An undulating floral border is along three sides of the rectangular composition. At the bottom center is a square, multi-storied house with columns on either side. To the left of the house is a weeping willow and a female figure standing beside an obelisk memorial. To the right are two female figures, an adult in white and a child in yellow, near a tree. An eagle with an American shield and laurel branches is above the house surrounded by potted flowers, stars, and a heart. In the center of the sampler, the artist has stitched the inscription: "Margaret McMillen’s Sampler wokd in the 11 year of her age." The register above includes numerous birds, trees, hearts, crowns, and the date, 1826. The top register before the floral border has a passage from Oliver Goldsmith’s “The Hermit” (1764) and is framed by a basket of fruit and a pot of flowers.