The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-11-09
A MELTING STORY.

One Wlnter evening country store
keeper in the Green Mountain State
was about closing up for, the night,
and while standing in the snow out
side, putting up the window shutters,
saw through the glass q lounging,
worthless fellow within grasp o pound
OF fresh butter from the shelf, and con-
ceal it in his hat. ze ~. -.
! 2 Ihe act was no sooner detected than
the revenge was hit upon, and very
! few minutes found the Green Noun
tain store-keeper at once indulging his
appetite for fun to the fullest extent,
and paying off the thief with a face
tlous sort of torture, for which he
would have gained premium from
| the old inquisition.
81 say, Seth," said the store-keeper,
looming in and closing the door after
him, slapping his hands over his shoul-
ders, and stamping the snow off his
| feet - a-fs.5.f ~ =,
Seth had his hand on the door, his
hat on his head, and the roll of butter
i'll his hat, anxious TO make his exit as
soon as possible. 'r he- 5il ~ 't
81 say, Seth, sit down / reckon now
on such oold night as this a little
something warm would not hurt a fell
low" 'fd9 asl27 - . : ~ ~
Seth felt very uncertain he had the
butter and was exceedingly anxious to
be of, but the temptation of some
thing warm sadly interfered with his
resolution to go. This hesitation,
however, was soon settled by the
rlghtlul owner of the butter taking
Seth by the shoulders and planting
him IN seat close to the stove, where
he was in such manner cornered by
the boxes and barrels that, while tho
grocer stood before him, there was no
possibility of getting out, and right in
tins very place, sure enough, the store
Keeper sat him..
Seth, wen have little warm San :
ia Cruz" said the Green Mountain
grocer; so 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.n ir sifi lofaIIaTol e,6'rs11 a
Seth already felt the butter settling
down closer to his hair, and he Jump
ed up, declaring he must go. s3Gb-bna
mot till you have something warm,
Seth: Seth, come, I've got a story to
tell you; )" and Seth was again rushed
Into his seat by his cunning tormen-
tor. 5lo 80 . rs" nail5Ie 81
"Oh! its so hot here" said the pet
ty thief, attempting to rise. aii n' -a3n0'
"Sit down don't be in such a hur-
ry = retorted the grocer, pushing him
back into his chair. a1i,,tal -5-IaT
''But I've got the cows to fodder,
and the wood to split, and l must be
going" said the prosecuted chap. 17ma2i.
"But you mustn't tear yourself
away, Seth, in this manner. Sit down,
let the cows take care of themselves,
and keep yourself cool; you appear to
be a little fidgety," said the rougish
grocer, with wicked leer. -'-
The next thing was the production
Of two smoking glasses of hot toddy,.
The very sight of which, in Seth's pre-
sent situation would have made the
hair stand eFectupon his head had it
lot been, well oiled and kept down by
he butter. oi IN i1si-asc-.,- : r,i.,-,,
'fSeth, 1 will give you toast, now,
md you can bntter it YOURSELF said
he grocer, with an air of such con-
simplicity, that poor Seth
believed himself unsuspected. f'41s
''Seth, here's-here's a Christmas
goose, well roasted 2eh? I tell yonit
8 the greatest eating in creation. And
Seth, don't you ever use hogs fat, or
common cooking butter, to baste it
With Come, take your butter; I
mean, Seth, take your toddy? ?"
Poor Seth now began to smoke as
veil as melt, and his mouth was her
netically sealed up, as though he had
'eeD born dumb. Streak after streak
# the butter came pouring from un-
Ter his hat, and his handkerchief was
iready soaked with the greasy over
low., Talking away as if nothing was
he matter, the fun-loving grocer kept
tufing wood into the stove. while
oor Seth sat upright, with his back
galnst the counter, and his knees
ouching the red hot furnace before
NCold night, this, n said othe grocer
Why, Seth, you seem to perspire as
you were warm /? q Why don't YOU
AXE your hat OFF, Here, let ME put
our hat away .7ieu1 siiJ 30 paH3bff9 - ~
@sNoI" exclaimed poor Seth, at last. =
NO, 1 must go let me out; 1 amt
7ell let me gof" !" "%.i 1i'1sts s5ft
A greasy cataract was now pouring
OVID the poor mans face and neck,
nd soaking into his clothes. and trick
ng down his body into his boots. so
lat he was literally in a bath of oil.
"Well, good night, SETH" said the
umorous Vermonter. ''If you will
D." and adding, as he darted out of
he door: Il say, Seth, reckon the
IN / have had out of YOU is worth
ine-pence, so l shan't charge yvu for
lat pound of butter in your hat."n