Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-12-03
Hcw Learned to Sew on Buttons
BY y. J., ALLEN,

Any one looking into my chamber
at about halc-past ten o'clock on the
morning after Mrs, Grangers great
party, would have seen me, Frederick
Elliot, in my shirt-sleevcs, and with
my hair dishevcled, pulling vicious'y
at my boot.straps, and, | acknowledge
with sorrow, swearing feartully.
The truth was, had oversight my
self, and was, accordingly, in very
bad humor; besides this, | had prom
iscd faithfully to be at Jacks Office at
eleven, and as a matter Of course,
everything conspired to hinder me,
In the first plaec,I had lost the key
Of my wardrobe, and, therefore, was
obliged to put on an old shirt which
had been left out by accident in the
next place, ! had, in my hurry, spilled
glass Of cold water over the only
pair of socks outside Of the wardrobe,
and consequently, when l attempted
to pull on my boots, they strenuously
resisted.
All this was bad enongh but tc
cap the climax of my troubles, as
gave an unusually savage jerk to th'
straps, which forced my wet foo
solidly into my boot, the impish little
button on my left wristbaud gave ar
exul,ant leap, and disappeared under
the wash-stand.
"Here's pretty go!" I calculated
as I dropped down on my knees anf
groped vainly around after the truant
"A very pretty go indeed! can g
down town without my breakfast, bu
I can't 90 with my sleeve flying il
this style; and as for pinnlng it,
could pin a board sooner, and rising
from my suppliant position, l looked
obviously out of the window.
"Confound it all TT said at last
"lt it hadn't been for that party, :.
should not have lost that miserable
little key, Fand-and"-but talking
did no good, and I sat down on thu
side of the he'd to cogitate.
Suddenly bright thought flashed
through my brain. Why couldn't
sew a button on myself? I mentally
congratulated myself on the brillianc.
of my intellect, and began to conslde
the best way of accomplishing Tho
feat.
I knew that Mollie kept her work
basket on the little table near the hire
place in the sitting-roo'n there l wa
sure to find whread and needles
thimble, too as the children say; ant
trusting to the fatigue OF the girls tt
keep them in retirement tor SOM
time to come, l softly opened M.
chamber door, and casting no though
on my somewhat startling appearance
stole down the stairs, and entered thu
sitting-room.
Once there, / felt safe, and drawing
the piano-stool up to the glowing fire
l sat comfortably down and began t.
investigate the contents of the dalnt.
basket with It's bows Of blue ribbon
which held my sister Mollie's SEWN!
implements.
With all my comfortable appear
: ance, however, I had an uneasy and
, stinging conscience. knew in m
heart of hesrts that Mollie would no
have allowed me to touch her prett.
basket for anything in the world an
my fingers, always awkward am
clumsy, seemed ten times more
; when turning over the bright silk
and many-colored worsteds.
l tried my very best not to tangl
# the things, for intended, if tposslbl'
r to conceal my raid from Mollie br
! they, like everything else on that pa
$ ticularly ill.fated morning, seemed In
bued with the very spirit OF mlsch'e
and l looked with horror, while m
= ears tingled prophetically, at the con
plicated, and, as it seemed to me, II
extricable snarl of silk, worsted, an
E. thread Of every description, which m
:, prying fingers lett behind.
Is At last l succeeded in drawing o'
-. ,,ouE,s;on which / had ere