Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-23
a MELTING STURY,
coo6 nm sToRY-REyIvED.

One winter evening country storekeepef
in the Green Mountain State was about clos
ing his door for the night, and while standing
in the snow outside, putting up the window
shutters, saw through the glass lounglng,
worthless fellow within, grab pound OF fresh
butter from the shelf and conceal 1t IN ms hat.
The act was no sooner detected than the re-
venge was hit upon, and avery few minutes
found the Green Mountain storekeeper at once
indulging his appetite for fun TO the fullest ex-
tent, and paying off the thief with a facetous
sort of torture, for which he might have gain
ed premium from the old inquisition.
i say Seth p said the storekeeper, coming
in ana closing the door after him, Shaping his
hand over his shoulders and stamping the
snow off his feet
Seth had his hand on the door, his hat up
on his head, and the roll OF butter IN MS na''
anxious to make his exit as soon as possible
| say, Seth, sit down, reckon now on
such an e-tar-nal night as this, leetle some
thin wouldn't hurt fellow
Seth felt very uncertain ne had the butter,
and was exceedingly anxious to be oil, but the
temptation of something warm sadly interior
ed with his resolution togo. This hesitation,
however, was soon settled by the right owner
of the butter. taking Seth by the shoulder and
planting him IN a seat close to the stove, where
he was in such manner cornered in by the
barrels, and while the grocer sat before him,
there was no possibility of getting out; and
right in this very place sure enough the store
keeper sat down.
Seth, we'll have little warm Santa Cruz
said the Green Mountain grocer; SO he open
ed the stove door, and stuffed in as many sticks
as the space would admit without it you'd
49, r1Inrhf hIS
Seth already felt the butter settling down.
Poor Seth now began to smoke, as well as
melt, and his mouth was hermetrlcally sealed
closer to his hair, and jumped up, declaring he
must go.
Not till you have something warm, Seth :;
Seth, come, Eve got story to tell you too, sit
down now : and Seth was again pushed into
his seat by his cunning tormenter.
Oh! It's tu darned hot here, said the petty
thief attempting to rise.
Set down-don't be in such plaguy hur-
ry, retorted the grocer, pushing him back IN
his chair.
But Fve got the COWS tn fodder, and some
wood to split, and Unjust be goin, said the
prosecuted chap.
But you mustn't tear yourself away, Seth,
in this manner Sit down, let the cows take
care of themselves, and keep youself cool: you
appear to be fdgety,' said the roguish grocer
with a wicked leer
The next thing was the production of two
smoking glasses of hot rum toddy, the very
sight of which, in Seth's present situation,
would have made the hair stand erect upon
his head, had it not been well oiled and kept
down by the melting butter
Seth, I'll give you toast now, and you
can butter it YOURSELF said the grocer with an
air of such consumate simplicity that pool
Seth still believed himself unsupported. Seth
here's-heres Christmas goose well roasted
and basted eh tell you, its the greatest ca.
ting in creation. And Seth, don't you never
ehog's fat or common cooking butter tu haste
it with-come take your butter,--I mean, Seth
take your toddy' Seth stood as though he
had been born dumb. Streak after streak o.
the butter came pouring from under his hat
and his handkerchief was already soaked with
the greasy overflow. Talking away as j
nothing was the matter, the grocer kept stuff
fng the wood into the stove, while poor Seth
sat bolt upright, with lis back against the
counter, and his knees almost touching the rec
hot furnace before.
Plagued cold night this said the grocer
why Seth, you seem to perspire as if you
were warm Why don'tyou take your hat off
Here let me put'your hat awayv
MOI exclaimed poor Seth at last, with
spasmotC effect TO get his tongue loose, clap
ping both his hands upon his hat, No, mus
go; let me out; amt we'll; let me CO.
A greasy cataract was now pouring dOwI
the poor fellows face and neck: and soaking
into his clothes, and trickling down his bod,
into his very boots, so that he was literally il
perfect bath of oil.
well, good night, Seth said the humerou
Vermonter, if you will gon and adding as h
left, neighbor, reckon the fun I've had GU
of you is worth ninepence, SO shan't charg
YOU for that pound Of butter,