Page:Posthumous works, in prose and verse - Ann Eliza Bleecker.djvu/42

20 banks of the Hudfon y eighteen miles above Al bany. They were perfons of good natural abi lities, improved by fome learning ; yet, con- fcious of a deficiency in their education, they ftudied nothing fo much as to render their little daughter truly accomplished.

MARIA was- born in the year 1721. Her promiling infancy prefaged a maturity of excel lencies ; every amiable quality dawned through her lifping prattle ; every perfonal grace at tended her attitudes and played over her fea tures. As flie advanced through the playful ftage of childhood, flie became more eminent than a Penelope for her induftry ; yet, foon a.s: the fun declined, flie always retired with her books until the time of repofe, by which means ihe foon informed her opening mind with the principles of every ufeful fcience. She was beloved by all her female companions, who* though they eafily difcovered her fuperior ele gance of manners, inftead of envying, were excited to imitate her. As fbe always made one in their little parties of pleafure on feftival days, it is no wonder that flie foon became the reigning goddefs among the fwains. She was importuned to admit the addrefTes of numbers, whom