Casgliadau Arlein

LINEN, unbleached, embroidered with coloured silks in cross, eyelet, rococo and satin stitches. At the top in eleven rows, separated by zig-zag and straight stripes, are three alphabets in capitals, two in small letters, numerals to 9 (twice) and 11, and heart and diamond line fillings. Below, in thirteen lines, is the verse: "How doth the little / busy bee improve / each shining hour / and gather honey / all the day from / every openig (sic) flowr / how skilfully she / builds her cell how / neat she spreads / her wax and labor / hard [to] store it well / with that sweet / food she makes." At the bbttom, in three lines, is the inscription: “Sarh (sic) Iones finished / these letters Septr / the 26 1778”. Between two lines of the verse short rows of S's are worked in blue linen thread. From Gower, Glamorganshire.

Source: Guide to the Collection of Samplers & Embroideries (Cardiff: National Museum of Wales, 1939) by F.G. Payne.