The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-06-20
Gnn,orous.
A MELTING STORY.

A MELTING STORY.
One winter evening country store.
keeper in the Green Mountain State
was about closing his doors for the night,
and when standing in the snow outside,
pntting up tho window shutters, saw
through the glass lounging, worthless
fellow within, grab pound of fresh but
ter from the shelf, and conceal it in his
hat.
The act was no sooner detected than
tho revenge was hit upon, and q very
few minutes found the Green Mountain
store,keeper at once indulging his ap.
petite for fun to the fullest oxtent, and
playing off the thief with q facetious sort
Of torture, for which he would have
gained q premium from the old inquisi-
ton.
I say, Seth said the store-keeper,
coming in and closing the door, after
him, slapping his hand over his should
era, and stamping the snow off his feet.
Seth had his hands on the door, his
hat upon his head, and tho roll of butter
IN his hat, anxious to make his exit as
soon as possible.
g say, Seth, oit down; T reckon now,
on such an eternal night as this, lit.
tie somethin' warm wouldn't hurt fel.
low
Seth felt worry uncertain; he had the
butter, and was exceedingly anxious to
be off, but the temptation Of something
warm sadly interfered with his resolu.
tion togo; This resolution, however,
was soon settled by the right owner of
the butter taking Seth by tho should
ers and planting him in a scat close to
the stove, where he was in such man.
nor cornered in by the boxes and bar
rels, that while the owner stood before
him there was no possibility of getting
out, and right in this very place sure
enough the store-keepcr sat down.
ftSeth, we'll have little warm Santa
Cruz said the Green Mountain grocer:
80 he opened the stove door and stuffed
In as many sticks as the place would
admit; without it you'd freeze going
home such night as this
Seth already felt the butter setting
down closer to his hair, and he Jumped
up declaring that he must 20.
mot till you have had something
warm Seth: Seth, come, I've got story
to tell you, too sit; down now now, and
Seth was again rushed into his scat by
his cunning tormentor.
*Oh! It is tn darned hot here said
the petty thief, attempting to rise.
'Jit down don't be in such plaeuy
hurry retorted the grocer, pushing
him back III his chair.
But I've got the COWS to fodder, and
the wood to split, and I must bo going,'
said tho prosecuted chap.
But tyou mustn'nt tear yourself away.
Seth, In this manner. Sit down, let the
COWS care of themselves, and keep YOUR
self cool; you appear to be little idge.
ty, said the roguish grocer, with a wick
edleer.
The next thing was the production
OF two smoking glasses of hot rum tod.
dy, the very sight of which, in Seth's
present situation, would have mado the
hair stand erect upon his head, had it
not been well oiled and kept down by
tho butter.
Seth, I'll give you toast, now.
ana you can butter it YOURSELF said the
grocer, with an air of such consumate
simplicity, that poor Seth believed him.
self unsuspected. "Seth, here's-hero's
Q Christian goose, we'll roasted, eh! 7
tel you, it's the greatest eating in crea.
ton: And, Seth, don't you mover use
hogs fat, or common cooking butter, to
baste it with --come, take your butter
81 mean, Seth, take your toddy.'
. Poor Seth now began to smoke, as
yen as melt, and his mouth was horme-