This is a really fabulous November 16, 1812 American School Girl needlework linen sampler wrought by Charlotte Wills aged 13 years.

The verse in black reads: Bestow Dear Lord Upon Our Youth/ The Gift of Saving Grace/ And Let The Seed of Sacred Truth/ Fall in a Fruitful Place/ Grace is Plant Wherever It Grows/ Of Pure and Heavenly Root/ But Fairest in the Youngest Shows/ And Yields The Sweetest Fruit (in praise of Grace).

This sampler is silk on linen with many wonderful motifs including plants, flowers and the best birds appearing to be birds of prey such as hawks with the separate distinguished and colorful tail feather. There is a fabulous strawberry border, mounds of different colored earth and intricate potted florals.

The sampler is in supremely excellent condition with no damage at all (one small light tan spot the size of a small pea to the linen near the T in Truth) including no weak areas, holes, color runs or fading. The colors to all the silk threads is still vibrant and extremely strong. The large birds facing each other in a three quarter turn is most unusual.

This sampler is in a very old frame and was probably framed during the late 1800's or so as the frame is oak or walnut, the frame nails are round and the backing is wood. But it probably was never framed before this one. The glass however is early glass with bubbles. The sampler appears to be laid on possibly artist board judging from what I can see on the edges (not glued or stitched).

The sampler itself measures about 16 1/4" long and 10 1/4" wide. Including the 1 1/2" wide frame, it measures 19" x 12 3/4". This is an extremely wonderful and crisp sampler. Again the three quarter turn position to the birds is very unusual.

I have not been able to research Charlotte Wills, but the sampler was purchased in New England.