The sampler has a large red and white floral and berry peripheral border on the top and sides. On each side of the bottom border is a red urn with red and white flowers with a basket of flowers centered in the bottom border flanked by tufts of flowers on either side. There are eight rows of alphabets and numbers separated by simple crossbands.
In the lower left field is a verse, reading:

Adorn thy heart adorn thy mind
With knowledge of the purest kind
Be this thy care be this thy strife
And thou shalt lead a happy life

In lower right field of the sampler is the signature:

Elvira Perci
Tousey Born
July 25 1809

Elvira Percival Tousey was born on July 25, 1809 and was the daughter of Thomas Tousey (1775-1839) and Lydia Percival Tousey (1781-1865). Her siblings included: Vicy (1799-1868), Mercy (1801-1820), Mary (1802-1865, born in Harpersfield, Delaware, New York), Ira (1805-1806, born in North Bend, Indiana) Eliza Ann (1812-1874), Luranda (1814-1842), Matilda (1816-1836), Jane (1819-?), Oliver (1821-1875), and Zalmon (1825-1886).

Elvira married James Matthew Gaines (1793-1851) on August 16, 1827. Their offspring included: Alfred S. (1828-?), Owen (1828-?), Elizabeth (1830-?), Pendleton W. (1830-?), William T. (1832-1855), Susan R. (1833-?), George Tousey (1835-1923), Virginia C. (1841-?), Elvira Tousey (1841-1885), and Oliver L. (1843-?).

Elvira Percival Tousey died on August 19, 1884. Along with her husband James Matthew Gaines, she is buried in the Richwood Presbyterian Cemetery in Walton, Boone County, Kentucky.