Hope Leslie: Volume 1, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

The next morning, Mr. Fletcher departs for Boston, arriving there nine days later. Along with the two girls, their widowed aunt, Mrs. Grafton, and their tutor, Master Cradock, will join the household. Mrs. Grafton is a devout Anglican, and she is indifferent to her Puritan neighbors’ exhortations on this account. In fact, she is much more dogmatic about fashion than religion; but she is most devoted of all to her nieces.

Alice Fletcher’s younger daughter, Mary, is shy and spoiled. The elder, Alice, is warm and loving, and Mr. Fletcher can’t help noticing that she looks just like her mother. Mr. Fletcher sends Mary home along with Mrs. Grafton and Oneco, and he remains with Alice and Master Cradock. First, however, he has Alice and Mary baptized and renamed Hope and Faith, respectively.

Mr. Fletcher is detained in Boston for several months. In the meantime, the household back in Springfield—which he calls Bethel—thrives, thanks to Martha’s quiet influence. She sends her husband a letter sharing details of daily life in his absence. Martha reports that Mrs. Grafton is a strange fit in the Puritan wilderness, and that Everell teases her about her allegiance to the prayer-book. Everell, meanwhile, is devoted to Magawisca; they exchange stories from their cultures, and Everell has taught Magawisca to read.

Mrs. Fletcher has tried to teach Magawisca religion, using Mr. Cotton’s Catechism, but with little success. Magawisca also resists joining Jennet in the household chores—it is too difficult to “clip the wings of her soaring thoughts.” Mrs. Fletcher marvels at Magawisca’s unique beauty and gifted mind, despite the fact that she is a “child of the forest.” She wonders whether Magawisca and Everell ought to be separated before they grow too attached to one another. Oneco, meanwhile, is a help with the younger Fletcher children, cheerful in contrast to his solemn sister, and especially devoted to little Faith Leslie.

Lately, Mrs. Fletcher reports, there have been rumors of unfriendly American Indians in the nearby forest. The Fletchers have been encouraged to move into the town fort, but, despite her forebodings, Mrs. Fletcher refuses to give in to fear, knowing her husband will be home soon. Though not wishing to overstep her wifely bounds, she closes the letter by asking her husband if Everell might spend a few years in England to finish his education, since opportunities are limited for him here on the American frontier.

Mrs. Fletcher has reason for alarm. Near Bethel lives an old American Indian woman named Nelema. One day, Nelema brings Mrs. Fletcher berries and herbs, as she often does, but when it’s time for her to leave, she stares sadly at Mrs. Fletcher’s sons. With Magawisca’s translation, Nelema explains that she, too, once had sons and grandsons, but they were struck down by the English, and now she has no descendants left.

After Nelema leaves, Mrs. Fletcher sees that she has left behind an arrow and the rattle of a rattlesnake. Magawisca goes with Nelema, and when she returns, she looks dejected. Magawisca tearfully says that Mrs. Fletcher has been like a mother to her. When Mrs. Fletcher asks her to interpret the symbols which Nelema left behind, Magawisca turns pale, explaining that the objects represent approaching danger and death. She will say no more, either to Mrs. Fletcher or Everell. Mrs. Fletcher appoints Digby and some of the other household men to remain on guard for the night—not an unusual occurrence. Everell decides to join them.