The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-08-25

CIDER DAY
BY NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

case the day did not fall on a Sunday.
a couple of barrels Of new cider were
placed on the public square and tap.
ped and everybody invited to drink
their fill. 1t was Il day of rejoicing
and was known as cider day.
On a certain l4th of September o
stranger arrived in the village by
stage. 1t 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 a voice
like the below of a 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 rcjoicings began,
but, he paid no attention until after
aoon. Then tile men had begun to
warm up and grin and laugh and slap
each other on the back. Firecrackers
were thrown under the strangers feet.
NUl WILL uC tOISCu Il uAoplCuSOAS NC
was laughed and jeered ut. Then he
got a hand IN his back and was chal-
lenscd to Il wrestling match and a
trial of cutting Off hats. He was in
vlted tn drink prosperity to Pineville
in a dipper of new cider, and when be
refused to do SO a quantity vas poured
on his hat.
The stranger was a good swearer,
and he swore. He stood on the public
square and wore and he sat on the
tavern veranda and swore. and he
locked himself in his room and swore.
custom, and next day some of the lead
ing citizens called to make excuses.
The stranger had hired a rig Ind de-
parted after an early breakfast.
Pineville wanted a railroad. 1t had
wanted n for years and at times
had had strong hopes. The trouble
was in the hills half surrounding 1t.
There must he n costly tunnel. Fin
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 q large and %enthusias-
tic mass meeting was held. At this
meeting a greater sum was pledged
than ever before. and n delegate was
sent to the headquarters of the r. and
p. railroad to lay the matter before the
proper officials. The line to Pineville.
II built, would be a branch. The dele
gate was politely received and listened
to and then told that a larger delega-
ton had better come down. Indeed.
the names Of 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 1t would be through a Ger
tain capitalist. who would give them
audience half an hour later. He did
80. They fled into his Office and up to
bis desk to find the mar Of the club
foot. He had a smile or his face. but
they did not like the smile. He spoke
hcneyed 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 I 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 perchancc our people
made too merry
"Oh. no. no. no! ! love merry peo-
pie"
ut was our cider day. yon know"
Certainly. certainly-plenty Of CT
der and plenty Of merriment So
YOU came to see about a branch line
to your town? Well. after an exhi-
bition Of Il little custom Of my own
we will proceed to talk. There's the
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
cluhfOoted man as he nodded to his
three stout retainers.
The trio moved. They culfed OF
bats. 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:
1.-The gentlemen must be thirsty. Be.
fore there is further merriment give
Shem more drink"
When the said "merriment" ceased
there was no ma Of the seven who
could stand on his legs. They bad
been hustled for fair. As they sat
breathing hard and wondering what
was coming next the capitalist chuck
led and laughed and snid:
AsThfa ia MI ponflomnn Won 6nnsf