Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-10-05
ALIcE's GOLD LACE.
How a Girls Industry Saved Her Whole
Family from the Scalping Knife.

How a Girls Industry Saved Her Whole
Family from the scalping Knife.
In these progressive days so crowed
with toilers in every department OF
life, we find very few opportunities for
the cultivation of the art of fine
needle-work, which was carried to such
a state Of perfection by our ancestors
The exact date when the art of lace
making was introduced into Europe is
not known, but tits generally supposed
that point-laee, the oldest variety Of
which we have any positive knowledge,
was first made by the nuns during the
latter half Of the fourteenth century
Since the invention of the laoe-machine.
with its numerous and cheap produc-
tions, the prices which the handmade
varieties formerly commanded have
been perceptibly diminished This
wonderful machine is said 70 have been
invented By a framework ltnitter of
Nottingham, who gathered his kr )wl-
edge of ;sle art by studying lace on his
wife's cap.
In our grandmothers and our great
grandmother's times, when Martha
Washington was first lady of the
land to excel in cunning needle-worl1
was considered a great accomplish
ment. Away back in the days which
tried mems souls, young girl, Alice
Pittenger, through her knowledge of
lace-making became the means Of the
salvation of her fathers people, saving
them from the tomahawl5s of a merci-
less tribe of Indians. NJ. Pittinger was
an English gentleman. who on account
Of the reverses Of fortune came TO the
new world about the time the revolu-
tionary war closed. For few years
he made his home in one of the New
England states and then hoping
to improve his condition he joined
a colony bound for the new settle
ment then forming on the banks
of the Muskingum river For some
time after the Pittengers had taken
possession of their new home their re-
lation with the Indians was most pleas
ant and friendly Their duslSy neigh
bors visited them frequently, and soon
the pale faces became accustomed to
their savage ways and learned TO trust
them implicitly
Very suddenly and without giving
any explanation these friendly visits
ceased entirely, and for weeks and
months not an Indian crossed the
white mans line Mrs. Pittenger
viewed the change suspiciously, but
her husband made light of her fears
assuring her that it was only within
and would soon give place to their old
time sociability. But he was mistaken
storm was brewing, which at last
burst forth in all its fury.
One day when Pittenger and his wife
were absent a canoe laden with the
treacherous Delawares landed directly
opposite the block-house where Alice
had been left in charge of the children.
The young maiden was seated at her
lace making When the bold chief and
his half dozen braves entered the door,
and she soon learned from their broken
English that they had come in search
Of food. Alice assisted the serving
maid in placing before them an
abundance of good, ubstantial victuals,
hoping that they would leave as soon
as they had satisfied their hunger; but
instead Of taking their departure they
stood around watching her deft fingers
iashioning the dainty lace that was a
marvel 70 them A roll of gold-lace that
she had wrought for a friend across
the waters lay on the table by her side
The chief seemed TO admire the gay
lace so much that Alice gave it to him,
hoping by this means to get rid of her
unwelcome visitors before the Mig
should come on. The red-m8n was
greatly pleased, and as soon as he could
express his gratitude he went away;
not, however, until he had made GER
tain cabilistic signs upon the house.
Soon after this there was an uprising
among the Indians, and tragedy after
tragedy was perpetrated by the red
skins upon the white settlers. but no
harm came 30 the Pittenger family.
"Alices gold-lace is pleading for us
in the dark forest and we are safe, said
Mr.. Pittinger when his wife and children
trembled atthe tidings Of some fresh out
break 4 am satisfied that these crude
marks upon the wall have a meaning,
and have kept the lawless tribe from
mOlestlng US III any way And such
was really the case, as it was after
wards learned
One day after peace had returned
the chief and one Of his warriors ap-
peared unexpectedly at the settler s
doors leading by the horns a beauti-
ful deer which they presented to Alice
Pointing 70 The lace which he wore
upon his gorgeous coat he made the
family understand that it alone had
stood between them and the sea ping
knife From that time forth the In
dams remained their warnest friends,
and many sre the gifts they lavished
upon the fair Alice, who py her in
dustry had been able to purchase life
for herself and her family. Christian
at Aork