The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-08-08
HOW CUSHIOK-LACE WAS INVENTED

III WAS lHC NlHlSI VI lilC year IOOt, anu
the mines of Saxony, being no longer con-
sidered productive, were closed. Hun
dreds of men were, in consequence, thrown
out of employment, and amongst them one
Christopher Uttman. He had wife and
two infant children, and his heart was FL
led with despair on their account. With
heavy heart he returned to the lowly
cottage, the interior of which the care and
tastefulness of his wife had rendered com
Portable, nay, even beautiful, and placing
in her hands his last weeks wages, he
exclaimed bitterly, barbara, what shall
we do? [ am not to return to the mines
any more. They will all be closed next
week, and will never be reopencd."
Barbara had heard before her husband
had returned home that the pits were
abouf to be closed for an indefinite period:
she was, therefore, in some degree prepa-
red for the tidings, and replied cheerfully,
ave shall, no doubt, do very well. We
shall seek Gods guidance He will direct
us. We are young and strong, and heal
thy, and need not despair of being able to
provide for our little ones because the
mines of Saxony are shut up"
Barbara had been in the habit of assis-
ting in the maintenance of her little
household by embroidering muslin wells.
At first she worked only for the mine
owners wife and daughters but so imag-
NATIVE and delicate were her skill and
taste in this art that her fame had lately
reached more than one of the German
courts, and many noble dame had availed
herself OF the graceful productions of
10 lnI 70 ho
brocaded dresses the elaborately -embroi-
dered, yet light and tasteful, muslin train
and ruffles. The care of her infant twins,
however, with many other domestic duties,
had hitherto afforded her but little time
for the exercise Of her art but now, tho
these cares and duties were rather in
creased than lessened, she determined,
without neglecting or emitting one Of
them, that by the labor of her hands
should her family be supplied with bread.
"My husband toiied for u.s." she mentally
exclaimed, "and now L will work hard for
him."
The next day after the closing of the
mines, Barbara arose with the dawn, and
having put her house in order, and pre-
pared the morning meal, she commenced
her work. Steadily she wrought on hour
after hour, never moving from her low
scat near the window, except when obli
ged to do so for the fulflment Of some
household duty. A little girl, the daugh-
ter of neighbor, was sent for to look after
the children and Christopher contrived
to find useful employment in the little
garden which separated his cottage from
the road, and which heretofore had been
Barbara's care. In the evening he assis-
ted in preparing the supper, and thus the
first day passed away hopefully and hap
PLY. Three months thus rolled by, and
Barbara looked with justifaole pride on
the production of her artistic skill-a veil
which far excelled anything she had ever
before attempted, in its singular beauty of
design and elaborateness of embroidery.
With a happy smile, eloquent of joy and
hope, she LETT her home the next morning,
carrying the veil in curious basket COW
cred with richly embroidered cloth.
Arrived at a certain castle at some
leagues distance about noon, she was at
once admitted to the presence of its fair
mistress, with whom Barbara was favor
ite. Having replied to kind inquiries for
her husband and children, she looked
consciously at her little basket Her
heart beat almost audibly, and her cheek
flushed to deeper glow than even the
unusually long walk would have caused,
as she raised the lid, and shaking out the
delicate veil threw it over her extended
arm. Never before had she displayed
such a specimen of her skill, and never
before did SO much depend on its being