The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-05-06
Mss nRHLY RuTTOR.

81. -NtfAOfIS
MISS BILLY BUTTON
"HaIlol There goes Billy Button!
| Let's run and see who viii carry the
books and lunch-box today" cried a
| bright-eved and rosy-cheeked fellow OF
! seventeen. who seemed to have his arms
/ already full of books and lunch-box.
! This Billy Button was not the fat
| little tailor, who, covered with buttons
| the size Of saucers, used to make-per-
! haps still makes-people laugh at the
/ circus.
No. the Billy Button who had just
| turned the corner with books, lunch
box. and bunch of spring violets, was
pretty girl of sixteen, with eyes ike
stars. and cheeks like roses; and with a
| Notwithstanding her folhes-kind
and true.
The bare act of living and breathing
was Joy to Sarah Leeds; and life had
been one gala day to her Every wish
was gratitied, and every freak laughed at
at home and among her friends; so that
she felt she was quite an important per
sonage in this little world. Her satisfac-
ton with herself was shown IN her
bright eve and dancing step
Is II any wonder that she sometimes
did silly and imprudeut things2
Sarah Leeds had n weakness for pecul-
lar dress. She preferred TO wear dresses
unlike those worn by other girls. or she
overdid a fashion till people turned
round and looked after her IN the street.
When long sacques came IN fashion,
hers extended TO the hem Of her dress, and
was ornamented with white buttons-the
size OF an old cent-down the front and
back seams, ON the strap at the back,
and on the pockets and cuffs.
She came in view like a galaxy of pearl
buttons, and thus gained the sobriquet Of
Billy Button.
4 felt hat of her brothers, without
bow or plume, sat on one side of her
head, completed her costume that win
ter.
She was so bright and funny that the
high school boys We'd with eaeh other for
the honor of carrying her books, and
showing her other little attentions; but
none of them wished their sisters to
copy her dress or her manners.
They even gave her nicknames when
talking with each other. calling her
Dancing Sally" in reference to her
gait, and the Swapping Turtle, be
cause she snapped up all 1.-The beaus"-
as they called themselves from the
other girls.
One bright spring day, a merry group
of high school girls and boys went to
the adjacent woods III search of Nav
flowers. Sarah's marked garments
proved too warm for its owner, and the
boys took turns carrying it.
One said, 'You won't need this thing
any more this year Won't you give me
a button for keepsake?"
Eyes, indeed, if you want one" was
the merry reply.
"Oh, give me one, toOp
"And me, too. "
"And me, and me, " rang through the
group.
Help yourselvesl Only stop your
noise" cried the little belle, clappinQ
her fingers over her ears.
Out came penknives and iackknives:
and off came the buttons. Any one who
knows boys can imagine the condition of
the garment after this. It was full of
holes like eyes, all up and down the
front; and was never worn again
a few years went by. One of these
fellows. who had had such fun with
"Billy Button, had grown to manhood,
and moved from Boston TO Chicago.
Calling one evening on new friend,
who lived in a good deal of style with
stately widowed mother, he was asked if
he had ever met Miss Leeds, who lived
near Boston.
"Cranston Leeds daughter?" asked
young Boston" his eyes full of fun.
Yes"
''Indeedl / did know her we'll
The old lady, who regarded all girls
who were strangers to her as dangerous
associates for her son, pushed back the
lace from her ears and Strengthened her
self to listen
MANY a frolic I've had with heri
She's high one, isn't she? She was a
right good-hearted girl, and ali the fell
lows at school used TO flutter round her.
But | don't think any one of them ever
wanted to marry her, - was the reply.
Mercy! What did she do, and who
were her people ?" cried the old dowager,
with an excitement quite unwarranted
by the simple question of her son to mis-
friend
go madam, don't think she ever did
a really wrong thing in her life; and she
was as good-hearted a girl ever lived, "
said the young man.
'.But butt for sport-loving boysr re-
piled Mrs. Stanton, casting a sarcastic
glance at her son.
''Oh no, not exactly. But she made
fun, and we liked her for it. "
And then the young fellow, uncon-
scious of havoc he was making of young
girls hopes, went on to tell the story of
the long sack and its mutilation on that
May day by the cutting off of the rows
of buttons; little dreaming that a spark
ling diamond ring had taken journey
to Boston, and had come back because
Stanton was too shy to offer it to Sarah
Leeds, and that 1t lay at that moment in
his pocket t-book waiting till he should be
able to raise his courage sufficiently
high to send it.
''Well," cried Mrs. Stanton, when hel
sons friend had left the house, ''never
let me hear that girls name again,
Henry. [ want no Billy Buttons round
herei"
Stanton had met Miss Leeds at Saratoga,
and been quite at his ease, because she
saved him the trouble of being agreeable
and entertaining.
He was charmed with her, as very
bashful young men always are with