Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-02-14
Child Life Fifty Years AgO-The Cider
MiH and It's Lesson

1t was early October. Every hilltop
seemed afiame, ,as the crowded naples and
beeches shook out their banners of GRIM
son and gold. The sun had drawn gauzy
veil over his face and seemed half asleep,
as he looked dreamily down into the
hazy atmosphere.
A number of privileged children, who
had been kept few weeks at the ''sub-
scription school, ?" were just let loose and
were intent on merry-malIng; some were
off for the nearest woods, to gather the
falling beech-nuts; the boys must work
as well as play, so they were having a
clumsy game of football, with the golden
pumpkins scattered over the cornfield,
rolling them into heaps; some girls must
pick up the windfalls in the apple orchard,
and fill the standing cart, to be ready fo1
the cider-mill. But whether play OF
work, to healthy, hardy children it was
all cheerful excitement, no drudgery.
was intent on frolic. So hand-in-
hand with a little girl of my own age,
each swinging with the other hand a
gingham sunbonnet, we ran down the hill
in the ample kitchen beside my watchfu1
mother, eagerly asking if I might 60
home with l., go to her fathers cider
mill, and stay all night with her. 1t was
privilege [ hardly dared expect. A
shade of doubt on my mothers face soon
gave place to CHEEKY smile, and the Gov
eted es'' was said. Only waiting to see
that my face and hands were clean, and
the soiled apron replaced by fresh ging-
ham one, we were bidden, ''Run on, for
the sun is getting low
That half-mile run in the face of the
red-eyed sun, how we'll do remember it:
see the geese starting from the brook
and stretching out their long necks after
us; I hear again their hiss, which always
half-frightened me. see the shoemaker's
shop close by the roadside, with its long
low window leaving in full view the peer
ing face, leather apron, and heavy lap
stone of the busy shoemaker.
The cider-mill was reached just as the
tired horse was loosed from the heavy
shaft he had been dragging round and
round all day. There stood the great val
full of the foaming sweet cider, the juice
still oozing out of the not very dainty
mass under the clogged press. 1t did moi
take long to pick out the smooth, whole
straws and station ourselves so that, one
end of the straw in the vat and the other
between eager lips, we could sip away a
our leisure. Chatting and slipping, to III
it seemed the nectar of the gods.
When we could scarcely swallow more
we would run to look at the great pile o
apples in the corner of the low, broaC
mill, then try bigger straw.
Falling little in our zest, we ran rounC
to the farmyard to see the pet calf, nov
grown out of its babyhood, SO that w
dared not try to pat it, or watch the hiret
man as his skillfu1 milking caused tn
big pail to froth over. Then we slipped
little more-it was so sweet-tiII the full
faced moon looked down upon us and tn
little stars peeped out, wondering if W
would never be through.
Increasing darkness drove US to tn
substantial farmhouse where we droppe
on to the long wooden "settle' in tn
; kitchen to rest until we should be calle
to supper. In those simple days children
suppers were easily prepared. The bow
ofmilk, with the plate of new rye bread, G
perchance, some Boston crackers, genel
ally answered for the best; but to-nigf
J., was added a saucer of tempting hone!
Just gathered by E'little busy bee'' frol
n the late clover-field behind the house,
n We ate, only feeling that it was nectar i
g another form. Soon sleep overpowere
n us, and for a time we were in blessed III
S consciousness. Then abused nature b
s. gan to demand her penalty, and we pa
it in full. At later hour came restorir
= sleep; morning found me at least with OF
lesson written in my stomach as well
in head and heart-total abstinence, no
.. and forever, from cider.
s have never felt the lesson too dear
= learned. In later life, as have thread,
the alleys of the crowded city and ha'
seen staggering, sickened men and W
to men, falling in stupid inconsistencies
se have wished they might as easily lear
c. through one night of suffering, the le
son of total abstinence from all intoxicf
ing drinks.
A bill is now before the Ohio Sens
making silver legal tender in the Stai
regardless of the action of Congress.
Democratic Congressman are mu