The Cairo bulletin., 1911-01-27
The Blue Ribbon
Pumpkin
BY M. QUAD
by NJ. QUAD
Copyright, 1910, by Associated Lat
erary Press.

Die came to him. A church was want
ed. Of course. For two or three years
the people gathered In a barn when u
circuit preacher came that way, but
the day came when Moses Smith said
the devout must be ready to make per.
sonal sacrifices. Not family In the
village but agreed with him. Each
subscribed all, and IN some cases more
than he could really afford. Lumber
was bought and piled against the day
it would be wanted, and things We're
going along placidly and peacefully
when the county decided to hold Its
first fair. II was to mean much to all
farmers and villagers, for each family
of the latter had a big garden and
could compete for prizes.
The soil around Unity was fine for
all sorts of vegetables, but particu-
larly pumpkins. Pumpkins had been
grown there that had b<en the won
der Of four counties. As soon as the
fair was announced every head OF
family In the village at once mentally
decided to grow a prize pumpkin for
the blue ribbon to be given. They car
ried this decision to the public meet
ing called, and ut which Moses Smith
presided and said:
Friends, have sorter planned this
thing out for all of us, Aaron Temp
kins will grow the prize squash; Felix
White will grow prize cucumbers; Sam
uel Davis will grow prize tomatoes;
old Mrs. Tompkins will grow prize
beets.' and he read the list to the end
and announced that he would grow q
prize pumpkin as big as d -four barrel.
There was row at once. Each was
for prize pumpkin, and no one was
willing to give way. Moses argued
and protested but it was pumpkins OF
nothing
Moses Smith couldn't positively for
bid the others to grow pumpkins
however he might discourage, and tbs
result was pumpkins on every Hill and
In every hollow.
One day ii was reported that at night
some one was to make raid on
every pumpkin patch In the village
and wreak bis spite. That night q
score of men sat up all night prepared
to sell their lives and their pumpkins
at any cost. After that the situation
became more tense. The circuit, rid
er came again and again, but to find
that the church interest had beer
overshadowed by the pumpkin inter
est and that most Of those who
should have formed his congregation
were in the fields or gardens HI
went TO Moses Smith. as the head and
front. to see how the church building
progressed and was met by the reply
Nothing doing. elder. and may moi
be for two or three years to come. I'm
sorry 10 say that the town seems to
have backslid, and | shouldn't be d
bit surprised to see lightnin' strikin
around us any time"
BY the date of the fair stranger
coming into the village would have
found everybody down on everybody
else. He would also have learned tina
forty one families were growing prize
pumpkins and that each family full
expected TO get that bit Of blue ribbon
The show pumpkins must be got t.
the county seat ten miles away. 1--WE
wagons could have conveyed them
but no. Each pumpkin must be go
there by itself. 1t was carried Their
In sheet. on stretcher, In a buggy
by team. When they were on ex
hibition Mt last they all looked TO b
about the same size and weight, AM
as q matter of fact they were, Fac
one had been nurscd and encourages
to do its best OF course row coul
be looked for The pumpkin commit
tee had heard about the trouble q
Unity and did not wish TO add to 4
The contest was so close that the
could very we'll bring In report of n
decision. but that was far from satii
flying the exhibitors. The upshot wa
an almost complete failure Of th
whole show
The fair over and the pumpkins r.
turned home to be made into pies, til
common sense way would have been
drop the whole matter and let unit
prevail In spirit as well as nam
Common sense had nothing to do wit
1t. however The exhibitors blame
the judges as well as each other, M
that kept the quarrel alive for anoth'
year. Meanwhile nothing more W;
done toward church, and the sorros
full circuit rider got the people togeth
for last snrmon and said.
Where pumpkins prevail instead
the teachings Of the gospel there IL !
vineyard and 10 work for a pilgriI
Az many Of You as Will pledge you
selves not to grew pumpkins for e
hibltion another year please stand up
Not person arose, and the got
man closed his Bible and put on b
hat and rode away. Oh. no. he didr
take the town with him It's the
| yet. The name or Difficulty has be-
| substituted for Unity, and i've simp
been telling you how II came about.
| had a curiosity TO inquire and didr
| know but you had some as well, Rig
| opposite one Of the half dozen saloo
In the place under the new state
| affairs Ii the church lumber rottil
| away. and Moses Smith will answ
! your Inquiries with:
Yes, sir; those plaguey stiff nee
went right at 1t and split the prettie