The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-04-07
Che fDceklp 1flrssc,etr
Published Weekly
Al
st MartinsvilIe, La.
BY
EASTIN e. BIENVEHU.
LEFT HIS GAS BURNING.
The Friends Of the Pacific Coast Man
Make 1t Pleasant for Him.

Make 1t Pleasant for Him.
A number of friends Of Henry Butler
have been enjoying q great deal of fun
at the old g'ntleman's expense of late.
1t seems that Mr.. Butler left his room
at five o'clock in the morning, few
weeks since, to catch the up-sound
steamer for Portland and in his haste
forgot to turn off his gas, which was
burning brightly. Some of his friends
saw the light i'll his room the next even
ing, and, thinking burglars might be 60
ing through Mr.. Buffers drawers, went
up only to find the room locked and
bolted, just as it had been left. The
fact that he had forgotten to turn of the
gas, in his haste to catch the steamboat,
dawned upon them all at once, and they
deter lined to let it burn until he came
back, even il he remained away for two
months. About the time he got ready
to sail from Portland to San Francisco,
MIR. McDougald telegraphed him: "Your
gas is still burning"
"Why the devil don't you turn il
out !" was the reply received from Mr..
Butler.
When the news flashed over the wires
that the Portland steamship had reached
San Francisco Fred Allen sent his absent
friend the following message: "Dear
Butler-Your gas is still Burning, Just
as you left it. Penfield says he charges
double rates when consumers keep their
Lights burning night and day"
This message was marked collect"
and the messenger who handed it to n.
Butler remarked: "Dollar aad quar-
ter, please"
Mr.. Butler paid the bill and then
opened the message only to ind that
those horrid friends of his in Seattle
were carrying ont that practical joke.
In his despair he rushed to the tele-
graph Office and sent the following mes
sage: "Ed. L. Terry-Turn out my
gas"
The next day he received from his
friend Terry the following message:
"Have lost nv pass key and can't get it.
The gas is still burning"
This was too much for the old gentle
man, and his first idea was to come home
at once and turn it off himself, but just
as he was getting ieady to leave Mr..
ACoiVi iChCuct tuC w utu Tile Two
met Mr.. Yesler said: "Why, hello
Butler, what are you packed for p "Im
going home to turn off my gas" said
Mr.. Butler. 'At the rate it's burning
the gas company will own half my prop
ertv if / stay much longer
Mr.. Yesler persuaded him that gas
was very cheap in Seottle and the more
customer consumes the cheaper the
rate is In proportion, and that if he
should consume 100000 feet during the
month he was absent the rate when he
got home would b. S225 per thousand,
instead of $3.50 per Thousand, the rate
charged small consumers. This ar
rangement, while it was consoling to
certain extent, did not dissuade Mr..
Butler from his desire to get home.
''Let her burn" said Mr.. Yesier, "and
go to Southern California with Mad
docks and myself, and when we &c.
home I'll get Penfield to cut the bill
down as much rs possible and I'll stand
cne-half the expense"
Mr.. But,er considered this generous
Cffer, and rs he was very anxious to visit
Los Angeles and other booming towns
south OF San Francisco, concluded to
"let her burn
Messrs. Butler and Yes.er arrived
home last night. The gas was still burn
ing when Mr.. Butler reached his room.
He turned it ont. and drawing candle
from his poke: lighted it and exclaim-
ed: Revenge is sweet. If Penfield
takes advantage Of my absence to get a
Zen on my prooerty, now, henceforth
and forever. will eschew gas and lin
iniant" my premises instead with taliow
dips :"
After Mr.. Butler had retired for Tie
night. and was dreaming of California, a
quartet of his musical friends rendered
him delightful serenade, the principal |
song rendered being that which com
mences, "Let your lower lights be burn /.
ing" They were followed down stairs 7
by "a bootiack and au old shoe after the
first verse hal hoo" srnr.
Mr.. Butler swrars yeng on those /.
practical iokers. AMI VOWS ne will ge.
even If it takes all winter.