Middletown transcript., 1870-07-30

snarls upon which had gazed in despair,
and wound the different threads upon the
respective balls and spools. In an in
credibly short space of time my mischief
was entirely repaired, and I, drawing a
long breath of relief and thankfulness,
looked admiringly at the skilful hands.
"Now," said she, after setting aside
the pretty trife, which I inwardly vowed
never to touch again. now for the wrist
band"
held out my hand, in obedience to
her merry nod, and displayed the tiny
gold thimble cleaning on my finger, when,
to my great discontinue, the provoking
little thing went off into paroxysm of
laughter, which made me wish that had
never seen button, and wish much more
that had never tried to SOW one on.
"Do excuse me, Mr. Elliott, but it is
really too comical," she said, or rather
gasped. "What on earth would Mollie
and Jack say p then catching sight of my
shamefaced appearance, she checked her
self with great contrition, and again an
nounced herself ready for work
Primrose" said |, 81 want you to
teach me how to sew button on its too
comical,' as you say, for great six -footer
like myself to be so helpless" and moving
up my music-stool very close beside her,
l prepared to receive my instructions.
WE'LL" said she in no way resenting
my unusual proximity, "in the first place,
you generally ought to put your thimble
on the middle finger of your right hand"
Here she looked at me mischievously,
while | was conscious of blushing deeply
Then you thread your needle, aud
tie knot in the end of the thread"
Yes" 1 said deeply Interested
"Then you put it through the cloth,
leaving the knot on the wrong side.'
Yes"
Then you slip the button on, So"
Yes"
" Then you sew it firmly on, this way"
and the little hands flew back and forth
over the cloth in manner perfectly be-
wildering to my masculine mind.
" Then you take stitch on the wrong
side to fasten it, and then cut the thread
off. Where are the scissors ?''
II guess they are in the basket" said I,
forgetful of my virtuous resolution, and
reaching toward it.
It's no matter" she said, hurriedly,
fearing that l was going to make another
onslaught ON its precious contents, II can
bite it off just as we'll"
"No," said 1 galantly, 81 will; it
will spoil your teeth" and someway it
happened that we bent down over it at
! |, 1ybo
raised her face again she was blushing
violently, two big tears were in her eyes,
and the thread wasn't bitten off at all.
How could you, Err. Elliot ?" she said
reproachfully, and the two tears fell down
on the back of my hand.
" Primrose" said |, and-but it's no
matter what l said.
Fifteen minutes later, when Sister Mol
lie opened the door, she was, for the first
time in.her life, startled out of her usual
indolent self-Fossession.
"Well, / never" she calculated, with
more energy than had supposed her Ca
pable of exhibiting" Brother Fred and
Primrose Darling !" and then sank into
the nearest chair to wait for an explana-
ton.
1t ,cas rather startling, I must confess,
the spectacle that met her gaze. l, sit
ting on the cosey lirtle tete-a-tete, in my
shirt sleeves, no collar on, my hair un-
combed, boot on my right foot, and
slipper on my left, one arm around Prim's
waist, and her head, with its bristling
crimping- pins, resting quietly on my
shoulder.
Mollie," said I triumphantly, "Pve
learned how to sew on button, and Prim
is going to oversee me in the future, so |
sha'n't forget.!" and then Mollie gave
little gurgle of delight, and rushed at us
both.
After we had calmed down a little,
Primrose looked up at me, and SO ro-
guishly, " How about your appointment
with Jack ?"
"Prim," said I severely, "Jack may
go and hang himself, if he wants to, for
all me-"
Prim stole wicked glance at Mollie,
which made her checks fame, and then,
as l looked inquiringly at them both, she
said softly, " Mollio won't let him, Fred,
dear"