Object Number: TA1459

Collection: Applied Art

Object Name: sampler

Description: Coloured silks on wool, blue-stripe selvedge at left, other three edges raw. Cross, satin, chain, buttonhole stitches. Stylised floral meander border. In top third a seven-bay building with clock in roof (?a school), bird perched above clock; on either side a flower vase and cupid firing arrow into heart; in centre a parrot perched within an oval garland between rhymes; in bottom third a large flower basket, a lady with small child and dog, and a lady nursing a child beside an urn; a cupid in each bottom corner. Signed and dated in two rectangles at bottom. Verses (left side): 'Let idle flutterers miserably gay In dress and trifling, waste their useless day That day for nobler exercises given To adorn the soul for happiness and heaven Tho youth and beauty different tasks persuade That youth must languish and that beauty fade Destructive years no graces leave behind But those which virtue fixes in the mind To fairer views let my ambition tend On natures glory and our beings end And seek from beauties formd on virtues rules The applause of angels not the Gaze of fools' (right side): 'The lord is my shepherd my guardian and guide, Whatsoever I want he will kindly provide Ever since I was born it is he that hath crownd The life that he gave me with blessings all round While yet on the breast a poor Infant I hung Ere time had unloosend the strings of my tongue He gave me the help, which I could not then ask Now therefore to thank him shall be my lovd task The lord is become my Salvation and song His blessing shall follow me all my life long: Whatsoever condition he places me in I am sure tis the best it could ever have been.' In (later) black frame.