Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites

the Appl

e fire under the big copper kettle, to help with the ceaseless stirring with a long-handled stirrer. She thrilled

him as he carried the heavy copper kettle down to the yard. Then she made the same trip with M

diness for the fire. She watched Millie scour the great copper kettle until its interior shone, then it was lifted on the tripod, the cider poured

Aunt Rebecca says that if you cook apple butter in the up-sign of the almanac it boi

n the bottom," said Amand

itz are in. That's the time the work

her--"this here's awful much fun! I wis

Then you'll not like it so well. Why, Mrs. Hershey was tellin' me last week how mad her girls get still if the apple butter's got to be boiled in the hind

eist l

e at the hired girl, "I guess Hershey'

his spoilin' you. You don't think I'd stand in the hot sun and stir apple bu

you! Didn't you spend almost your whole Chr

! Let me be, now, I got

n take it easy while they wait their turn. Jiminy Christmas, guess we'll have a regular party to-day. All of us are in it, and Aunt Rebecca's comin', and Ly

ng wooden stirrer, with a handle ten feet long, was used, the big handle per

l under way when Au

must do it all around the bottom of the kettle or the butter'll burn fast till it's done.

Martin Landis and the baby. Now we'll have some fun!" He pointed to the toad, wher

from the fire," o

the newcomers and soon came back joined by

ocking smiles, "that Martin wou

. His frank, serious face could at times assume the look of a man of ripened experience. At Lyman's words it burned scarlet

boy, who turned disdainfully away and walked to A

" she said in a

." The little tot ran to her outstretched arms and was soon laughin

ce Mom keeps the baby we'll roast

ripe apples were soon encased in thick layers of

o' you had breakfast

better because they're wrapped in mud. I u

l get burned yet with thei

gingham dress was ready fuel for the fire. Suddenly a streak of flame leaped up the hem of it. Aunt Rebecca screamed. Lyman cried wildly, "Where's some water?" But bef

of his younger sisters and brothers had

ngly, "you're not hurt. Just

burned, I guess

the few red marks on her fingers as he often kissed the bump

s hand fluttere

e boy. "Why," he stammered, "I didn't mean--I gue

See, it ain't hurt bad at all. But, Martin, you scared me when you threw me in t

nd the color crept back to her cheeks ag

eringly, "now I supp

my life, and I ain't forgettin' it neither." Then she sat

man. "You went and spoiled it by catc

Rebecca, "mebbe now you'll k

ugar into the boiling mass. She even missed the customary thrill as some of the odorous contents of the kettle were tested and the verdict came, "It's done!" The thrills of apple-butter boiling were as nothing to her now

p her dress, the scorching touch on her hand was obliterated fro

r patchwork quilt. "It was just like the stories we read about

her had called it, and read those lovely lines that Amanda remembered and

was lik