The Healing of Little Alice Peltier

Alice Mabel, my grandaunt, was the first of 13 children born to Albert and Celestine Peltier.  She was born on September 25, 1885 in White Bear Township.  (Cousin Charlene and I were both born on September 25.) 

The story of “The Healing of Little Alice” was told by Celestine to Alice’s daughter, Celestine’s granddaughter, Mildred (LaBore) Cardinal.  Mildred’s written account of it is as follows:

Alice, the daughter of Albert and Celeste [Celestine] Peltier, was about 5 years old when her father came home with 3 little coaster wagons.  One for each of his 3 children, Alice, Bert (Albert Noah) and Ellen (my paternal grandmother).

Kneeling one leg in the wagon and using the other to push herself, Alice would lead the parade of wagons around the living room and through the door to the kitchen.  Here she turned right to go around the room and back to the living room.

One day Celeste warned the children to be careful as she lifted the door to the cellar and went down the steps.  However, they did forget and as Alice made the turn into the kitchen she and her coaster wagon headed down the steps too.  Although she must have been hurting she did not cry.

After a day or two, it was obvious that she had injured herself.  Her parents brought her to several doctors over the next 2 years.  Salves and liniments were prescribed, but all that resulted was Alice’s skin would peel and look burned.

There was a new young doctor named Gillette.  He prescribed surgery for Alice’s leg which was bending at the knee and curling up to eventually wrap around her head.  Celeste would not agree to the surgery.  She said, “No one will use a butcher knife on my baby!”

Celeste and Albert decided there would be no more doctors; they would leave it in God’s hands.  Celeste prayed to St. Anne.  She promised that if Alice would be healed, she would never again wear the pretty colorful dresses that she liked.  Celeste promised to always wear black if her “Baby’ would be healed.

Eventually, Alice could only lay in bed.  She cried and cried because of the pain.

There was a traveling medicine man, a spiritual, who drove around the countryside selling salves and medicines which he himself made.  He was quite a sight.  He had a long beard, like Santa.  His little coach with his name and address printed on the side was pulled by four little horses… 2 teams.

One day, while Albert was away, Dr. Allen came into the yard in his little coach.  Celeste was not about to let this stranger come into the house.  Dr. Allen noticed that she locked the door.  He told Celeste not to be afraid.  He said, “The Lord” sent him.  He asked how everyone was.  Celeste said, “Everyone fine.”  The doctor said, “What about the little one upstairs?”  He told her that he was leaving some salve on the pump stand.  It was free.  She was instructed to rub the salve into Alice’s leg for nine days and then discontinue it.  By the fifth night, Alice was able to sleep the whole night.  On about the 7^th day the sore leg burst open and about 1 quart of puss drained out.  Dr. Allen returned and gave further instructions.

Eventually, Alice’s leg straightened out again, but it was 2” shorter than the other.  She was able to run and play with the other children with the help of crutches.  Finally, Dr. Allen said it was time to get her off the crutches.  He said, “Take one away from her.”  She then learned to get around with just one crutch.  When Dr. Allen said to take the other one away, Celeste could not bring herself to do it. 

Aunt Alice, Celeste’s sister, came from California to visit.  She said, “I’ll take it.” She did so one night.  When little Alice woke to find her crutch gone she cried and cried.  Celeste told her sister to return the crutch, which she did.  Little Alice was quite angry so she threw the crutch down the steps.  It was decided that everyone would leave her alone.  Before long, Alice came down the stairs on her bottom.  After that she started to get around by holding onto chairs etc.  Eventually she was able to walk with a limp.

Father Goiffon, who had a wooden leg, carved out a platform for Alice’s shoe, which made it easier for her.  However, it was heavy wood.

Alice grew up and married Ben LaBore.  She would never talk about this with her children.  She never wanted sympathy.

Ben heard about “Sorenson’s Shoes” in St. Paul.  They knew how to make special shoes.  He had them make a special shoe for Alice, using cork to build it up.  This was much lighter than the wooden one.  It was a high-top laced shoe.  When oxford became popular, Ben asked Sorenson’s to make some for Alice.  They agreed to try and were successful.  She had the first low-top shoes they ever made.  After that, Ben would have two right shoes made and one left to go with it.  Alice did not wear out the left shoe as quickly.  That was the special one.

Well, Celeste kept her promise.  She never again wore a colorful dress.  If someone bought her one, she would dye it black. Dr. Allen lived his final years in White Bear.  He no longer was in practice.  He never told anyone how to make his salve.  He said, “The Lord had made it.”

End of story.

I wonder about any number of things in the story.  I would love more details and to know exactly what was wrong with her.  I don’t know that we’ll ever know more than the information Mildred provided and she is no longer with us.

I’ll write more about Alice and her husband Ben LaBore later on.

Thanks for visiting, come back soon,
Cindy

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