St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, No 10, August 1878

In a picturesque Alpine village, the townspeople gather in the old hall at the burgomaster’s summons, eager to choose a gift for the grand Paris Universal Fair of 1867. After lively debate, a stout, rosy‑cheeked citizen proposes a cheese, and the council quickly amends the idea to a “royal big cheese” that will showcase their region’s finest dairy craft. The decision sparks a wave of patriotic enthusiasm, and every trade—carpenters, coopers, painters, and iron‑hoopers—convenes to build the massive press and vats needed for the undertaking.

Soon the valley hums with activity: dairymaids usher fresh milk from distant pastures, skilled hands measure rennet, and ten strong workers slice the curd with practiced precision. Linen weavers supply sturdy cloth for the pressing, while the whole community watches the curd transform under the grinding screw. As the cheese takes shape, the villagers prepare a celebratory procession, ready to parade their masterpiece through the streets before it embarks on its journey to the fair.