"Rebecca Rathbun was born to Elijah Rathbun and Bathsheba (nee Rose) Rathbun 2-March, 1816; in Lisbon, New London, Connecticutt. She died 19-September 1829-only three years after working this sampler. The sampler is especially unusual for Rebecca named her instructor within. The work is apparently unfinished, there is no indication that a vacant area in the bottom right corner had borne stitching. The verse is gentle, but grim:

So fades the lovely blooming flower/Frail smiling solace of an hour/So soon the transient comforts fly/And pleasure only blooms to die. The work is somewhat awkward, it is clumsily segmented, and the bottom panel bears what looks more like doodling than planned design, with that vacant area. Could it be that poor Rebecca realised her impending doom?

Condition: Fading to the light colors used in the alphabet. Some staining, as illustrated. "

Weight : 570g/19.8oz.