Amazing early 19th century school girl needlework sampler dated September 8, 1808, made by Tryphena Corbett. The cloth is delicate, stitches tiny. There are some losses as shown in this textile from what I presume was moths prior to it having been framed. See closeups and photos. Frame is old and back retains early info on frame shop. Frame measures 13" x 15". 
With a traditional alphabet and number study, Tryphena stitched an epitaph tribute originally written by Reverend William Mason in Bristol Cathedral, for his wife Mrs. Mason. 

Take, holy earth, all that my soul holds dear.
Take that best gift which heav’n so lately gave.
To Bristol’s fount I bore with trembling care
Her faded for: she bow’d to taste the wave
And died. Does youth. Does beauty read the line?
Does sympathetic fear their breasts alarm?
Speak, dead Maria. Breathe a strain divine.
Ev’n from the grave thou shalt have power to charm.
Bid them be chaste. Be innocent like thee.
Bid them in duties sphere as meekly move.
And if so fair, from vanity as free.
As firm in friendship and as fond in love.
Tell them tho’ ’tis an awful thing to die
(Twas ev’n to thee) yet. The dread path once trod
Heav’n lifts its everlasting portals high
And bids “the pure in heart behold their God.”


Upon my research of Rev. Mason, he was a poet, musician and reverend in Bristol Cathedral in England and was also an early abolitionist. There are several papers published on his life and work. There was a monument erected in Bristol Cathedral for his wife Mary with this epitaph whom passed around 1768 of TB, and he passed in 1797.

The Corbett family tree equally is intriguing with genealogy found online. 

Thanks for looking!