Apple Dowdy

1/2 loaf of stale bread
8 large tart apples
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup cold water
2 tablespoons butter

Cut the bread in thin slices and pare off the crusts. Butter each slice. Lay them in a buttered baking dish until it is neatly lined. Add the apples, pared and sliced, the sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and pour the water over all. Cover the top with bread, buttered side up. Bake in a slow oven (250 degrees F) for 1 hour. Serve hot with liquid or hard sauce.