The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-07-12
THE child Agatha counted buttons.

THE child Agatha counted buttons,
and by - doing became the un
conscious nrbiter uf n dcaiiny.
The years of Agaiha's life were as
many an were the fingers on one of her
pump hands. and during this shor,
time she had always been n teller of
fortunes. doing N husbands to such
as we're the happy posstssors OF hut.
tons. For those poor creatures who
had Yielded to a mandate from far-ofi
Paris. and accepted hooks and eyes ~
gown-fastenings. Agatha could do
noihing-no the ghost of "a husband
could she cnnjure up without the help
Of her little round allies.
Had you not n singlc one In sight
YOU were doomed ia spinstcrhuod. but
II one-Iusi one-could br found
among the folds Of your drapcrics,
you were saved. aud Agatha's fat fore.
finger would be- laid upon 10, while her
shrill little voice would tri.
u%mphantly: erich mani looking
into your eyes to find n reflection Of
she joy IN her own dancing blue ones
az having - saiisfaciorily-thanks to
the button your fortune.
The result NJ a two-button fortune she
always announced with n falling In.
Election. aud the corners of her mouth
would droup In cupy of the expression
she had secn IN older faces when poor
man was found To- be their p%oriinn.
NJ "beggar man" her voice Invariably
grew sad and low. and II you were fool.
ish enough To display four buttons,
the chubby finger would touch the
fatal II m%uurnfui,y, while u plying
voice would murmur. ~ she shook her
golden curls. thief" hrgrlng your
pardon for the cruel truth; but again
happy smiles would chase away the
sadness II doctor, lawyer, merchant
or chief fell to your lot. Two. three
aud -four were the only fortunes tina,
troubled the little lady.
Oh, hut II was u thrilling game to
play! II was a grief tn the child
Agatha that 10 seldom could she In.
dulg In Il, owing TO the disappearance
~ buttons from the feminine horizon.
But now aud again II would chance
that some one great enough 10 resist
the decree OF fashion would drift her
Way and display the longcd-for fas.
Jennings. To such n one Aqaihn would
turn with screams of delight. while
tho chubby hhnds would touch the but.
mas lovingly, and the childish voice
ring out In words of prophecy.
II va a matinee day at the opera
house. and an enthusiastic thrnng was
surging through the entrance gate. Mt.
traetrd by Niue. Calvc as Carmen"
The house vas crowded to the doors,
nd when the curtain rose ON the
icNilla Square there was not n yncan,
SCAT 10 be had, and scarcely m unified
box. No. n grand titr. however. was
empty, and many 81 thofe standing
turned cnNious eyes up Ia It's comfort.
abe stats. Fora mutinoe the uudience
was brilliant, and one could zee many
Vell-h novu faces from The "smari SET
as well MS thu suhnrban seat holders
and real music lovers. Functions OF
every sort hHd been sacrificed for the
Of the hour. the cigarette CIR.
carmen" and the house was gay with
handsome women aud Respondent cos.
TUNES,
In several boxes OF The grand tier
there were children, and one framed
n pretty. much-noticed picture. In II
sat goldtn.hnired Agatha and her blue
eyed brother. Arms around each 9th.
err they sat. fresh and dainty and
sweet, unconscious of everything ex.
49,.