St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-20
THE BUTTON.

When was first ushered into the world
was as bright bit of gold as you ever saw.
Mind, don't say / was solid, but there are
few things solid in this world. shone and
| glittered and shone until you'd have thought
was very valuable. l was for a button.
There were dozens of US in bright rows on q
| card, and we were laid in a long box, quite
to our disgust, for when one is handsome one
! likes 10 be seen; but it wasn't for long, for
we'd not been in the case for day when the
cover was lifted aud we heard the gentleman
who had charge of us say:
Here, Mr.. Sttcher, is the very size you
want, and the pattern, too, if Pm not mis-.
taken"
YOU'RE right" said Mr.. Stitcher. "Give
me ten dozen of 'em."
Then ten dozen of US were cut off, aud the
tailor-for that is what Mr.. Stitcher was
put them into shopping-bag he carried,
aud walked off with US, but not before he had
| said
"Those coats for the naval officers ball
will go home tonight, Mr.. Thompson, but
It's been close shave to do it,
| How we chuckled down in the bag at that
We felt that, indeed, we were aristocratic
buttons II we were destined 10 adorn the
| dress coats of military officers, and when we
were really fastened on the coats, as we soou
were, we were prouder still. There isn't &
handsom err coat anywhere than naval Off
GERS dress coat-soft and rich, lined with
quilted white silk, as dainty thing as can
| be made.
Ny officer was tail fellow, with blonde
| mustaches, and he took great interest In the
coat and took two glasses 70 look at its back
when he had me on, when he said: SPY
Joye not a wrinkle" Then he put a flower
In my button hole-mine-and away we
went in a carriage, with white kid gloves on,
to my first ball. How little thought then
that should ever be old aud taruished. How
much less that could possibly drop off-b ut
such was my fate. / was, unfortunately, the
very last button sewed on, aud the sewing
was done in a hurry. Though l did not
know ii at the time, only one frail thread
had passed through my shank. In the midst
of waltz that thread broke aud l dropped
off rolled upon tht floor aud was kicked
about by the feet of the dancers.
If | had had voice / should have scream
ed aloud, but you know buttons are mute.
At last, however, was rescued. little,
me close, and slyly dropped me into silk
lined pocket.
II saw him lose it, heard pretty wo-
Mortimer's.
"Well, then, if she is lady she'll return
it," said to myself.
But she did not.
That night went home, not to a gentle
mans room, but to a fair ladys. All alone
in this room with me she took me from her
pocket aud k-i-s-s-e-d me. Never was / so
surprised; but | soon found out that it was
not for my own sake.
81 know you do not love me now, Morti-
mer, she whispered, "but you have worn
this, and | will keep it," See kissed me
again, and strung me upon blue silk rib
bon, and tied me about her white throat All
night laid against her soft heart aud felt 1t
beat. was not sorry that had been lost
from the officers coat. Indeed, / detested
him now, for, from what this lovely creature
said 10 me, it was plain that he had made
love 10 her, and at last lifted her for some
one who had more money.
made up nv mind, OF course, that l
should be worn about the young lady's neck
forever; and n ! went a great deal into
company, it was very pleasant to me; but l
reckoued without my host. Youth is youth
Pretty soon the young lady ceased to talk so
much about Mortimer. Another gentleman
had come upon the carpet. Soon she was
engaged On that evening / was hastily
crammed into box and hear.lessly left
there. Rose was married aud went upon
her bridal trip, and unless the lid of tn box
happened to be up saw nothing OF the fine
doiugs.
When she had gone, her little sister came
into the room one day, spied me, aud car
ried me of: after that was for q long time
a dolls watch; hung upon the gold thread
about & china neck, and was carried all about
the house, upstairs aud down, even into the
street sometimes.
At last-my destiny has ever hung upon a
thread-that 90 4 twist snapped In two, and
rolled into space between the paving
stones. There lay deserted. forlorn and
dirty, ms gliding fas. going, and no one
even taking any notice Of me.
Il was tle pavement outside little park, a
Quiet. aristocraiic place; ladies, dressed in
velvet and costly silk. swept past; dainty
children ;rutied by with whlte-capped bon
nets Al last one dsy my lady came there :;
she who hal worn me on her heart 50 long.
sac walked slowly up aud down; one white
I
~edding-ring and its diamond keeper.
she looked at Der witch
''Eie Is late.'' she said Then she blushed
rosy red. and whispered: no; he comes. ;"
.'she is married, . / said 70 myself. ~
must be ina. IL Is her husband who is com
ing"
looked through the lsafy shadows Of the
park, past tae innocent children and the
pure sparkling water u the fountain, came
nv first owner, Mortimer.
They walked up snd down together. Oft
en- their feet iouC he'd me- ] could not hear
What thew said, Ut szE hoE she looked Il
was enough for me.
Again, had the poor gilt button but q voice
how (; wOuld have eried out Bat, alas. would
she have listened % me, when sue was heed
less Of The mute appeal Of the wedding ring
upon her anzeTi Ifsar ncI
Often and often after ihs. they bad met
there II was sprinz 1ims when they first
came. In sutumn ssen the leaves hsd rus
tied from toe tires aud earpeted the gro1nd,
they came there still Nov. sa< often vept.
and be sometimes spoke tlfaost sngriiy.
/ kaew something terrible vas about TO hap
pen
Al last. one morning Mortimer came 10
the rendezvous aud walked up and down