Miss Margaret Sigler

Tucked among the many pieces of correspondence, envelopes, notes–and locks of hair–of my three-greats grandmother, Ellie Stoneroad Patterson, is this beautifully lettered acrostic. The poem spells out the name of Ellie’s mother Margaret Sigler. No author is listed, but assuming Margaret wrote it about herself and she did so while she was Miss Sigler and not Mrs. Stoneroad, the paper would predate 1835–the year of birth of Margaret’s first child, daughter Emeline.

Many are the charming virtues of a lovely maid;
In all her beauties there is no gloomy shade,
Since the fair and lovely train, with spirits glow,
So shall their modest actions and deportments show.
Many are the direful modes to betray a main
And strategems and plans to have these measures laid;
Reason inspired in any female mind
Governs the passions which expose mankind!
Adam, ’tis said, has been beguiled by Eve;
Returning seasons, still new objects leave
Each season sets forth, each plant and flower;
To shew the bounteous hand of god’s “Power”
Shew forth thy praise, unto the Almighty King;
In love with the angelic choir to sing,
Great shall, be your reward before all men,
Let us be free from the iniquities of sin
Every heart, shall speak with sense inspired;
“Rejoice” to have your virtues “undenyed”