The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-09-01
buttons intently, hunting for some

thing.
at was kind of brassy where the
steal had worn off-little Tad asked me
once if twas real gold underneaSh.
don't see where-yes, here it is. Here's
one of 'enl, my dear"
She held the little fiat button out to
Diana, and with tender smile quiver-
ing in her face. 1t was not Miss Sen
thrilla's face-thcre was no lack of
passionate tenderness in it.
Il sewed 'em on myself. They were
on little Tad's first pants-1 sewcd
three above each knee. on the seam, for
the trimming. l used to always make
little Tad's clothes. Emmy didn't
mind. minded-dearie me! l used to
sit up nights sewing, and could hear
lAtle Tad's breathing in the other
room. l minded that, too"
The tiny tarnished button lay in
Diana's soft palm, and she saw it
through tears. A sob huttered in her
throat.
THAT boy! You ought to have seen
him in those first pants! This town
warn't big enough to hold him, in 'em!
l can look right over your head and see
him out there In the yard, strutting.
Little Tad was dreadful short and
broad-the pockets in those little bits
of short-legged pants came clean down
to his knees-'most. He learned to
whistle the same day-wcaring pants
inspired him, 1 guess. Before, he'd
only wheezed. Emmy didn't like
whist}ing-little Tad used to go down
behind the barn so she wouldn't
hear"
"And you went down behind the
barn to hear" Diana said, with q low
laugh.
YES" admitted Miss Senthrilla.
There was only one other verse to the
little poem" Diana put her gold
brown head down on the buttons in
Miss Scnthrilla's lap and cried when
they came to it. And Miss Senthrilla's s
light fingers wandered over tho girls
head while she talked.
THAT one was on little Tad's soldier
clothes, my dear. It's tarnished now,
but, dearie me, it was bright enough
then! There were two rows of TEN
down the front of his coat, and some on
his sleeves. scwed 'cm all on stronger
they were on so 1limsy when he
brought the blue suit home. Little
Tad was n regular soldier in those brass
buttons. They were becoming to him
and he was so proud of them!
Il kissed him the last time when he
went marching away-Emmy didn't
mind. l went up on Blue mountain to
watch the boys go down the turn
pike. You can see a great ways from
the top of Blue mountain, and had the
old spyglass, too. l was certain
could tell which was little Tad till they
were clear out Of sight.
"Once he saw me and waved his SOL
dier cap. Then saw the sunshine shin
Ing on his brass buttons. / never did
again. My dear, lost my way coming
home that day! l couldn't see the
road"
The little dull brass button in Miss
Senthrilla's hand caught q dim light
from the glow In the west where the
Sdih was Solil65 NoNlIs -lloo CCu
hand closed over it tightly.
Il went to take care of him, when he
was shot, but didn't get there soon
enough. This little button was all l
found of my little soldier Tad. Some
body who was kind had cut it off for
me. Emmy let me keepi it. For years,
my dear, kept 1t in little box of pink
cotton, but | got afraid, by and by,
that folks would find it after died, and
think l was romantic. So put it in
here with the other buttons. | think
l had forgotten it-but l hadn't for
gotten little Tad.
Il never told anybody oil this before
it just slipped out to you, my dear.
If any one remembers my little Tad
now, it's just as Emmy's boy-not
mine. But he was mine"
When Diana got home the baby's
mother met her at the door curiously.
"'Sh! he's aslecp!-wen?"
Diana's eyes We're reddened, and her
lively little face had subdued softness
in it. The baby's mother regarded it
In surprise.
We'll? did you find Miss Senthrilla's
Poetry?" she questioned, in a whisper.
Her own face was unbelicving.
Diana caught the little woman's
hands In hers with an impetuous ges-
ture.
Yes. oh, yes, l found it'll" she cried
softly. Il found it in her button box"
Housewife.