Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-10-12
EVENING STAR.
THE CONTINENTAL BUTTONS
A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION.

w hen the American army was encamped at
Valley Forge, British officer who was quar-
| tered upon the family of agentleman in Phil
adelphia had occasion to visit the camp, with
message undo q flag of truce
The lady of tho house determined to a:con-
pany him, for the purpose of taking . suit OF
regimentals to her husband who had been out
for some time with the Continental army; and.
| Is itwas necessary to conceal her design from
the ofticer, the matter was accomplished By
artifce.
Having taken the stufing out of the cush
ions of the gig, the regiment lis were inser ed
in its place, and things went on smoothly. until
the roughness of the road suggested t, the ger. .
tleman that his seat was none of the softest.
In vain were two unoffending coat-tails con-
demnede to eternal punishment and rudely
jerked from beneath their owner, who believed
| that they were the culprits, and in vain were
his pockets searched, in hopes that the removsl
of stray key or pen-knife would alleviate
| his misery. t. at-e-3.
Perceiving the trouble. and knowing the
danger of discovery, the lady taxed her powers
OF conversation to the utmost in hopes of di-
vertlng his attention from SO pressing q sub
ject; but the gig would bump on, and the Con-
| tlnental buttons obstinately insisted on aveng-
| ing their country's wrongs upon the person of
the enemy, doubtless whispering in their
sleeves,
| . See his posture is not right
And he is not settled qlIite
| Look now at his odd crimaces -
Saw you e'er such comic faces:;'
while he, poor fellow, inwardIy cursed the
primitiveness of Yankee cushions, and sighed
for the luxurious quarters that he had left be-
| hind him
Weary miles were travelled, the captain still
suffering the penalty of his loyalty, when sud
denly the truth flashed across his mind, and
memory recalled certain mysterious converse
tlons he had overheard in the house about
| broadcleth and embroidery. The secret was
discovered but his troubles were not vet over.
for he now found himself on the horns of a
dilemma as uncomfortable as the Continental
buttons, and he rode on perplexed between his
duty to his King, and his obligations to the
lady. =.
loo much Of a gentleman to betray her, an d
yet too loyal an officer, willingly to carry said
| and comfort to the rebel'' he hesitated long as
to the course he should pursue but his gal
lansry at length got the better of him, and
bravely 0bmlttiDg to the stern infliction, he
concluded not to verify his suspicious by oc
cular demonstration.
A significant smile and gesture alone in
formed his companion that the artifce was
| discovered, and the rebel garments were suf-
tered to reach their destination unmolested
Posterlty may settle the question as to
whether the energy or ingenuity of the young
! Wlfe deserves the more praise, and whether
| the officer should have superseded that of the
gentleman; but one thing is certain, the rebel
gentleman received q uniform which he sadly
needed and the memory of the lady is more
fondiy cherished by her descendants, when
ever they think of the - Continental Buttons -
| bizarre. '....... -t...