1860 Oxford Night Caps

40

tkree slices of lemon, and a few lumps of loaf sugar rubbed on the peeling of a lemon, are introduced. Bottle tbis mixture, and in a few days it may be drank in a state of ejffervescence. Tbe "Wassail Bowl, or Wassail Cup, was formerly prepared in nearly tbe same way as at present, excepting that roasted apples, or crab apples, were introduced instead of toasted bread. And up to tbe present period in some parts of tbe kingdom, tbere are persons wbo keep up tbe ancient custom of regaling tbeir friends" and neigbbom's on Cbristmas-eve and Twelftb-eve with a Wassail Bowl, witb roasted apples floating in it, and wbicb is generally usbered in witb great ceremony. Sbakspere alludes to tbe "Wassail Bowl wben be says, in bis Mid summer Nigbt's Dream,

Sometiines lurk Iin a gossip's bowl, In very likeness of a roasted crab,

And when she drinks, against her lips I boh, And on her wither'd dewlap pour the ale.