Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1874-07-11
A Melting Story.

One winter evening country storekeeper
in the Green Mountain State was about
closing his door for the night, and while stand
ing in the snow outside, putting up the win
dow shutters, saw through the glass, a loung
ing, worthless fellow within, grab pound of
fresh butter from the shelf and conceal it in
his hat.
The act was no sooner detected than the
revenge wa lat upon,and a very few minutes
found the Green Mountain storekeeper at
once iudulsing his appetite for fun to the
fullest extent, and paying off the thief with
facetious sort of torture for which he would
have gained a premium from the old in
QUESTION.
Il say, Seth said the s,orekeeper, coming
in and closing the door after him, slappiug
his hands over his shoulders, and stamping
tn, snow off his feet.
Seth had his hand on the door and his hat
upon bis head, and the roll of butter in his
hat, anxious to make his exit as soon as
possible.
i say, Seth, sit down; | reckon, now on
such an e.tarnal night as this, little some
thing warrn wouldn't hurt fellow.
Seth felt very uncertain he had the butter
and was exceedingly anxious TO be of, but
the temptation Of something warm sadly in
terferred with his resolution to go. This
hesitation, however, was soon settled by the
right owner of the butter taking Seth by the
shoulders and planting him in a seat close to
the stove where he was in such a 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 s,orekeeper
sat down.
Seth, we'll have a little warm Santa Cruz,
said the Green Mountain Grocer, .ohe 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 found the butter settling down
closer to his hair, and he jumped up declaring
he must 90.
Not till Won have something warm Seth
Seth, come, I've got story to tell you, too
sit down now ; and Seth was again rushed
into his seat by his cunning tormenter.
oh! it's too darn'd hot here, said the pet
thief attempting to rise.
sit down-den't he in such plaguy hurry,
retorted the grocer, pushing him back in his
chair.
But have the cows to FODDER, and the
wood to split, | must be going, said the
prosecuted chap.
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
roguish grocer with a wicked leer
The next thing was the production of two
smoking glasses of hot rum toddy, the very
sight of which, in Seths present situation,
would have made the hair stand erect upon
his head, had it not been well oiled and kept
down by the butter.
Seth. I'll give you toast and you can but.
ter it YOURSELF said the grocer with an air of
such consumate simplicity. that poor Seth be-
lieved himself unsupported. Seth, here's
here's Christmas goose well roasted, eh j
tell you its the greatest eating in creation.
Seth, don't you never use hogs fat when you
have cooking butter to baiste it with-come,
take your butter-I mean, Seth, take your
toddy.'
Poor Seth now began 10 smoke as we'll as
melt, and his mouth was Theoretically sealed
up as though he had been born dumb.
Streak after streak of the butter came pouring
from under his hat, and his handkerchief was
: already soaked with greasy overflow Talk
r ing away as if nothing was the matter, the
grocer kept stuffing the wood into the stove
| Wflle poor Setu SAT DOtt upf1Sut, WIN lie
back against the counter and his knees almost
I touching the red furnace before.
+ 'Plaguy cold night this said the grocer
, why, Seth, you seem to perspire as if YOU
were warm Why don't you take your ha
Off Here let me put your hat away!
Nor exclaimed poor Seth, at last with g
spasmodic effort to get his tongue loose clap
ping both hands upon his hat. mo, mus
go; let me out I; amt well-let me CO.
A greasy cataract was now pouring dowr
, the poor mans face and neck, and soaking
into his clothes, and trickling down his body
into his very boots, so that he was litetally in
| bath of oil.
well good night Seth,' said the humorou:
Vernon TER If you will go! and adding as he
darted out Of the door, say, Seth, l reckon
! the fun have had out of you is worth nine
pence, so shant charge you for that pound o
butter in your hat