The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-05-24

1
had expected fell not on her anxious ear
and strange, deep, dread was finding its
way in, and rolling heavily in the room Of
the departed guest, % 1t is very lovely,
truly" said the dame at last, without reach
ing her hand to touch it" very beautiful;
but could your skill only accomplish some
thing like this, Barbara, I would purchase
it at any price, 1t is SO lovely-so uncom-
mon."
She had opened the drawer while speak
ing, and handed the sorrow-stricken Bar
ban border Of rich Brussels point.lace.
Barbara let the veil fall into tho basket, and
struggling hard to suppress her emotion,
took the border in her hands. She had
never before seen Brussels point. and she
now eagerly and anqiously examined the
beautiful fabric. 1t is very lovely" she
said, in low, sad voice; " my work cannot
indeed compare with that" For minute
she continued her careful examination, and
then returning it with low obeisance, took
up her basket and departed.
How changed to her eyes now appeared
the bright world she had looked upon but
one short half.hour before The deep sor-
row in her own heart had banisbed It's beau
ties from the landscape. She turned her
steps homcward-it was too late then to
seek another purchaser - and traversed
slowly the same shady alleys which Shc had
so lately troddcn with an elastic step. After
u while she suddenly stopped, and sinking
on the soft green sward, exclaimed /: i" Let
me think :" She placed her little basket
beside her, and covering her face with her
hands, once more muttered: 90 Let me
think"
Mute and motioncss-as we learn from
Barbaru's own narrative-she continued to
think and to pray (; and more than an hour
elapsed before she lifted her head, and once
more started on her homoward path. 1t was
late in the evening when shc returned her
children were at rest in their little cot, and
her husband was standing at the door watch
ing for her return with look of hcedful
and anxious love. She raised her eyes to
his; her face was glowing with youthful
and matronly beauty, and seemed illumina-
ted by some powerful, newborn hope.
Husband" she said, as soon as the first
greetings were over, (" l shall want you %
bo very busy for me l require dozen nice
round sticks. not thicker or longer than
your middle finger and l shall want you
to give them to me as soon as possible"
With pleasure, you shall have them,
dear wife," no replied; and accordingly, us
soon as they had partaken of frugal sup
per, he set to work. Meanwhile, Barbara
was occupied in making small, hard, round
cushion. The covering was of green stud
we are told-and it was filled with hay.
BY midnight, the task of each was COM
pleted.
Next day, Barbara shut herself up in the
little inner room Of her cottage. She had
the sticks and cushion with her, and she on
ly entered the outer room when her pres.
encc was absolutely necessary. The second
day she again absented herself, and likewise
for the three following her husband, with
real tact and delicacy, neither asking her
questions nor suffering any oiicious neighbor
to intrude on her. 1t was well for oil par
ties that this trusting affection had taught
him to pursue this wise course, for Barbaras
mind was struggling after % dimly revealed
object, and the least interruption in the pur-
suit, though kindly meant, might only
serve to throw an additional shadow on her
path. On the evening Of the fifth day, she
rushed from the closet, and throwing her
self into her husbands arms, exclaimed
(" Christopher, beloved, thank God with me!
See what he has enabled me to accomplsh;"
and she showed him piece of lace which
resembled what We now call "quilling,'
This she afterwards richly embroidered;
and as she looked on her beautiful handi-
work, she believed that she had, unaided by
human Intervention, discovered the method
by which point lace was manufactured. In
reality, however, she had done much more
-she had invented new article Of equal
beauty and greater utility-thc lace at pres
ent so well known as " cushion" or bone
lace"
Barbara Uttman's name soon obtained q
worldwide reputation, and her invention
was spoken OF as the most wonderful
and curious of the age. Thousands
of yards of her richly embroidered laces were
ordered, not by private individuals, but by
merchants FROM every quarter of the globe |;
and in order to supply tho demands, she
employed all the poor girls in the neigh
borhood. In very short time she removed
to large and comfortable house in Dresden,
and for many years after, both she and her
husband devoted their evenings to mental
Improvement. How well they succeeded
from the fact that Christopher became a
wholesale exporter Of the valuable fabric
which his wife had invented, and that he
managed to the perfect satisfaction Of all
parties the complicated details which his
business involved. As for Barbara, her
+" children called her blessed, her husband
also, and he praiseth her." Beloved and
respected she lived to good old age, and on
the evening Of her death there were sixty
four children and grandchildren assembled
: in her home.
The simple principle ON which B,rban's