Description:Child's sampler. Embroidered on white cotton hessian ground. Border comprised of a leaf pattern. Upper half of the inner work is comprised of three rows of embroidered letters. Bottom half has embroidered trees, animals and the verse: 'I want I know not what, I want my want to see, I want alas what want I not, When thou art not with me'.
Towards the end of the 18th century, samplers taught not only sewing but also literacy in the forms of alphabets, numerals and religious texts. These grew in importance and became an almost essential part of sampler making throughout the 19th century. From the Staffordshire County Museum Collection.