Afternoons there would be a baseball game between town and country teams,
foot races, horseback riding, a greased pig to catch, a greased pole to
climb and other entertainments too exciting to think about, too
attractive to be resisted.
From the far backwoods districts, from the hills, from the creek bottoms
and the river, the people came to crowd about the pens, and stalls and
tables; to admire their own and their neighbors' products and
possessions, that they had seen many times before in their neighbors'
homes and fields. They visited on the street corners. They tramped up
and down past the booths. They yelled themselves hoarse at the games and
entertainments, and in the intoxication of their pleasures bought ice
cream, chicken dinners and various other things of the churches, and much
goods of the merchants who promoted the fair.
The Doctor was up that day at least a full hour before his regular time.
At breakfast Martha looked him over suspiciously, and when he folded his
napkin after eating only half his customary meal she remarked dryly,
"It's three hours yet till train time, Doctor."
Without answer the Doctor went out on the porch.
Already the country people, dressed in their holiday garb, bright-faced,
eager for the long looked for pleasures, were coming in for the fair.
Many of them catching sight of the physician hailed him gaily, shouting
good natured remarks in addition to their salutations, and laughing
loudly at whatever he replied.
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