Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries: Second EditionHuish, Marcus B. (Marcus Bourne)
History
Samplers and Tapestry Embroideries: Second Edition
Huish, Marcus B. (Marcus Bourne)
Embroidery -- England; Samplers -- England; Tapestry -- England
"In memory of my beloved Father
John Twaites who died April 11 1829.
Life how short--Eternity how long.
Also of James Twaites
My grandfather who died Dec. 31, 1814.
How loved, how valu'd once, avails thee not
To whom related, or by whom begot,
A heap of dust alone remains of thee,
'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be."
Curiously enough, whilst compiling this chapter the writer came across an
artillery non-commissioned officer in the Okehampton Camp who, in the
intervals of attending to the telephone, worked upon an elaborate Berlin
woolwork sampler, ornamented with urns, and dedicated "To the Memory of my
dear father," etc.
Duties to Parents and Preceptors
That the young person who wrought the sampler had very much choice in the
selection of the saws and rhymes which inculcate obedience to parents and
teachers is hardly probable, and it is not difficult to picture the
households or schools where such doctrines as the following were set out
for infant hands to copy:--
"All youth set right at first, with Ease go on,
And each new Task is with new Pleasure done,
But if neglected till they grow in years
And each fond Mother her dear Darling spares,
Error becomes habitual and you'll find
'Tis then hard labour to reform the Mind."
The foregoing is taken from the otherwise delightful sampler worked by a
child with the euphonious name of Ann Maria Wiggins, in her seventh year,
that is reproduced in Plate XII.
Preceptors also appear to have thought it well to early impress upon
pliable minds the dangers which beset a child inclined to thoughts of
love:--
"Oh Mighty God that knows how inclinations lead
Keep mine from straying lest my Heart should bleed.
Grant that I honour and succour my parents dear
Lest I should offend him who can be most severe.
I implore ore me you'd have a watchful eye
That I may share with you those blessings on high.
And if I should by a young youth be Tempted,
Grant I his schemes defy and all He has invented."
_Elizabeth Bock_, 1764.
Samplers were so seldom worked by grown-up folk that one can hardly
believe that the following verse records an actual catastrophe to the
peace of mind of Eleanor Knot:--
ON DISINGENUITY
"With soothing wiles he won my easy heart
He sigh'd and vow'd, but oh he feigned the smart;
Sure of all friends the blackest we can find
Are those ingrates who stab our peace of mind."
A not uncommon and much more agreeable verse sets forth the duties of man
towards woman in so far as matrimony is concerned:--
"Adam alone in Paradise did grieve
And thought Eden a desert without Eve,
Until God pitying his lonesome state
Crown'd all his wishes with a lovely mate.
Then why should men think mean, or slight her,
That could not live in Paradise without her."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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