There are five rows of alphabets and numbers separated by decorative bands, all within a vining strawberry border.
There is a history of a cloth backing attached with remnants of a silk binding. The verse reads:
Night
When day first closed and night came on
When colours fading fled
And trees and hills from sight were gone
Astonished Adam said
My consort Eve hung on his arm
I fear some ill at hand
Else whence this change this dear alarm
That darkened all the land

Signed:
E. M. Lancaster
Loretto
A.D. 1837

Ellen was born September 11, 1824 in Marion County, Kentucky to Dr John B. Lancaster (1797-1867) and Mary Rose Hayden (1803-1845). Both their families were among a group of Catholics who emigrated from Maryland in the late 18th century. Ellen’s siblings included John E. (1829-1859), Charles Francis (1832-1870), George Washington (1835-1873), Edward Baker (1838-1868) and Joseph Benjamin (1843-1877).

Ellen married Robert Abell Spalding (1822-1895), a lawyer, on September 28th, 1847. This union produced children including Mary Alethaire Spalding David (1849-1921), Anne (Annie) Spalding Spalding (married a Spalding), (1850-1921), Jane Pottinger Spalding Blincoe (1853-1920), Ellen Spalding Anderson (1855-1936), Elizabeth Ignatious Spalding (1860-1864), Susan Katherine Spalding Porter (1861-1885), Mary Catherine Spalding (1863-1927), and Robert Abell Spalding (1866-1895).

Ellen Miles Lancaster died on September 14, 1883 in Union County, Kentucky and is buried with her husband in Sacred Heart Cemetery, St. Vincent, Union County, Kentucky. (see ancillary images)

The Hardin Creek Settlement that later became St. Charles Parish in St. Mary, Marion County, Kentucky, began in 1786 when members of the Emigration League in Maryland settled on Kentucky farms. The town of St. Mary, Kentucky was first known as “Hardin's Creek” when it was settled by the Hardin family, c. 1785. Other Catholic settlers from “Saint” Charles County, Maryland arrived in 1790. Their community was originally known as “Saint Charles” after their former home and new church. Father Stephen Badin, of historic fame, cared for the spiritual needs of the people before the venerable Father Charles Nerinckx built the first church in 1806, naming it for his own patron saint. Before that, worship was long held in the home of Henry Hagan. In 1809 there were 259 registered in the Holy Name Society.

Father Nerinckx established the Little Society that eventually became the Sisters of Loretto, the first group of whom made their vows in St. Charles Church.
Founded in 1812 as Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross, the first sisters dedicated their lives to God as religious women and educated poor children of the area. They later took the name Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross. Father Charles Nerinckx, the clerical founder for the Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross, lived at St. Charles, Hopkins County, Kentucky from 1812 until 1824 and moved, with the founding sisters, to the present Motherhouse location (Nerinckx, Marion County, Ky 40049) which is also near Hardins Creek, (a stream in this area), in 1824. The first school building, Loretto Academy, was built in 1832 and was used as a school until 1888 when the larger academy building was built. Loretto Academy flourished until 1918 when the school was closed. 

The founding Sisters of Loretto moved from St. Charles Parish, Lebanon, Kentucky to their present location (Nerinckx, Marion County, Ky 40049) location in 1824. The first school building, Loretto Academy, was built in 1832 and was used as a school until 1888 when the larger academy building was built. Loretto Academy flourished until 1918 when the school was closed.