Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-05-05
THE REASON WHY UNCLE ZACHARY WILL
NOT KEEP OR SELL CIDER.
JULIA CROUCH L v

He has been misrepresented and call
ed a fanatic, because so soon as his
cider came from the mill he mixed it
with vinegar, and nc one ever got a
drink of it.
His old customers, to whom he had
formerly sold cider, made from those
good old russell apples, showed their
disappointment at his refusal to sell
them any more, by sometimes saying
harsh and unpleasant about him. But
he did not waver from his purpose. He
simply once and for all determined
never to keep, or sell, or give away an
other pint of cider.
AS l happen to know the cause of
this determination, in justice to him
and to the of temperance, | am
going to tell his story.
From a boy Uncle Zachary was noted
for his steady habits; for his industry
and honesty. He was from his youth
identified in the a~nti-slavery cause, but
he was not a convert to total absti-
nence. By the time he set up a house
hold for himself, he was SO far adj
vanced in the cause of temperance as
to entirely dispense with distilled liq-
uors, but wine and cider were looked
upon as harmless and heathful drinks,
and he was as sur to have a barrel of
cider in his cellar as a barrel of pork.
He had a large family of children,
but only one son, and, al was natural,
this son vas the center of a great deal
of ambition as we'll as affection. He
was a handsome lad of eighteen when
my story begins. AS is often the case,
the son had not exactly the same ideas
as the father. He thought there was
much more pleasure in the good time,
and his idea of a good time was to have
plenty of gay company and engage in
frolic and merriment. Farm work was
not to his taste, but he could dance and
dress nobility, and he was a great favor
lite among his acquaintance. His sis
tiers were proud of his fine appearance,
his father hoped for steadier habits,
and his mother loved him as only a
mother car love an only son.
One night Uncle Zachary returned in
the drifting snow and biting cold from
the village five miles away. When he
came into the warmth and glow of the
great New England kitchen of his home,
and sat down to a tempting supper re-
served smoking hot for him, he thawed
into a very pleasant and agreeable
mood.
"Where's all the children mother"
he said inquiringly. "Ain't nobody
here to draw a pitcher o. cider? I've
been thirsty a little mite all day, and a
glass O. cider seems mighty good"
"The children have all gone to the
singin' school," said his wife, land
they'll have a tough time, too, getting
home through this snow storm" She
hesitated a little, and then said rather
timidly: Give been thinking a good
deal lately about cider. I've been think
whether'no it Amt of a leading drink.
1 aim sure's it does the boys any good
to run to the cider barrel just when
they please; and still Iain't sure asit'd
be for the best to forbid it."
ITS all a notion, mother" said
Uncle Zachary. Farmers amt going
to get along without their apple juice.
l guess the good old ways is good
enough for us. Ny father n mother
and your father n mother never see
no harm in cider, and what'd for them
l guess1l do for u.s."
circumstances might alter cases."
said the wife. IF we see danger ahead,
mebbe it amt worth while to stop and
consider what our forefathers did or
didn t; mebbe it's safer to steer right
out of the way of danger, the first thing.
I've been thinking as mebbe we might
improve on them's gone before us, in
some things"
Here the conversation was interrupt
ed. only give it show that the anx.
ious mother had begun to suspect that
there was danger in a glass of cider,
and this suspicion had arisen from her
fear that it was having an influence on
her son.
In Uncle Zachary's barn there was a
barrel of cider that was sharp and
strong. The son and his companions
had access to this, and it had become
a custom to treat all around on frequent
occasions. Evening after evening these
young men took their drink of cider,
after their return from some social
gatherings. The whole neighborhood
of boys became demoralized, and yet
their elders had no suspicion that the
cider was at fault.
About three mile from Uncle Zach
ary's was a place called the Corners"
and there, in a country store, liquor
was sold. Although wine and cider
were common beverages among the
farmers, still public sentiment had ad-
vanced far enough to make a liquor
saloon somewhat disreputable. Rumors
Hoated about that Uncle Zachary 'sson,