Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-11-25
4 Meitlng story.

A Melting Story.
One winiry evening rounrry storeke,sp-
er in the Green Mountain State was about
closing his d ,ors for The N, hit Willie stand
ing in the snow otitsi.le piilting up the
window shutters, he SAW through the glass
a lounging. worthless fellow within, grab a
pound of fresh batter f,em the sla ~ aiii
conceal it in his hat.
The act was no sooner aet,,Etcd than the
revenge was hit upon, and very few min
utes found the Green Moantain storekeep-
er at once induiging his appetite for fun to
the full extent, and paying of the theft
with a facetous sort of torture. for which
he Nigh, have gained premium from the
oil inqIisiiion.
4 say Seth,' said the storckeaper com
ming IN and closing the door after him
slappng his hands over his sholders and
stamping the snow off his feet. U
Seth had his hand on the door. his bat
on his head, and the roll of butter In his
hat, anxious to make his escape as soon as
possible.
j say, Seth. sit down, / Reckon OH such
an e-iar-nal night as this a lccilc something
wouldn't hurt a fellow.
Seth felt uncertain he had the Butter
and was exceedingly aaxio1s to be off, but
the temptation of something warm sadly
intertered with his resolutions to 90. This
hesitation, however, was soon settled by
the right owner of the butter, who taking
Seth by the shoulders and planting him in
A scat close by the stove. where he was In
such a manner cornercd by the barrels and
boxes, that while the grocer sat before him
there was no possibility of getting out, and
in this pla.e sure enough the storekeeper
sat down.
/" Seth we'll have little warm Saiita
Cruz" said the CIR, en- Mountain gttcer
so he opened the stove door and stick in
as many sticks as the space would admit /!
without it you'd freeze going home sdclt d
night as rhis.
Seth already felt the butter settling
down into His hair, and jumping up, declar
cd he must 20.
Not till you have had something warm,
Seth. Come ] have got a good story TO
tell you too sit down now--and Seth was
again pushed into his seat by his cunning
tormentor.
"Oh its too darn'j hot hire, said the
petty thief attempting to rise.
'.Sit doWh--don't be in such plagliy
hurry, retorted the grocer, pushing him
back in his chair.
but I've got the COWS 10 folder, anl
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 cdre of themselves, and keep
yourself cool; you appear to be filgety,
said the roguish grocer, with wicked leer.
The next thing was production of the
two smoking glasses Of hot rum and tody,
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 been kept down by Tie butter.
"Seth I'll give you n toast now, and
yoa must butter it yourself was said with
such consumate simplicity that poor Seth
still believed himself unstispected. Seth.
here il Christmas goose well rosfed and
basted, ell tell you il Is the greatest cat
ing in creation. And, Seth, don't you nev.
er use hogs fat, or common butter; ! mean,
Seth--tal<e care of you toddy.
Poor Seth began 10 smoke az well as
melt. and his mouth was hermetically
scaled UP as though lie lad been born
dumb. Streak after streak came pouring
down from under his hat and his handker-
chief was already soaked with the greasy
overflow. Talking away as if nothing was
the matter, the grocer kept stutling the
wood into the stove, while poor Seth sat
bolt upright With his back against the coun-
ter and his knees almost touching the red
hot furnace before hin.
Plagued cold night this, said the grocer.
Why, Seth, you seem 10 perspire as if yon
were warm. Why don't you take your hat
off? Here let me put your hat away.
''No, exclaimed Seth with a spasmoiic
effort to get his tongue loose, and clapping
both his hands upon his hat-No, | must
go; let me out aint well; let me 90.
A greasy cataract was now pouring
down the poor fellows face and neck, and
soaking into his clothes, and lrickling down
his body into his very boots, so that he was
literally in perfect bath of oil.
Wen. goo | night, Seth. said the humor-
ous ycrmonter. if you will go-and adding
as he left-"nei.hbor, | reckon the fun I've
had ont Of you Is worth nine-penee, so /
shan't charge you for that pound of but
60.