A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Cheney, Harriet V.
CHENEY, HARRIET V.
Is a native of Massachusetts. Her love of literature was developed in childhood, probably owing much to the influence of the taste and genius of her mother, who was the authoress of one of the earliest American novels, "The Coquette, or History of Eliza Wharton." Soon after the subject of our notice left school, she wrote, in conjunction with her sister, "The Sunday School, or Village Sketches," which was published anonymously. It was popular, the edition was soon exhausted, and the authors were solicited to republish it;—but not having secured the copyright, another writer had seized on the book, changed the title to "Charles Hartland," and published it for his own benefit. The next work, "A Peep at the Pilgrims," passed through two editions, and was re-published in London. It is an interesting story of the early settlers of New England, and has lately been re-printed in Boston. "The Rivals of Acadia," was the next; and then for a number of years Mrs. Cheney's time was wholly devoted to her family. The death of her husband, by rendering her own exertions in behalf of her children essential to their education, has called her again into the field of literature. Her latest books, "Sketches from the Life of Christ;" and "Confessions of an early Martyr," appeared in 1846; she has since been a contribitor to "The Literary Garland," a Monthly Magazine published in Montreal, Canada, where Mrs. Cheney now resides. Her sister, Mrs. Cashing, is editor of the "Garland," and has written several books for the young, and poems: "Esther, a Dramatic Poem," is a work of deep interest. These two amiable and intelligent sisters are doing much, in a quiet way, for the literary taste and moral improvement of the youth of Canada.