Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-07-21
PINEV,'II S Q.
). CIDER. DAY
By M. QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

For twenty years the, village of
Pineville had had custom of its own
On the 18th Of every September, In
case the day did not fall, on Sunday
a couple of barrels Of new cider were
placed on the public square and tap
ped and everybody invited to drink
their I'LL. 1t was day Of REJOICING
and was known as cider day. )"
On certain 18th Of September q
stranger arrived in the village by
stage. 1t was not 80 uncommon fo1
strangers to arrive, but this was an
uncommon man. He had q clubfoot;
be 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 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
we're thrown under the strangers feet,
and when he voiced his displeasure he
was laughed and jeered at Then he
got hand on his back and was chal-
!enged to wrestling match and q
trial Of cutting off hats He was in
vited to drink prosperity to Pineville
in Il dipper of new cider, and when he
refused to do SO quantity was poured
on his hat.
The stranger was good swearer,
md 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.
Ill day the town made merry, as per
s1stom, and next day some of the lead
ny citizens called to make excuses.
The stranger had hired rig and de-
narted after an early breakfast.
iineville wanted a railroad. It had
wanted one for years and at times
ed had strong hopes. The trouble
cas in the hills half surrounding it.
there must be a costly tunnel. En-
cineers had come and estimated and
exported. and the cost had been con-
::dered too high. A new and greater
fort was now on foot, and three days
tcter cider day large and enthusiast
K mass meeting was held. At this
meeting a greater sum was pledged
han ever before, and a delegate was
sent to the headquarters of the P and
p. railroad to lay the matter before the
Nroper 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 lie 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 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 perchance our people
made too merry
oh, no. no, no! love merry peo-
pie"
1T was our cider day, you know"
"Certainly, certainly-plenty of CT
der and plenty of merriment. So
you came to see about branch line
to your town? Well, after an exhi-
bition Of a 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. ~. - ,r..
Now for some merrtment," said the
clubfooted man as he nodded to his
three stout retainers. .~. =
The trio moved. They. cuffed of
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: &C." 3
"The gentlemen must be thirsty. Be-
fore there is further merrimert give
them more drink" ~~~4. 80;
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