CHAPTER X 



Sweet Cider and ''Applesass^' 



HELLO, Jo! Been to the cider mill f" 

 ''Yep!" 



"Let's sample it." 



"Here's a dipperful." 



"How much did ye make?" 



"Three, an' a barrel o' sass." 



"I'll be comin' to see ye pretty often this 

 winter." 



Forty years ago one might have heard frag- 

 mentary conversations like the above, in the fall- 

 time, when two farmers met on the road or when 

 villagers hailed each other, but, alas, the cider 

 barrel and apple-butter crock or tub are not re- 

 posing in so many farm cellars now as in the good 

 old days. In earlier days, on the old-time farm, 

 when orchards were younger and apples more 

 plentiful, "applesass" — cider "applesass" — was 

 a standing line on the bill-of-fare in most farm- 

 houses. Sugar, gem jars and imported fruit were 

 not so plenteous then, when "applesass" held 

 sway. 



"applesass" while you wait 



After a generous store of sun-kissed apples had 

 been safely pitted or given lodgment in bins in 



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