Another wonderful Scottish “mansion house” sampler, this piece begins with a beautiful stem and satin stitched freehand vine and ribbon upper border above a verse:

Tell me you knowing and discerning few
Where I may find a friend that’s firm and true
Who dares stand by me when in deep distress
And then his love and friendship most express:

Who by a secret sympathy can share
My joy my grief my misery and my care
He must be prudent, faithful, Just and wise
Who can to such a pich (sic) of friendship rise.

It is signed George Hercules, Jean Fleming, Jean Hercules, Barbara Hendarson and is dated 1797. The mansion house, stitched with petit point and satin stitches, is flanked by two stumpy trees stitched freehand and filled in with shaded stem stitch. The sampler is in generally very good condition, with some water staining toward the bottom. It measures 14″ x 11″.

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