The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-07-21
PINEVILLES
CIDER DAY
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By M. QUAD

couple Oh DdIIeiS VI hc" Siuci "Sie
placed on the public square and tap.
ned and everybody invited to drink
their FILL 1t was day Of rejoicing
and was known as cider day.
On certain 14th of September a
stranger arrived In the village by
stage. It was not so uncommon for
strangers to arrive, but this was an
uncommon man. He had a clubfoot;
he had but one eye; he had voice
like the below of bull; he had but
one eyebrow. His personal appear
ance was freely commented on, as is
the way of the villager, and there was
great curiosity to know who he was
and what had brought him there.
The stranger was limping around
town next day when the cider was
brought in and the rejoicings began,
but he paid no attention until after
noon. Then the men had begun to
warm up and grin and laugh and slap
each other on the back. Firecrackers
were thrown under the strangers feet,
and when he voiced his displeasure he
was laughed and jeered ut. Then he
got hand on his back and was chal-
lenged to wrestling match and a
trial of cutting off hats. He was in
vited to drink prosperity to Pineville
in dipper of new cider, and when he
refused to do so a quantity was poured
on his hat.
The stranger was a good swearer,
and he swore. He stood on the public
square and swore, and he sat on the
tavern veranda and swore, and he
locked himself in his room and swore.
All day the town made merry, as per
custom, and next day some Of the lead
ing citizens called to make excuses.
The stranger had hired rig and de-
parted after an early breakfast
Pineville wanted a railroad. 1t had
wanted one for years and at times
had had strong hopes. The trouble
was in the hills half surrounding it
There must be a costly tunnel. En-
gineers had come and estimated and
reported and the cost had been con-
sidered too high. A new and greater
effort was now on foot, and three days
after cider day large and enthusias-
tic mass meeting was held. At this
meeting a greater sum was pledged
than ever before, and a delegate was
sent to the headquarters of the P. and
p railroad to lay the matter before the
proper officials. The line to Pineville,
if built, would be branch. The dele
gate was politely received and listened
to and then told that larger delega-
ton had better come down. Indeed,
the names of seven of his fellow
townsmen were given him, and they
would be received and the matter
gone into.
When the delegation reached the city
it was informed that if Pineville got
its branch it would be through a GER
tain capitalist. who would give them
audience half an hour later. He did
50. They filed into his office and up to
his desk to find the man of the club
foot. He had smile on his face, but
they did not like the smile. He spoke
honeyed words, but at the same time
he had the door locked and three stout
men brought in.
"Glad to see you, gentlemen-very
glad" he said to the delegation as a
whole. "You may perhaps remember
that 1 visited your pleasant little town
the other day. Very nice town; very
nice town. Very enterprising people.
Very charming custom you have up
there"
Sir" replied Deacon Harrison, who |
had been appointed spokesman for the |
delegation, 'if perchance our people |
made too merry
"Oh, no, no, no! / love merry peo-
pie"
"It was our cider day, you know"
Certainly, certainly-plenty of ci-
der and plenty of merriment. So |
you came to see about a branch line |
to your town? Well, after an exhi-
bition of a little custom of my own |
pail and dipper. Help yourselves"
None of the seven ever knew what
the nature of the contents Of the pail |
were. Deacon Harrison drank first, |
and he looked weary as he turned
away. The WEAKNESS went down
through the line
Now for some merriment," said the
clubfooted man as he nodded to his
three stout retainers.
The trio moved. They cuffed off
hats. They slapped the delegates on
the back. They gave them the iron
elbow They hustled them up and
down and across and laughed and
jeered. After ten minutes the boss
held up his hand and said:
The gentlemen must be thirsty. Be-
fore there is further merriment give
them more drink"
When the said "merriment" ceased
there was no man of the seven who
could stand on his legs. They had
been hustled for fair. As they sat
breathing hard and wondering what
was coming next the capitalist chuck
led and laughed and said:
This is all, gentlemen. You don't
need a-railroad to Pineville. You have
your cider day, and that's better. As
you probably have important engage
ments elsewhere will now excuse
you"
There was fighting all over town
next day. On the next after that there
was a public meeting to abolish cider
Jay, and If you are looking for trouble
you enter the town some day and ask
why it hasn't a railroad.