Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-01-07

Mr.. Turvytop knew would not do al
all. He was we'll aware that it woulj
be very unworkmanlike to sew on {
button with darning needle. But af
ter several trials a needle Was found
which Mr.. Turvytop now threaded with
white cotton, with perfect ease, AMI that
gentleman heayed a sigh Of relief
There is nothing like having plenty
of thread when one sews on q button,
said Mr.. Turvytop, as he pulled about
two yards through the eye, doubled It,
and tied large strong knot on the end
There, daughter, every obstacle is
now overcome, and we'll have this
button on in trice,' said Mr.. Turvy-
top.
But the button did not seem to want
to be sewed on, for it kept slipping ut
OF Mr.. Turvytop's fingers, and twice it
rolled clear across the floor.
"There is something here that l don't
quite understand" said Mr.. Turvytop,
stroking his beard and looking puzzled
as Matilda measured her length on the
carpet, while with the handle of the
feather buster she tried to poke the
button from beneath the secretary.
"There must be some arrangement Cor
holding q button in place while it is
being sewed on; did you see anything
in the work. basket, daughter, that
would answer the purpose p
Matilda, having recovered the button
replied that sho did not, but thought
she could hold it while Mr.. Turvyto p
sewed it on.
The. very thing" exclaimed the de.
lighted parent. Daughter, that little
head OF yours is worth as much to plan
as my fingers are to execute. Between
us both, this button will soon be firmly
fixed in its proper position"
But just at this juncture the needle
slipped and went right into one of Ma
tilda's poor little fingers. OF course
she cried out with pain and dropped
the button.
Whether Mr.. Turvytop dropped it or
not he was unable to say. For few
moments habitual self possession quite
forsook him, and he was violently agi-
tated.
Matilda was not allowed to disturb
her sick mother with her cries, aud
bread and milk poultice must be i'm
mediately applied to the injured finger
as precaution against lockjaw, to which
Mr.. Turvytop's family were predis.
posed. Not that any one of them had
ever had the lockjaw, but it was
very evident to Mr.. Turvytop that
they might have done so ifthere had
been any occasion for it.
Whon npdap xuoU nyooa n, Own pooSorol
Mr.. Turvytop prepared to resume his
work; but ali! where was the button
It was not on the floor, where Mr..
Turvytop had in his haste thrown his
coat. 1t was not on the table, nor I'm.
der the sofa, nor indeed, anywhere.
What was to be done? Mr.. Turvytop
wiped the perspiration from his fore.
head with his handkerchief and re-
Aected.
Finally it occurred to him that one of
the other buttons might be spared to
top one perhaps. which he SO seldom
had occasion to use. So with his knife
he carefully removed that button, con-
graduating himself on the neatness with
which it was accomplished. Then, I'M
assisted, he recommended the task of
sewing on the button. In trying vari-
Gus experiments for holding the trouble
some button in position, be finally hit
upon the plan Of placing it against the
knee. That seemed to work admirably
and Mr.. Turvytop felt that his troubles
were substantially over; sewing on q
button would now be comparatively
simple affair.
One stitchi So far 80 good-but
what could be done with all the thread:
it did not draw through properly.
Something was evidently wrong with
the thread. It seemed determined to
tie itself up in knots.
Matilda thought it might be too long,
90 Mr.: Turvytop shortened it, and
found 1t an Improvement. Then Mr..
Turvytop tosk another stitch, and drew
the thread without difficulty. How
many stitches would be requiredp
Matilda did not know; so Mr.. Turvy.
top thought it best to examine the but.
ton to see how firm il had already be.
ccime. He raised the coat from his
knee and the button fell on the floor.
Astonishingl A close examination
proved, however, that Mr.. Turvytop
had simply taken two stitches through
the coat without affecting the button at
all.
Mr.. Turvytop sighed! He was be-
coming more and more convinced that
it was q greater thing to sew on a
button that he had imagined. Still he
did not despair. Mr.. Turvytop was
not the man to be discouraged by tribes.
Again he placed the button in position:
once more he pressed it against his
knee, and the closely compressed lips
OF Mr.. Turvytop would have proved TO
the bystsnder-if there had been anv
beside Matilds-his determination that
this time his stitch should affect the
button as we'll ss the coat.
And we are happy to assert that at
length his persistent efforts were
crowned with success. The button was
on! Sewed Oh! And Mr.. Turvytop had
done it. ~
Matilda was afraid the white thread
was going to show; but Mr.. Turyytop
thought not, at least after it had been
worn awhile and bscome soiled.
"There, my daughter" said Mr.,
Turvytop, triumphantly," that button
is on! 1t has taken time to be sure.
two !, hours precisely by the clock-but