The sampler has significant areas of toning as well as background linen and embroidery loss.  In the upper one third, there are three rows of alphabets and numbers.  The verse in the middle third is seen on other American and English samplers.  It is the first of three stanzas of a children’s hymn in: “Sermons to Children: to Which Are Added Short Hymns, Suited to the Subjects by a Lady”, written by Rebecca Wilkinson (London: John Marshall and Co., 1789), pg. 19.  Ms. Wilkinson was a British writer/poet of children’s religious texts.   The sampler verse reads:
Come children tis (Jesus that calls)
The voice of your saviour obey
when Jesus invites you to come
No disciple shall turn you away

Fairly simple but colorful crossbands separate the rows of alphabets, verse, and surround the signature which reads:
Susanna Magill in
The 10th year of her
age 1826

Numerous motifs including butterflies, eight pointed stars, trees, flower pots, and several small animals are scattered in the mid and lower aspects of the sampler. A vine and strawberry border surrounds the sampler periphery.

Susanna Magill was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky on February 24, 1817. Her father was Alexander Magill (1758-1830), (a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia), and, by all sources, her mother was Barbara Jones Magill (1786/90-?), Alexander’s second wife. Susanna was the only offspring of this second of three marriages of Alexander Magill. Susanna’s half siblings from Alexander’s first marriage to Martha Moffett (1766-1807) included John William (1784-1833), Elizabeth (1785-1850), William (1785-1833), James B. (1788-1863), Jane/Jennie (1790-1856), Martha (1792-1827), Esther (1795-1860), Robert Alexander (1797-1863), and Moffit/Moffett (1801-1862). There are no reported offspring from Alexander Magill’s third marriage to Sarah Arrowsmith (1796-1870). Some confusion regarding Susanna’s mother is suggested as there is no recorded date of death for Barbara Jones Magill, a recorded marriage date for Alexander Magill and Sarah Arrowsmith of March 30, 1816, and Susanna’s date of birth being February 24, 1817.

Susanna married Coleman Stone Ratliff (1814-1887) in Bath County, Kentucky on April 24, 1834, officiated by Samuel Jones. Their children included Miranda (1835-1867/1921), Sarah A Elizabeth (1837-1867), Joseph (1838/1840-?), Caleb Martin (1843/4-1930), Samuel Alexander (1846-1931), Robert Dillard (1854/55-1927), John Sanford (1857/58-1926), Ida (1860-1927), Henry Coleman (?-?), and Ann Elizabeth (1849-1902).
The 1850 and 1860 census shows them living in Nicholas County, Kentucky.

Susan Magill Ratliff died on September 11, 1897 in Sharpsburg, Bath County, Kentucky and was buried in the Old Sharpsburg Cemetery, in Sharpsburg, along-side her husband.