A Mother's Grief / (On the L side): 'To mark the sufferings of a babe / That cannot tell its woe / To see the infant tears gush forth / Yet not know why they flow / To meet the meek uplifted eye / That fain would ask relief / Yet can but tell of agony / This is a mothers grief / Through dreary days and darker nights / To trace the march of death / To hear the faint & frequent cry / The quick and straitened breath / To watch that last dread strife draw near / And pray that struggle brief / Tho all is ended with its close / This is a mothers grief. / (On the R): To see in one short hour decayed The hope of future years To feel how vain a Fathers prayers How vain a Mothers tears / To feel the cold grave soon must close / O er what was once the chief Of all her treasured joys on earth / This is a Mothers grief / Yet when the first wild throb is past / Of anguish & despair / To lift the eye of faith to Heaven / And think my babe is there / This best can dry the gushing tear / This gives the heart relief / Until the christians pious hope / O'ercomes the Mothers grief.' / Selected, / S.A. Maul 1837___ on the death of her dear babe // (Note: It is unknown if S.A. Maul is in fact the maker or if the sampler is perhaps a gift from a friend or other family member). //

Maker

Maul, S.A.

Date made

1837

Origin

New England, US

Stitches

Cross

In Bolton & Co.

No

Foundation Cloth

Linen

Embroidery Thread

Silk

Predominent Motif

An eight stanza poem describing, as titled, "A Mother's Grief." Meandering arcaded strawberry border all four sides.

Inscription

A Mother's Grief / (On the L side): 'To mark the sufferings of a babe / That cannot tell its woe / To see the infant tears gush forth / Yet not know why they flow / To meet the meek uplifted eye / That fain would ask relief / Yet can but tell of agony / This is a mothers grief / Through dreary days and darker nights / To trace the march of death / To hear the faint & frequent cry / The quick and straitened breath / To watch that last dread strife draw near / And pray that struggle brief / Tho all is ended with its close / This is a mothers grief. / (On the R): To see in one short hour decayed The hope of future years To feel how vain a Fathers prayers How vain a Mothers tears / To feel the cold grave soon must close / O er what was once the chief Of all her treasured joys on earth / This is a Mothers grief / Yet when the first wild throb is past / Of anguish & despair / To lift the eye of faith to Heaven / And think my babe is there / This best can dry the gushing tear / This gives the heart relief / Until the christians pious hope / O'ercomes the Mothers grief.' / Selected, / S.A. Maul 1837___ on the death of her dear babe // (Note: It is unknown if S.A. Maul is in fact the maker or if the sampler is perhaps a gift from a friend or other family member). //

Length Without Frame

17 1/4"

Length With Frame

20 1/4"

Width Without Frame

17 1/4"

Wdith With Frame

20 1/4"

Historical Owner

#2021

Owner

Phillips Museum, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

Owner Private

Phillips Museum of Art, Franklin & Marshall College