Practical Orcharding On Rough Lands, 281 



SPECKED APPLES. 



^'Old farmer Grump, with thrifty care, 



Had safely stored away 

 For winter use his apple crop — 



Enough to last till May. 



'We'll not begin/ said Farmer Grump, 



'To eat 'em yet awhile; 

 They've got to last the winter through — 



There's none too big a pile.' 



And so they lay *neath lock and key, 



Till the ripest showed decay; 

 *Begin on 'em,' then the farmer said, 



'Begin on 'em right away. 



'We'll kinder sort them out/ said he, 



'And use for sass the wust, 

 And everyone who goes for 'em 



Must take the specked ones fust.' 



And so they used the specked ones first, 



As farmer Grump had said, 

 But though they ate some every day 



The specked ones kept ahead. 



And they not only ate them first, 



But all the winter through, 

 If that's their way, I've naught to say, 



And naught Fm sure have you. 



Now, Farmer Hearty also had 



A well-filled apple bin, 

 But as he stored them in he said, 



'Now, listen. We'll begin 



To eat the best of 'em right oflF, 



And keep on so each day, 

 For some of 'em will not keep long, 



Though some will last till May/ 



