The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1900-10-12

Ing winter board with cleatS on
either side is laid across the wagon
box, cushioned with a buffalo robe,
and offered as a seat to the boys, for
cider making without children would
be an anomaly.
And that ride TO the mill! The dis
tant forest has changed from deep
green to crimson and brown. The
hedgerows are swaying slightly and
dropping leaves with every motion.
The oak trees by the roadside have
painted their foliage a rich wine color,
and the hickory that stands on the
Line fence row" sends down shelled
nuts as the wagon passes. Hazel bushes
hold up great handfuls or brown treas
ures in wide open husks and tempt the
boys To desert the apple laden wagon
for raid OH the thin shelled meats.
Squirrels are holder. FrOsts have warn
ed them of cheerless days when the
| imprOvident must suffer, and they
scamper along the brown top rails of
the fences with pouches full OF provi-
sions. Weeds have granted u truce
and ceased growing and stand with
dropping head. as IL regretting the
work they gave the husbandman. Corn
is maturing. Its tassels have lost their
luster and watt withered blossoms to
the soft, warm ground. The blades
have caught the blighting frost and
bend their broad. velvetv surface in
sheer regret. Through the long aisles
Of the cOrnfield vagrant breezes stray,
81, T,II 81,
hum of homage and rustic Of re-
spectful applause that are heard by
the boys on the wagon.
The roads are level and hard and
smooth; the dust is heavy and does not
rise. The air is clear as an ocean cav
ern, and sounds from the wood drift
across the brown fields. mellOwed but
audible. and over all swings the haze
of glorious Indian summer. Far away
banks OF blue smoke hide the outlines
OF the hills, and earth Is one mirage of
heaven.
Boys and bees are about the cider
press. The wagon draws up TO the
hopper. and the hired man scoops pip
pin and Seeding into the iron teeth Of
the mill. They use factory made mills
now with painted post and cast steel
gcarings. hut at the old fashioned
farm apples were crushed between
two great cylinders OF wood revolving
together by means of rude Oaken cogs
and turned deliberately by u pair Of
horses that had learned sobcrnesS in
the passage Of years. The pulp fell in
a vat and was shOvclcd from there into
a cone held in place by long witheS Of
rye straw. No one could build a
cheese" OF crushed apples like the old
farmer. and the white hair :hAt scant-
lily sheltered his brow was barred 10 the
breeze as he heuped up the apples high
er and higher. then lOUSened the pegs
in IN upright post AMI allowed the
weight of heightened beam To rest on
the cone he had fashioned. Cider came
with rush from the broad board bot
tom and Spurtcd in little streams from
creVices in the rye. II was guided into
barrels with tunnels of wood. growing
clearer az the long sweep of the lever
nC AIRED the ground and filling To safety
the bcNicS of bees and great bluebUttle
flies that followed its reccding edge.
The mill is usually crowded. Happy
the boy whose chance OF waiting Is
greatest. He revels long afternoon !
in quantities Of sweet cider that would |
be death warrant 10 man. eats
turnover pies. refusing bread and apple |
butter. and chaSes his fellow through |
the strange harms and over the fresh |
and fragrant hay. He hears the sum |
mons To 20 ut last. and the short day is |
ended. He mounts To his wagOn-now
empty save for the heavy barrclS-and |
rides home through the gathering |
twilight.
Cider making time is the harbinger |
OF winter. The rippning corn is aSsal- |
ed by the men. The stalks are severed |
with great blades Of steel and bound |
together in shocks whose generous |
girth is their only warrant of stability. |
Great fields of maize that stood like |
an army of wealth hearers IN open |
rank have been maSSed in solid squares. |
a little later the frOStS have hardened |
the corn. and the wagon is driven into |
the field and sent down one row, while /
on either side laborS Il man huSkines /
the ears in friendly rivalry Of specd /
and leaving the wight un the broken
down row la catch MP if hc can.