The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-10-20
From the Illuminated Magazine.
ceIihacy and Ra.toas.

'fon heard MS talking, He sir, the old
story -..rieviences,' sir, 'twiX, man and NO
inam,' said ihe hermit.
'And what is that, sr?' we ask ell.
The hermit shaking his head an.l gruan-
ing, cried, 'Duttons.' The hermit himself
drew closer 10 the table aid spreading his
arms upon it, leaned forward viii, !!.e sefi-
BUSINESS of a man prepared TO discuss a
grave thing. Buttons he replied. Then
clearing his throat, he began.
Ia the course of Your hong and, rs ]
hope well spent lie, hasit never come with
thund, rbolt conviction upon you, that all
washerwomen, clear starchers, cettersnp OF
line linen, or whatever name Ewes daught-
ers-lOr a. Eve brought upon us the stern
necessity Of a shirt, it is but Just that her
girls should wash thunder whatever name
they cleanse aud purify flax and cotton, that
lhey are all under some compact, implied
or solemnly entered upon amongst them.
selves and their non washing, non-standinc
non sittingup sister hood, that by means
subtitle, and almost morally certain, they
shall worry or drive all bachelors and wild
overs soevrr into the pound ofirredeemable
wedlock? Has this tremendous truth never
struck you =
'H0w-by what means I"
Simply, by buttons,' answered the her.
init, bringing down his clenched fist upon
the table.
: We knew il yet we lookcdincredulous.
/ 'See here" said the hermit, with empha
sis, leaning still further across the table, q
will take a man, who defes Hymen and al
his wicked wiles. Nevertheless sir. the
man must wear shirt: the man must hav,
a waSherwoman. Think you that shirt. re
turned from the tub, never wants one-twC
three buttons? Always, sir always. sir
though | am not an anchorite, l have lived
in your hlStliug world, and seen. ave, unite
as much rs any one, of its manifold wick
eaneSS. Well, the mantle buttonless ma,
at first calmly demonstrates with hi,
lanndrcss. He pathetcally wrings his wris
at her, and collar band, and she promises
mendment. The thing shall never harper
again. The week revolvcs. Think yo,
the next shirt has its last and lawful number
Of buttons? Not bit
/ Starting at the word, we look ed, we fear
! reproachfully in the hermit's face. 'Pardoi
me; let il be as it had been said," cried the
anchorite-a deeper tint dawnng in his face
and his eyes looking suddenly moist-sPar.
don me but the heart has strange cords
even buttons may sometimes shatter them
We bowed, aud begged the hermit to pro
coed.
well said, SIR said onr host, after an cf
fort, 'week after week the poor man wran
giles with his INSTRUMENTATION The yer,
gentIenesS of even madenly complaint tn,
Remembrance rises To n hurricane of abuse
and still the wa,herwoman, as it woult
seem, bound by oath TO her unmarried sis
tethOod bring, home no shirt complete in il.
/ buttons. Man the fercest of his kind-can
not always rage. He becomes tired-asham
I cd of olamor. He signs. and hears his but
ltonlcsS fate. His tl,ouglits take new turn
! In his melancholy his heart opens j.; he i,
( snlteucd, subduet and in this hour of weak
ne>r--a demon voice-w whispers 10 lin
l'Fond, foolish maui why trust thy button,
! 10 an alien? Why helplcssly depend upon
{ the needle and thread OF one who loves not
/ thee, but thy shilling? Take a wife: have
a women oi thine own who shall care fol
thy bnttouSn The temp'er is strong. The
man smiles distrusiiully, but still he smiles
That very nGht--it so happens-he goes {,
a house warming. He is a partner at card
with Kitty. She never did look so attrac.
tive. Aud then her voice-'twould coax .
snail out OF a heart cloak The man think,
of his buttons; and before he leaves the
house Kitty has been brought to confess tina,
she doesn't know what she may do--she
may possibly marry and she may no,.'
SIS tpo>SibleN we cried with laugh.
'Sir,' said the hermit. SITS not thing &c
idly laugh at. Take City matches, and be
assured Of II. if you silt them well. ont Of
forty al least you'll find buttons in some
shape at the bottom Of 'ein.
1T may be said we.
ut is cried the hermit, with emotion
asses are led by thsir noses men by ,hc
bu,tons.'