The State guard., 1848-05-09
A melting Story.


 One wintery evening, country store- keeper in the Green Mountain State was about closing his doors for the night, and while standing in the snow outside putting up the window shutters, he saw through the glrss lounging worthless fellow within. grab pound of fresh butter from the shelf and conceal it in his hat.
 The act was no sooner noticed than the revenge was bit upon, and very few miutes found the Green Mountain store- keeper at once indulging his appetite for fun to the fullest extent, and paying off the thief with !acetious sort of torture, for which he might have gained premium from the old inqustion.
 Say. Seth, said the storekeeper coming in and closing the door aficr him, shaping his hands over his shoulders and stamping the snow off his feet.
 Seth had his hand on the door, his hat on his head, and the roll of butter in his hat, anxious to make his escape as soon as possible.
 I say, Seth, sit down; 1 recon on such an eternal night as this leetle sumthin wouldt hurt fellow
 Seth felt very uncertain; he had the butter and was exceedingly anxious to be off, but the temptation of something syarm sadly inrerlered with his resolutions to go. This hesitation, however, was soon set tied by the right owner of the butter, who taking Seth by the shoulders and planting him in seat close by the stove, where he was in such manner cornered by the barrels and boxes, that while the grocer sat before him there was no possibility ot getting out, and ill this place sure enough the storekeeper sat down,
 Seth, we'll have little warm Santa Cruz said the Green Mountain groser so he opened the stove door and stuck in as many sticks as the space would admit without it you'd freeze going home such night as this
 Seth already felt the butter settling down into his hair, and jumping up, de. clared he must go.
 'Notti you have had something warm Seth. Come, Eve got good story to tel you too; sit down now'-and Seth was again pushed into his seat by his cunning tormenter.
 Oh It's too darn'd hot here,' said the petty thief attempting to rise. Sit down-don't be in such plaguey hurry,' retorted the grocer, pushing him back in his chair. But Eve got the COWS to fodder, and some wood to cut, and must be going
 But you mustn't tear yourself away, Seth, in this manner. Sit down let the COWS take care of themselver, and keeE yourself cool; you appear to be fidgety, said the roguish grocer, with wicked leer.
 The next thing was the production o two smoking glasses of hot rum toddy the very sight of which ,in Seih's presen situation, would have made the hair stand erect upon his head, had it not been wei oiled and been kept down by the butter.
 Seth, I'll give you toast now, ant you butter it yourself,' with an air of suct consumate simplicity that poor Seth stil believed himself unsuspccted. Seth here is Christmas goose well roasted ant pasted, eh tell you it's the greates eating in creation. And, Seth, don't you never use hogs fat, or common cooking butter; mean, Seth-take care of your toddy.'
 Poor Seth now began to smoke as well as melt, and his mouth was as hermetlcal- ly sealed up as thought he had been born dumb. Streak afier streak came pouring from under his hat, and his handkerchie was already soaked with the greasy over. flow. Talking away as if nothing was the matter, the grocer kept stuffing the wood into the stove, while poor Seth sat bolt upright with his back against the counter and his knees almost touching the red hot furnace before.
 Plagued cold night this,' said the gro cer. Why, Seth, you seem to perspire as if you were warm. Why don't you take your hat off? Here let me put your hat away
 Mo- exclaimed Seth, with spasmsdic effort to get his tongue loose, and clap. ping both his hands upon his hat-'No, must go lot me out I ant well !; let me go.'
 \ greasy cataract was now pouring down the poor fellows face and neck, and