The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-08-08

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was fast leaving her heart, as the sudden
exclamation of delight and approval which
she had expected fell not on her anxious
ear; and strange, deep dread was find
ing its way in, and rolling heavily in the
room of the departed guest. at is very
beautiful said the dame at last, still
without reaching her hand to touch ii,
Every beautiful, truly; but could your
skill only accomplish something like this,
Barbara, would purchase it from you at
any price; it is so lovely and SO uncom-
mon."
She had opened drawer while speak
ing, and handed the sorrow-stricken Bar
bara border of rich Brussels point-lace
Barbara let the veil fall into the basket,
and struggling hard to subdue her emo
tions, took the border into her hands. She
had never before seen Brussels point, and
she now eagerly examined the fabric. at
is very lovely she said, in a low, sad
voice; ..'my work cannot indeed compare
with that" For minute she continued
her careful examination, and then return
ing it with a low obeisance, took up her
basket and departed.
She turned her steps homeward-it was
too late then to seek another purchaser
and traversed slowly the same shady al
leys which she had so lately trodden with
an elastic step. After while she sud
denly stopped, and, sinking on the soft,
green sward, exclaimed, "Let me think"
She placed her little basket beside her,
and covering her face with her hands,
once again muttered, "Let me think"
Barbara's own narrative-she continued
to think and pray and more than an hour
elapsed before she lifted her head, and
once more started on her homeward path
1t was late in the evening when she re-
turned her children were at rest in their
little cot, and her husband was standing
at the door watching for her return with
a look of heedful and anxious love- She
raised her eyes to his her face was glow
ing with youthful though matronly beau
ty, and seemed Illuminated by some pow
erful ew-born hope.
Husband" she said, as soon as the first
greetings were over, 81 shall want you to
be very busy for me require dozen
nice round sticks, not thicker or longer
than your middle finger; and | shall want
you to give them to me as soon as posi-
ble"
"With pleasure you shall have them,
dear wife," he replied and accordingly,
as soon as they had partaken of frugal
supper, he set to work. Meanwhile, Bar
bara was occupied. in making small,
hard, round cushion. The covering was
of green stuff-we are told-an9 it was
filled with hay. BY midnight the task of
each was completed.
Next day Barbara shut herself up in
the little inner room of her cottage. She
had the sticks and the cushion with Eer,
and she only entered the outer room when
her presence was absolutely necessary
The second day she again absented her
self, and likewise for the three following.
Her husband, with rare tact and delicacy,
neither asked her questions nor suffered
any oficious neighbor to intrude upon
her. On the evening Of the fifth day she
rushed from the closet, and th cowing her
self into her husbands arms, she exclaim-
ed "Chistopher, beloved, thank God with
me See what He has enabled me to ac-
complish 70 and she showed him piece
of lace which she had made on the cush-
ion, and which resembled what we know
under the name of Quilting" This she
afterwards richly embroidered and as she
looked on her beautiful handiwork, '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 a new article of equal
beauty and greater utility-the lace at
present so well known as "cushion" or
"bone lace"
Barbara Uttman's name soon obtained
a worldwide reputation, and her invention
was spoken of as the most wonderful of
the age. Thousands of yards Of her rich
bordering laces were ordered, not by pri-
vate individuals, but by merchants from
every part of the globe; and in order to
supply the demand she employed all the
poor girls in her neighborhood. In a
very short time she removed to large and
comfortable house in Dresden, and for
many years after, both she and her hus-
band devoted their earnings to mental i'm
provement How well they succeeded
may be gathered from the fact that Chris
topher became wholesale importer of the
valuable fabric which his wife had invent
ed, and that he managed, to the perfect
satisfaction of all parties, the complicated
details which his business involved. AS
for Barbara, sher children called her