The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-09-14


meanwhile he was busy with the but
ton. After the darning needle had
drawn the twlne through the eyes
once all the room was taken up, but
he cut 6ff the twine and called 1t a.
job. He then pulled off the other shoe
and looked at the other sock. There
was no hole In Il, but he made one and
sighed heavily as another wudgel
made its appearance. When he had
dressed his feet again he went off up.
stairs and brought down his nightshirt
and button that had come loose from
his winter overcOnt.
whats wrong with that shirt?"
asked Mrs. Bowser.
Button Off, of course" was the re.
ply. "1ts been off for the past four
weeks, and that is what brought this
case of bronchitis ON me. | haven't
said anything because It's no use"
look here now, but when that shirt
came home from the laundry three
days ago the buttons were all there
and all tight. / looked them over, as
atways do. When you took the shirt
of you gave it pull and sent the but
ton flying. II must have been the one
found on the floor yesterday"
Mr.. Bowser sighed and drew his
hand across his eyes as he placed the
big horn button opposite the small but
tonhole and prepared to sew 1t on.
"For the lands sake, but don't do
thatw exclaimed Mrs. Bowser. Cant
you see that the button is forty times
too large"
81 am only too thankful to get any
kind of button" was the reply, accom-
panied by several sad and solemn
shakes of the head.
Button Was Too Big.
"That's all nonsense! Hand that
shirt over to me. You have three or
four more and don't need to put this
on at ALL"
But Mr.. Bowser stuck to his tailor
Job and sewed ON the button. He knew
that 1t would never go into the button
hole, but he would have 1t there for
an ornament anyway. The effect of
the red twine on the white background
was picturesque, to say the least
When the work was finished he depart
ed upstairs again. This time he rum
mayed around for quarter of an hour
before he descended. but he had put
in his time to good advantage. He had
found an Old pair of trousers and had
cut u patch out of an old vest.
"Well, what is it now?' asked Mrs.
Bowser.
"Thcse trousers have needed patch
ing for the last five years, but You
haven't had time to do 1t. | shall now
do It myself"
But they are an old pair that you
keep to work around in"
"The principle of the thing is just
the same"
There's no principle about it. II
you use Il blue patch on Il green ground
all the boys in the neighbOrhood will
he guying you the first time you step
outdoors"
"Then the boys will be informed that
have TO do my own sewing or there
wouldn't be any done. Don't bother,
Mrs. Bowser. Just keep your nose I'm
that novel and never mind me. Blue
patches on green grounds are good
enough for your husband. He hasn't
long to live anyhow, and what's the
odds whether the patches are blue or
black or green?"
Wiped a Tear Away.
Mr. Bowser snuffed and shifted and
wiped n tear away, and as he began
TO fit a patch eight inches square to a
hole not over two inches in diameter.
and sew It fast with the red twine
Mrs. Bowser could control her feelings
no longer. She burst out laughing. aud
II was three or four minutes before
she could control herself. Then Mr.
Bowser was looking at her with cold
glare He kept it up for two long min
utes and then laid the half patched
trousers aside and said:
81 am not only neglected, but insult
ed in my own house and human ma
ture can stand no more"
"But | had to laugh. think that
patch is the funniest thing | ever saw.
Why, even the cat
Mrs. Bowser, am going out. | am
homeless man, and where shall go
heaven only knows. Perhaps when
am brought home dead ana you gaze
into my white face you will cease
your merriment and realize that you
are responsible for the death of a good
man. Good night, Mrs. Bowser-wo.
man. good night"
She tried to stay him, but in vain.
He left the house for the street with
tears in his eyes and wandered up one
street and down another, and the
south winds sighed and moaned, and