From the Project Gutenberg version of Exercises in Knitting by Cornelia Mee.
"Nine stitches to a pattern. For the centre of a shawl I have done it in white, with a deep shaded border in feather stitch, in German wool, and the effect is extremely good." (The feather stitch referred to may be Pretty Feather Pattern for the Border of a Shawl.)
Row 6 of the original written instructions has the knit and purl areas reversed.
Shown with a cast-on count of 18 stitches.