Well, then, coming home by Drinker's Alley to get a new shirt which a French Vicomte's lady was washing to take the stiff out of (I'm always choice in my body-linen) a lame Frenchman pushes a paper of buttons at us. He hadn't long landed in the United States, and please would we buy. He sure-ly was a pitiful scrattel--his coat half torn off, his face cut, but his hands steady; so I knew it wasn't drink. He said his name was Peringuey, and he'd been knocked about in the crowd round the Stadt--Independence Hall.
This is from "Rewards and Fairies" "A Priest in Spite of Himself" by Kipling. http://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/digi300.pdf
What is the meaning of:
"to take the stiff out of (I'm always choice in my body-linen) a lame Frenchman pushes a paper of buttons at us."
I can not understand the meaning below.
- to take the stiff out of
- be always choice in one's body-linen
- push a paper of buttons at
I am glad if someone kindly teach me.