Art
Mary Austin embroidered this sampler in 1784 as part of her education. Young girls learned needlework, letters, and numbers through these practiced designs—a skill expected of all respectable women, rich or poor.
Art · Full story
Your fingers are pricked from hours of work. The alphabet rows blur together, but you keep stitching. When you finish these last letters and the flowering vine border, Mother will finally let you set it aside—proof you've learned what every proper girl must know.
Reflect
What tasks do children practice today to prove they're learning and growing up?