The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-30
THE PICNIC AT PINE HOLLOW.

The people at the Holler We'd with
those at the Corners in the display they
could make at general trainings, Fourth
of July celebrations, and so on.
Major Duadle at the Holler, had
fought in 1912 ard still lived, while Col.
Bragg, at the Corners, had spent years
fighting the Indians, and what he did
not know about scientific warfare
might as well be left out of classic
history.
OF course there was fued between
the towns, and had been since a score of
years before, when some prospectors had
decided that the waterway at the Cor
ners was better than that at the Holler,
and consequently erected some mills
there. The subsequent failure of the
firm left the subject of benefit an open
question:; but the seed of discOrd had
been sown, and its harvest seldom fails.
Many a suit at law, many actions for
assault, came before the magistrate,
simply because some one had felt it his
duty to uphold or vindicate his abiding
place.
Then the civil war began, and most of
the Old-time animosity died out or rather
slept quietly, while all rallied against the
common foe. When August came the
grievance was so far forgotten that the
school at the Holler was asked to join
that at the Corners in picnic, which
might have been very magnanimous in
the Cornerites or supremacy selfish, just
as you please, for Mayor Daudle had
fine grove, and the easiest way to obtain
the use of it was to ask those at the
Holer to join them.
When the special committees went to
work they decided that owing to the ex-
listing state of things and the high price
of sugar, no frosted cakes should be
brought to this picnic, which resolve
was finally amended to the effect that if
any one should have the temerity to dis
obey the mandates of the committee, and
frost cake, that particular cake should
be given to the minister.
This was all very well for the Corner
ties where the minister lived, but of
course the Hollerites howled. "They
should frost cakes if hey chose, and no
one could hinder"
Yet for all this, there were very few of
the Objectionable articles on the table,
The first was large pyramid cake tow
ering high over its plebeian associates,
and carrying at its apex tiny flag indie
ative of the patriotism of its maker.
This it was unanimously decided, must
be reserved for the minister, and it was
carefully set aside for that purpose,
mnch to the dissatisfaction of a bright
eyed young lady of the Corners, who had
prepared one of the prohibited cakes
personally, hoping to see it given over to
the dainty palate of the parson. But
alas for human hopes! Her pretty con-
lection fell victim to the ruthless knife
of woman at the Holler, who utterly
refused to see why, if a frosted cake was
good for the minister, it was not equal
ly good for others; and so the common
people feasted upon it.
But she had her revenge. When the
beautiful cake which had been preferred
to hers was cut, terrible discovery was
made. No sweet CONNECTION of eggs and
spice and everything nice, greeted the
eyes of the expectant throng, but just a
plain, everyday johnny-cake!
Great was the excitement produced
between the Holler and the Corners, and
the feud waged stronger than ever at this
plain attempt to insult the minister.
Every effort was made to discover the
fair reprobate; but one woman at least,
proved her ability to keep secret, and
to this day they wonder who made the
jenny -cake.-VictOr Gage Kimbert in
WdUerly Magazine.