Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-08-31

and falling to her knees to look fol
the nimble little runaway.
"Let me find it," Diana said, quick.
ly. ~ think it rolled due east"
zone flew east and one few west
and one flew over the old goose's nest,
quoth Miss Senthrilla, to cover her
eagerness for the little button. Diana
smiled from her vantage ground under
the table. Was that Miss Senthrilla's
poetry? The irrepressible would NUT
ter something about its being bor-
rowGd from Mother Goose.
Here's a button-is this it?" the
girl said, holding up tiny red shoe
button between her thumb and finger.
"Yes-yes, that's it," Miss Sen
thrilla cried eagerly. II wouldn't have
lost that for anything. 1t was on lit
tie Tad's first pair O boots. They were
red ones-how mortal proud little Tad
was of 'em! Dearic me, how he'd sit
with his feet straight out, admiring
'em!"
Miss Scnthrilla sat with the tiny but
ton in her palm, and the softened look
in her face. Diana drew her chair
nearer.
Tad? little Tad?" she asked, with
gentle insiruation.
"Why, yes, little Tad-my little Tad.
Of course, be was Emmy's, but al
ways called him mine. Emmy didn't
mind. lie looked 50 much like big
Tad. and big Tad was almost mine"
Miss ScnthriIla gave little start,
and stole look at Diana in confusion.
Then she Strengthened her tall figure
aud spoke proudly:
1T slipped out, my dear, and 1 can't
get it back the way I did little Tad's
button. It's got TO stay out. 1 never
let it slip out before. Big Tad was
mine before he was Emmy's, but he
well, he slipped out. 1t was best, l
guess. Emmy needed him most. She
was a pretty, weak little thing-when
big Tad died she came and lived with
me-she and little Tad. The blessed
little spot O sunshine! He was al
ways my Tad after that. l bought the
little red Shoes"
1t was quiet in the quaint, sunny lit
tie room for awhile. Diana could only
hear soft, subdued hum of bees in the
honeysuckle vines, and the gentle
click of the buttons under Miss Sen
thrilla's fingers. The little red shoes
they were line of Miss Senthrilla's
poetry. The first verse had been big
Tads verse, but instinctively Diana
knew that little Tad had filled all the
other verses. She sat very still and
waited for the rest. Miss Senthrilla
chose another button from the pile. 1t
was covered with faded blossom
sprigged silk.
alt came off my wedding Dress" Miss
Senthrilla said. "Ycs, my dear, mine.
It was Emny's afterward, but it was
mire first. There were pink posies all
over it, and pink was my color. l had
pink bonnet strings to match. Pink
wasn't Emmy's color, but Emmy
didn't mind You couldn't find any
thing Emmy didn't look becoming in.
She cut off the ends Of the bonnet
strirgs-thcy were so long-and made
little buttery bows under the brim,
next to the face. Big Tad always adj
mired those little bows. Little Tad had
'em to play with afterwards. Emmy
cut off the buttons, too, and he used to
rattle EN- round in tin dish"
Miss senthrilla was porting over the
buttons intently, hunting for some
thing.
ut was kind of brassy where the
steel had worn off-little Tad asked me
once if twas real gold underneath. !
don't see where-yes, here it is. Here's
one of 'em, my dear"
She held the little fat button out to
Diana, and with a tender smile CULVER
ing in her face. 1t was not Miss Sen
thrillas face-thcre was no lack OF
passionate tenderness in it.
81 sewed 'em on myself. They were
on little Tad's first pants-I sewed
three above each knee, on the scam, for
the trimming. I used to always make
little Tad's clothes Emmy didn't
mind. 1 minded-dearie me! used to
sit up nights sewing, and 1 could hear
little Tad's breathing in the other
room. [ minded that, too"
The tiny furnished button lay in
Diana's soft palm, and she saw it
through tears. A sob futtered in her
throat.
That boyl 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-wearing pants
inspired him, 1 guess. Before, he'd
only wheezed. Emmy didn't like
whistling-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 Senthrilla's lap and cried when
they came to it. And Miss Senthrilla's
light fingers wandered over the girls
head while she talked.
'That one was on little Tad's soldier
clothes, my dear. It's furnished now,
but, dearie me, it was bright enough
then! There were two rows of 'em
down the front of his coat, and some on
his sleeves. sewed 'cm all on stronger
they were on so fimsy when he
brought the blue suit home. Little
Tod ,y,oc n ror11la1. soldier in those braSS