The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-07-06
MHE 0|RtBunE.
Official City and County Paper
THE SLEEVE BUTTON.

few pictures or the walls, q bed, table,
chairs, cooking stove and closet that
stood out few feet from the wall, near
" filed up the room:
A plainly alfred woman was kneel-
ing upon tho floor. She was packing a
small trunk. Sometimes she would
rise and listen. to a footslep. coming up
the rickety stairway, and her eyes
Weuld assume a satisfied expression, but
when the step was heard no more she
would again bend with teardimmed eyes
over the trunk, and resume her occupa
ton.
Mamma, mamma Use hungry p
came in child like tones from beneath
the cover of the bed.
The woman arose and approaching the
bed took from It a little boy two years
old.
Here Willie, take this cake. Papa
brought il"
And she gave him piece as she con-
irued:
''Poor Willie papa is going away.
Perhaps he will never come back. Papa
leaves this evening. Don't you wish that
papa would remain with us?
The child cried in a loud voice as it was
bending over her shoulders:
Papa, papa, don't 90 r
She quickly turned.
A man in the prime of life, with pleas
ant features, curly hair, and well proper
toned form was standing on the thresh-
old of the room.
George Warner approached and kiss
ed his wife and child as he said in a
cheerful tone:
Cali is settled now, Gear Alice. l
have signed the papers. Every month
you have to go to Ericks & Co., where
you will receive twenty dollars. They
gave me the promised place as super
cargo On ship bound to the East In
dies. And-don't turn pale, dear wife,
nothing will happen to me. [ know that
it is dangerous voyage, but with the
blessing Of God [ am sure to return ere
two years have expired" And he put
his strong arm around her neck, and
pressed her to his bosom.
''Something within me tells me that
you will never come back. Is there nc
other way to make few dollars? Gould
you not obtain a situation as clerk p
asked she, leaning her head upon hi:
shoulder.
''Well, you know, dear wife, that
7ainly tried TO get place in some count
ing house in this crowded city. One
thing is certain we either have to 90 to
the poorhouse, or else have to go out
in a ship; therefore bear up, Remem-
Der that you are not alone. Our dear
Willie is with you. Won't you stay by
mamma, little Willie ?" asked he, fond
ly kissing the boy, who nodded his heat
in the affirmative
The bell of neighboring church strucl
the hour Of four.
George Warner hastily withdrew hi
arm from the neck of his wife.
A clear, metallic sound broke thu
stiffness of the room. A plain, golt
button was rolling over the floor.
Alice laid the boy upon the bed ant
then she picked up the sleeve button
which had rolled under chair.
"ft caught in the meshes of my col
lar. Hold up gour arm, George, [ vii
fasten it again." said she.
Keep it, dear WIFE" said he, push
ing back her hand perhaps one da,
it may tell you where L can be found
My initials are engraved on it, O.. w.
as you perceive. I will keep its com
panion. These buttons were present
from my mother. Twice they have been
lost and twice found again. There is an
old superstitious belief in our family. Il
one button is lost the other will point
out the place where the lost one can be
found. don't believe in such things,
yet many and many a time my mother
told me the legend of these buttons. ]
have no time now to tell you the legend.
One more kiss, dear Alice, then good
bye ~
"Stay with me, George" sobbed Alice,
pressing him to her bosom.
He had to tear himself away. His last
words were ful! OF tenderness and love for
his wife and child.
When his footsteps had died away
upon the staircase, she knelt down and
prayed aloud for the welfare of her hus.
band.
Thirty years had been gathered in tn,
folds of eternity since the parting of AHc,
from her husband
Thirty long, weary wears of waitip.
and watching.
The blooming wife of twenty summer
was now gray-haired matron of fffv
and the curly headed boy of scarcely tw.
years had grown into a man of thirty
two.
Again we see Alice bending over
trunk. and again we SEGA man standin,
on the threshold.
Mother, do not weep as if your hear
would break" cried he kneeling dowr
beside her, and taking the straps of til,
trunk from her feeble, trembling hand
l have to so. | am compelled to go
Only three hundred doliars are left fro,.