THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE APPLE AND PEAR. 
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the Hebrew renders, “ with a good hoarie head.” It was denounced as an heavy judgment on Elies 
posterity, that there should never be any old man in his house. God himself describing the flourish¬ 
ing estate of his people makes the blessing of long life the best part of the descrip C0n by saying, 
that none should go from them or thence an infant of dayes, Esay lxv. 20, w Junms affirms, tarn 
ad infantulum quam ad senem referatur illad, y l this belongs to infants as well as old men, for none 
of them shall die y" s ’ or in infants estate, neither shall any old man dep 1 until he hath fulfilled 
his dayes : till he hath liv’d as long as nature will p rmtt ; neither is it a blessing onely but a 
beauty, soo well does a grey head become old men, Prov. xx. 29. Ye crown of hoary hairs which 
God’s finger setts on their heads, carrieth more majesty and venera con w th it in all places y n a 
crown of gold.” 
“ This parish, wherein Syder is plentifull, hath, and doth afford many people, that have, and 
do enjoy this blessing of long life : neither are the aged here bedridden or decrepit as elsewhere, but 
for the most p te lively and vigorous ; next to God, wee ascribe it to our flourishing Orchards, which 
are not onely the ornamet but pride of our countrey, and that in a double respect, 1st that the 
bloomed trees in Spring do not onely sweeten but purifey y c ambient air, as Mr. Beal observes in 
Heref. Orchards, p. 8. Next, that they yield us plenty of rich and winy liquors, w ch long 
experience hath taught do conduce very much to the constant health and long lives of our inhabitants, 
the Cottagers, as well as y e wealthier using for the most part little other liquors in their families, 
than restorative sider. Their ordinary course among their serv ts is, to breakfast, and sup with 
toast and cyder through the whole Lent, and the same dyet in the neighbourhood continues on 
Fasting dayes all the yeer after ; which heightens their appetites, and creates in them durable 
strength to labour.” 
“ Sider is their physick and our vessels their apothecaries shops.” 
The same Vicar also thus sings :— 
“An Encomion on Sider, 1677.” 
Of some seventy lines in length, which the following short extracts must suffice :— 
% * * 
“ The Hesperides bragg of golden apples, wee 
Have equal fruit, not fenc’d, but dragon free,” 
* # * 
“ Vin de Paris , Via d’ Orleans, Vin Sharoon , 
“ With all the Gallick wines are not so boone 
“ As hearty Sider, p strong son of wood 
“ In fullest tydes refines and purges blood.” 
% * *• 
“ Death slowly shall life’s cittadel invade, 
“ A draught of this bedulls his scythe and spade.” 
# * * 
Then the following examples of longevity are given in these words:— 
A. Dom. 1657—James Badam of this Parish of one hundred and five yeers of age and upwards: was so vigorous 
that the week before he died, he plowed most part of the day in the heat of Summer without any covering on his head. 
