Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-02-17
Story GOLD BUTTON.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

che world ISwas as bright bit
OF gold Is yop ever saw, Mind, ]
don't say l was solid; but there
are very few solid things In this
world. / shone and glittered, and
:glittered and shown until you'd
have thdusLt l was very valuable.
] was, fot a button There were
,dazcus Of us in bright rows IN a
lbfue gard, and we were laid in a
long box, quite to our disgust; for
when one is handsome, one likes
to be seen; but it wasn't for long;
for we'd not been in the case a day,
when the cover vasIlifted, and we
heard the gentleman who had
charge of us, say:
"Here, Mr.. Stitcher, is the very
size you want, and the pattern, too,
if I'm not mistaken"
d'Yod'te right said Mr. Stitcher.
."Give me ten dozen of 'em'
Then ten dozen of us were cut
of, and the tailor--for that is what
Mr.. Stitcher was-put them into, a
shopping-bag hecarlaed, and walk
ed off with us, but not, before he
had said: .sr,
Those coats for the naval Of
flcers' bali will go home tonight,
Mr.. Thompson, but it's been a
close shave to do it," t'J '
How we chuckled down in the
bag at that! We felt that, indeed,
we were aristocratic buttons if we
were destined; to adorn the dress
coats of military officers, and when
we were really fastened on to the
coats, Us we soon were, we were
prouder still There isn't a hand
somer coat anywhere than a naval
officers dress coat-soft and rich,'
lined with quilted, white silk, as
dainty a thing as can be made.
My officer was a tall fellow, with
blonde m~ustaches, and he took
great interest in the coat and took
two glasses to look at its back
when he had me on, and said, "by
Jove! not a wrinkle" Then he
put a flower il my button hole
mine. and away we went IN a car
riage, with white kid gloves on, to
my first ball. How little | thought
then that l should ever be old and
tarnished.9 Howimuch less that l"
could possibly drop of-but such
Was-my fate. Twas, unfortunately,
the very last button sewed on, and
the sewing was done inra hurry.
Though l did not know it at the.
time, only one frail thread had,
passed through my shank. In the
midst Of aTwaltz that thread
broke and l dropped of. 7 rolled
upon the floor and was kicked
about by, the feet of the dancers. f,
If l had had a voice l should
have, screamed aloud, but you
kAow buttons are mute. AT last,
however, l was rescued. A little
white gloved hand picked me up
and held me close, and slyly
dropped Inc into a silk-lined
pocket.
Il saw him lose it," / heard a
pretty wenan's voice murmur. ~
know it Is Mr.. Mortimer's.'' 81.
"Welk then if she is arlady
she'll return it, l said to myself.
But she did not.
That nightlI went home, not to
q gentieman's room, but to a fair
ralady's, All alone in this, room
with me, she took me from her
pocket and Kissed me. Never
was l so asurprjsed% but i soon
found it was not for my own sake.
II know you do not love me
now Mortimer," she whispered;
''but you have worn this, and l
will keepO it,2 IShe kissed. me.
again, and strung me upon a little
blue silk ribbon, and tied me about
her white throat. All night blaid
against her soft heart and felt it
beat 4 was not sorry that ! had
been lost from the officers coat.
Indeed, ] detested him now; for
from what this lovely creature said