The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-18
A Good Story, though Not New.

One winter evening a country storekccpcl
in the Green Mountain State was about
closing UP for the night, and while standing
in the snow outside putting up the window
shutters, saw through the glass lounging
worthless fellow within grab pound oil
fresh butter from the shelf and conceal it in
his hat.
The act was no sooner detected than the
revenge was hit upon, and very few min.
uteS found the Green Mountain storekeepcr
at once indulging his appetite for fun to the
fullest extent, and paying off the thief with
q facetious sort of torture, for which he
would have gained premium from the old
Inquisition.
II say. Seth" said the storekeeper, COM
ing in and closing the door after him, slap
ing his hand over his shoulders and stamp
ing 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 exit as soon as possible.
a say, Seth, sit down; reckon, now, on
such cold night as this little something
warm would not hurt Il fellow"
Seth felt very uncertain ; he had the but
ter, and was exceedingly anxious to be off !;
but the temptation Of something warm sadly
interfcred with his resolution to 90. This
hesitation, however, was soon settled by the
right owner of the butter taking Seth by the
shoulders and planting him in Il seat close to
the stove, where he was In such manner
cornered in by the boxes and barrels that,
while the grocer stood before him, there
was no possibility Of getting out, and right
in this very place sure enough the store
keeper sat down.
"Seth, well have little warm Santa Cruz
ha nfutn lao
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
as this"
| Seth already felt the butter settling down
closer to his hair, and he jumped up, de.
ciTing he must go.
| "Not till you have something warm, Seth
Seth, come, Pye got story to tell you, ;" and
| cunning tornentor.
ooh! it's so hot here" said the petty
thief, attempting to rise.
"Sit down; don't be in such a hurry" re-
torted the grocer, pushing him back into his
chair.
"But I've got the COWS to fodder, and the
wood to split, and must be going" said the
prosecuted chap.
but you mustn't tear y0urSell away, Seth,
in this manner. Sit down let the COWS take
care of themselves, and keep yourself cool;
you appear to be a little fdgety," said the
roguishgrocer, with wicked leer.
The next thing was the production of two
smoking glasses of hot 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 butter.
"Scth, will give YOU toast, now, and
you can butter it yourself" said the grocer,
with an air Of such consummate simplicity
that poor Seth believed himself unsupported.
!" Seth, hsre's--here's Christmas goose,
well roasted, eh? l tell you it's the greatest
eating in creation. And Seth, don't you
never use hogs fat, or common cooking but
ter, to haste il with; come, take your butter
/ mean, Seth, TAKE your toddy."
& Poor Seth now began to smoke as we'll as
melt. and bis mouth was Theoretically sealed
up as though he had been born dumb.
Streak after streak of the butter came pour
ing from under his bat, md his handkerchief
syas already soaked with the greasy over
8oH, Talking away ~ Il nothing Was the