The daily gazette., 1877-04-04
THE GOLD BUTTON.
BYM. M.K.D.i.'

| was as bright 2 bit Of gold as you ever
saw. sh ~ 'ik5.
Mind, don't say was solid. i shone
and glittered, until you'd have Thought i
was valuable. 1 was, for button.
There were dozens of us on blue
card, and we were laid in box, to our
disgust. for when one is handsome, one
likes to be seen; but one day the cover
was lifted and we heard a gentleman
lsay - az !
"Here, Mr.. Stitcher,is the size you want,
and the pattern, too.
These were cutt of, and the taller put
them into bag And walked of, saying:
NThose coats for the naval officers ball
Ivith 10 home tonight, Mr.. Thompson,
bat us been close shave to do it,
How we chuckled at this!
We felt that we were arristocratic but.
tons, and destined to adorn to dress coats
OF officers, and when we were really
fastend on to the coats we were proudcr
still. ~ j.
My officer 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" Nl-.
Then he put flower in my buttonhole
I-mine, and away we went.
How little thought then that I should
ever be old and tarnished.
How much less that could possibly
drop off-but such was my fate
Il was, unfortunately, the last button
sewed on, and the sewing was done in
hurry. -. -.
Though 1 did not know it at the time,
only on frail thread had passedFhrough
my shank.
In the midst ola waltz that thread
broke, and I rolled upon the floor. ~.
III had had avoice I should have
screamed aloud. As last, however. / was
rescued.
A little white. gleved hand picked me
up and held me close, and slyly dropped
me into silk-lined pocket.
81 saw him lose it,"I heard a pretty
woman's voice nurmur. 81 know it is
Mr.. Mortimer's.
That night went home, not a gentle
mans room but to fair lady's.
All alone in this reom with me, she
took me from her pocket and k-i-s s-e-d
me.
Never was so surprised; but I soon
found it was not for my own sake.
81 know you do not love me now,
Mortimer" she whispered; "but you have
worn this, and will keep it."
She kissed me again. and strung me
npon little blue silk ribbon, and tied
me about her white throat. ,.-,.I
All night laid against her soft heart
and felt II beat.
I was not sorry that / had been lost
from the efficer's coat.
Indeed, l detested him now; for
from what this lovely creature said to
nae, it was plain that he had made love
to her, and at last Tilted her for some
one who had more money. "
made up my mind, OF course, that
I shoald be worn about the young
lady's neck for ever; but 1 reckoned
without my host.
Youth Is youth. & W
Pretty soon the young lady ceased
to talk so much about Mortimer.
Another gentleman had come upon
the carpet. Soon she was engaged y
On that evening l was hastily cram
med into a box and heartlessly left
there. .s----. --.----.-4,----.-..s
Rose was married and went. upon
her bridal trip, and unless the lid Of
the box happened to be up,I saw moth
ing of the fine doings.
When she had gone, her little sister
into the room one day, spied me aud
carried me off; after silat was for q
long time doll'stwatch I hung upon
gold thread about china neck, and
was carried all about the house, up
stairs and down, even out into the
street sometimes. -lt
At last-my destiny has ever hung
upon a fhread-thst gold twist snap-
ped in two, and ! rolled into a space
between the paving-stones.
There lay deserted, forlorn and
dirty, my gliding fast going, and no
one even taking any notice of me.
1t was the pavement outside little
park, a quiet, aristocratic place; ladies
dressed in velvet and costly silk swept
past,
One day my lady came there; she
who had worn me on her heart SO
long.
She walked slowly up and down;
enc white hand was ungloved: upon it
gllttered her wedding>ring and its dia-
mond keeper.
She looked at her watch.
"He is late," she said, "Then she
blushed rosy red, ,and whispered; mo,
he comes"
Hooked. Through the leafy shadows
of the park came my first owner, Nor |
timer.
They walked up and dswn together.
Often their feet touched nae,
could not hear what they said, but |
saw how she looked. 1t was enough
for me,
Again, had the poor gilt button had |
but voich, how 1t would have Dried
out. NJ
But, alas would she have listened to
me, when she was needless of the mute
appeal of the wedding-ring upon her
finger? I fear not.
Often and often after that they met
there. 1t was spring time when they
first came
In the Autum, when the leaves had
rustled, they camethere still.
Now she often wept; and he some
times spoke almost angrily. knew
terrible was about to hap