The Apple-faced Doll tripped forward in the greatest of haste.

“I shall sit while I talk,” she said, seating herself and smoothing out her snowy apron. “I have a long story to tell which, I am sure, you will all love.”

“A story! A story!” rippled through the audience, as the dolls crept close to the speaker, and with clasped hands awaited this treat.

Little Allspice placed herself in the rosy-cheeked maiden’s lap, and a pretty picture it was to see her upturned face in the golden gleam of the dancing flames.

“Well,” began the maid with the jolly smile, “the apple is to be found most everywhere in mild climates. It first came from Avella, a town in Campania, right there.” As she spoke she pointed with a long pointer standing near by, to a place in Italy.

“It was introduced into America from England in 1629 by the Governor of Massachusetts Bay.

“There are many varieties of apples, sweet and sour, hard and soft, eating and cooking apples.

“The cider in the mincemeat is made from the juice of the apples. They are crushed in a cider mill and the juice is strained. Some apples would delight a child’s heart with their beautiful colours of gold and crimson, and some grow to an enormous size.