, 1877-09-07
The First Shirt-Button.

Young Charley Overblower married
about a month ago, and when he came
home from his wedding tour, he and his
pretty little wife Emma took possession
of charming fiat up town. Early one
evening, after they were fairly settled,
and the last of Emma's sisters had been
induced to conclude her visit, Charley
proposed to Emma that they should go
to the theatre. The woman assented,
and both began to amend their toilets.
In a few moments Charley said "Dar-
ling, am sorry to trouble you but real
ly I think shall be obliged to have to
ask you to sew button on this shirt"
"Of course; why not9" said Emma,
delighted at chance to show her skill.
She took the garment, seated herself, and
said: 81 can't remember for the life of
me where put those buttons. Charley,
look in that box and see if you can tud
one"
Charley looked in the box,which was
case of perfume bottles, and not finding
the desired article, concluded he would
not bother Emma for further informa-
ton, so he pulled button from another
shirt"
"Now, Charley" said Emma, "look in
the top bureau drawer and get me pa
per of needles and spool Of white cot
ton-be sure to get the white cotton"
Charley found in the top bureau drawer
copy of Tennyson-he remembered it
well-and picked it up and looked at the
marginal marks and comments, dear af-
fectionate little girl that she was and
more perfume bottles, and pattern of
Flor de Fumer overskirt, and the be-
ginning of a sofa-cushion, and various
other things, but no needle or cotton.
Then he remembered that he had fancy
'housewife" that he had bought from a
girl at fair, and he got needles and
cotton out of that.
"Thank you, DEAR" said Emma, and
she began to stitch vigorously, humming
dreamy Italian air. Presently she said
"Oh, Charley, won't you bring me the
scissors9 l think they're in nay writing
desk. l had them there to-day cutting a
poem out of a paper"
The scissors were not in the writing
desk, nor ON the mantel, nor in the top
bureal-drawer, nor in the case Of per-
fume bottles, nor even in the receiVer,; so
Charley drew on his "housewife" again.
Emma took the scissors, shipped the
thread, and exclaimed, "There, darling
And now make haste, or we shall be
late"
Charley wriggled into the garment,
and then put up his hands to button the
band at the back, but no button was
there.
"Why, En-" he cried, "where in the
thunder did you sew on that button!"
"0h, Charley, amt you ashamed !"
exclaimed his wife, "whete are your
eyes2"
"If they were in the back Of my head"
answered Charley, "perhaps l could see
that button
Emma raised herself on her tiptoes
and looked at the band.
"Why, that's strange!" said she
"Take it off and let me look at it."
The shirt was inspected thoroughly,
and the button was found neatly and
deftly sewed on just beneath the tag Of
the shirt-bosom, 50 as to button that APP
pendage in most elegant manner.
"Well, by JOve!" exclaimed Charley
"if didn't know any more about sewing
on button than that, l wouldn't GET
mar-l'd learn how"
"YOu were going to say you wouldn't
have got married, cried his wife, put.
ting on her hat hastily and bursting into
tears.
"Where are you goingl" demanded
Charley, savagely.
"l'm going nome, and I'll get a separa
tion from you and your old shirts; that
where I'm going" blubbered Emma. Z"
thought you wanted the button there t.
fasten to your wbat-you-Call- ems"
1t took Charley an hour TO persuad
Emma that if she went home ther
wouldn't be strawberries and creaI