)version; in 1811 most were changed to "and", and in later editions itsurvived only in the form "&c."
The 1804 and 1811 texts use "consolate" for "console" almost everywhere,and the name is spelled Wyllys, changed in later editions to Wyllis. The1811 text consistently uses the spelling "whipperwill", and often uses"come" and "become" for "came" and "became". The 1851 text often usesnon-standard spellings such as "visiter", "suiter", "persuit". The 1870text consistently spells "lilly" with two l's, and uses "set" for "sit";it often interchanges or omits "the/this/that" and similar.
In All Editions:
With lingering gaze Edinian spring survey'd [for Edenian] The panic and general bustle which took place in America on these events, is yet well remembered by many. ["is" for "are"] to level on the property of the former [common error or variant for "levy"] this measure, once adopted, her father must consent also [sentence structure is the same in all editions] constructed of several tier of hewed timbers ["tier" used as a plural] he should conduct in a very different manner [sentence structure is the same in all editions]
Details:
The following are highlights, not an exhaustive list. See below forerrors corrected in the 1851 text. Spelling and punctuation have beenregularized in some cases.
In the time of the late American revolution 1811ff ... the late revolution at the day appointed 1811ff on the day appointed her aspect was attempered with a pensive mildness 1870 her aspect was tempered ... [QUOTATION] For far beyond the pride and pomp of power 1870 pride or pomp The heaven embosom'd sun; the rainbow's die 1851 the rainbow's dye a few days, during which time they passed in visiting select friends and in social parties. 1870 a few days, which time they passed in was visiting ... 1811/51 and social parties the sound of various instrumental music 1811ff ... of instrumental music mortgages on lands and houses for security 1811ff ... securities attracted him hither. If he had admired the manly virtues of the brother, could he fail to adore the sublimer graces 1870 thither ... the sublime graces the milder and more refined excellencies of the other? 1870 ... of the latter? He came regularly, about once in two or three months 1811ff He came regularly, once in ... It was not probable, therefore, that he would be objectionable to Melissa's friends--_Nor to Melissa herself_----said Alonzo, with an involuntary sigh. 1811ff "It is not probable therefore that he will be objectionable to Melissa's friends or to Melissa herself," ... Was it not then highly probable that he had secured her affections? 1870 Was it not highly probable then that ... the foliage glittering to the western ray 1851 glittering the 1870 glittering in the the extremest verge of the horizon. "This is a most beautiful scene," said Melissa. 1811ff the extreme verge 1851/70 a most delightful scene he was not always my _beau_-man 1851/70 he was not always my Beauman He formally addresses you. 1851 He formerly. Al. Melissa. [A pause ensued.] 1870 ... [A pause.] but his fears declared otherways 1811ff ... otherwise friendship must yield its pretensions to a superior claim 1870 friendship must yield to a superior claim Were Beauman here, my position might be demonstrated. 1811ff Was Beauman here ... She was still silent. 1870 She was silent. Mel. (confused.) If it be a proper one. You are entitled to candour. 1811ff ... If it be a proper one you are ... her voice tremulous, her eyes still cast down.) My parents have informed me that it is improper to receive the particular addresses of more than one. 1870 her voice trembles 1811 the particular address But-- (she hesitated.) 1870 But (she blushed.) [QUOTATION] Darted her silvery intercepted ray 1811 Darted his silvery ... nor had they attempted to influence or forestal her choice 1811ff ... to influence or direct her choice We must pour a liberal libation upon the mystic altar 1870 We must pour out a liberal libation to the mystic altar And why have I ever doubted this event" said Alonzo. "What infatuation hath thus led me on the pursuit of fantastic and unreal bliss? 1870 And why have I doubted ... led me on to the pursuit ... and will convince both Melissa and Beauman 1811ff and I will convince Melissa and Beauman she has treated me as a friend to her brother. She was the unsuspecting object of my passion. She was unconscious of the flame 1811/51/70 ... as a friend to her brother. She was unconscious ... said that business had prevented him; he esteemed him as his most valued friend 1851/70 said that business prevented him ... most valuable to which you attended me when you was last here 1870 ... when you last was here The solemn herds lowed in monotonous symphony. The autumnal insects in sympathetic wailings 1870 in solemn symphony 1811 waftings 1851/70 wafting the rude despoiling hand of winter 1870 the despoiling hand of winter She was still silent 1851/70 She was silent. The "stilly sound" of the low murmuring brook 1851 slitty sound 1870 distant sound the frequent lights darted their paly lustre thro' the gloom 1811/51 palely lustre 1870 pale lustre but other subjects engaged the mental attention of Alonzo. 1811ff but the other subject ... Alonzo and Beauman pledged their honour to abide explicitly by these injunctions 1851 ... abide implicitly by ... 1870 ... abide implicitly to ... That time has now arrived 1851/70 That time has arrived the deep and solemn silence of night 1870 the deep and sullen silence of night bowed to the minutia of female volatility 1870 minutiae [[Note that "minutiae" is the correct form. All earlier editions, including the 1804 original, have the incorrect word "minutia".]] finally appointed a day to give both him and Alonzo a determinate answer 1811ff ... to give him and Alonzo a determinate answer to make a journey into a different part of the country 1811ff to make a journey to a distant part ... thither he hasted to gain shelter from the approaching storm. 1811ff thither he hastened ... In a moment he discovered that it was Melissa. 1870 In a moment, however, he discovered that it was Melissa. Alonzo felt all the force of the remark 1870 Alonzo felt the force ... remaining beauties of Summer 1811ff remaining beauties of the summer the battle at Lexington, followed soon after by the battle at Bunker's Hill. 1870 of Lexington ... of Bunker Hill 1811ff Bunker Hill Alonzo and she frequently discoursed upon the subject, and they agreed 1811ff Alonzo and she frequently discour
sed, and they agreed orchards, arbours, and cultured fields 1811ff ... cultivated fields The inhabitants of this modern Avernum 1851/70 ... Auvernum [sic] Such was the place chosen for the future residence of Alonzo and Melissa. 1811ff Such was the place for the residence ... "the confused noise of the warrior, and garments rolled in blood," 1811ff ... of the warriors ... this modern Vacluse [sic] 1851/70 this modern Vaucluse the walks, the meads, the fountains 1811ff the walks, the mead, the fountains Around the horizon