1st item: Unusual cross stitched cotton or silk on linen sampler, rectangular form with verse and pictorial images including that of a Bible. The verse reads "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flames kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2). Images beneath the verse include a book labeled Bible, tree, dogs or lions, crown, and flowering plants, all executed in shades of green and yellow. Unsigned and unframed, nailed to a wooden stretcher. 13" x 20". American or English, last half 19th Century. Provenance: Descended in a Buncombe, North Carolina family. 2nd item: Mid 19th century wool on linen cross-stitched sampler, unfinished floral border surrounding a large depiction of three yellow, red and ivory colored buildings placed side by side, possibly houses, over an upper case alphabet and signature: Helen Jane Darroch/aged 11 years 7 months 8 days. Unframed. 17" x 15". Provenance: a Murfreesboro, Tennessee estate. Note: census records show Darroch families in Ireland and North Carolina. Condition: 1st item: Overall discoloration, few areas of thread loss to lettering especially on the words " passest" and "kindle". 2nd item: Large stain to upper right quadrant and other scattered smaller stains, scattered losses to wool on border and ivory house, top row of letters appears to have been picked out, fraying at left edge.