The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-04-29
MISS "BuLy BUTTON.

books and lunch-box to-day" cried a
bright-eyed and rosy checked 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 a bunch of spring violets, was
a pretty girl of sixteen, with eyes like
stars, and cheeks like roses; and with
Notwithstanding her follies-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 gratifed, 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 III her
bright eye and dancing step.
Is it any wonder that she sometimes
did silly and imprudent things?
Sarah Leeds had a weakness for pecul-
lar dress. She preferred to wear dresses
unlike those worn by other girls, or she
overdid fashion till people turned'
round and looked after her Ill the street.
When long sacques came in fashion,
hers extended to chem 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 galaxy of pearl
buttons, and thus gained the sobriquet of
Billy Button.
A 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 each 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 Mechanics when
talking with each other, calling her
Dancing Sally" in reference to her
gait, and the Swapping Turtle" be-
cause she snapped up all ''the beaus"-
as they called Reconsideration the
other girls.
One bright spring day, merry group.
of high school girls and boys went to
the adjacent woods in search of May
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
n button for keepsake?"
Eyes, indeed, if you want one," was
the merry reply.
'Oh, give me one, tool"
"And me, too"
"And me, and me. :" rang through the
group.
'Help yourselves! Only stop your
noise. cried the little belle, clapping
her fingers over her ears.
Out came penknives and jackknives
and off came the buttons Any one who
knows boys can imagine the condition of
the garment after this. 1t 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 good deal of style with
stately widowed mother, he was asked if
near Boston.
"Cranston Leeds danghter?" asked
''young Boston" his eyes full of fun.
eyes.
Indeed! / 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 frolic I've had with her!
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 dowagcr,
with an excitement quite unwarranted
by the simple question of her son to his
friend.
so madam, I don't think she ever did
a really wrong thing in her life; and she
was as good-hearted girl ever lived"
said the young man.
"But butt for port-loving boysl" re-
piled Mrs. Stanton, casting a sarcastic
glance mt her son.
ooh no, not exactly. But she made
fun, aud 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 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 it lay at that moment in
his pocket-book waiting till he should be
able to raise his courage sufficiently
high to send it.