Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-23
HusKING PARTY.

tors. Talk as we may Of the CAV
masquerade, and the fashionable bali,
where beauty, and elegance, and refne-
3ment float down the dance, to the soft
music, like the lovely creations Of a
dream the embodied spiritsof Joy and
light, and music,-who is there that
Twill not turn longing and linger-
ing glance uponthesimple amusements
iof other times-when pastine went
hand in hand with usefulness! We
know that these may, at first view APP
lpear rude and forbidding thatthe sem
isibilities Of the fashionables Of the pres
lent generation would be shocked at the
bare idea Of Quilting frolic and APP
1 pie PAIRING, or a Husking Party. The
bright evenings Of autumn, when the
harvest moon is among the stars and
1.-THE hills, and the old forest trees are
|brighteninginits beautiful illumination.
la group Of happy and kind-hearted
beings, Of all ages and sexes, from the
fair young girl to the grey-haired old
man, are assembled around the fruits of
their neighbors industry-the long and
heavy pile Of Indian-corn, gathered
from the field, with its covering ofhusks.
The whole length Of the ample barn
floor is lined with huskers, who, after
a few preliminary Jokes, betake them
selves zealously to their task.
| The presence of females in such
group, will no doubt be objected to.
But wherefore?-Ask the grey haired
yeoman, if in the days ofhis boyhood,
| it was deemed improper, or inconsist-
ent with the dignity and delicacy of
their character, for his female compan-
ions to join their brothers and their
|neighbors in all evening amusement Of
their nature. They would smile at
| the idea of improperly. The assem-
IDLY isnotone ofstrangers, where doubt
and apprehension must seal every lip,
and fetter every ovement,but of those
who have lived together as children of
one family, and have met each other
at all times and all places-in the kitch-
en-, or in the parlor-the field or the
workshop, with the same frank smile
of welcome. And, pray, where is the
harm of mirth and pleasantay, temper
ed as they are here, with pure, unstu-
died, natural modesty! There can be
none. The parties have not mingled
in the hollow world, and learned to
tamper with the hearts best feelings,
and to curl the lip at sincerity, and be-
tray, without a scrupie, the confidence
/ Of the artless and unsuspecting.
The girl who seats herself at the
husking, and the lively, frank-hearted
youth beside her, have no sentimental
and novel-borrowed nonsense to ex-
change, they haveneverread and signed
over the pernicious pages Of Moore
and Byron, or looked on unblushingly
at an immodest theatrical representa-
ton. On the contrary, they have
drawn their beautiful ideas of love aud
friendship from the praiseworthy ex-
amples and maxims Of their ancestors;
and consequently. the vicissitudes of
|life-its alternate light and shadow,
are met without that bitter disappoint-
ment which follows so closely upon
the dreams of eromantic and idle Wis
ionary.
Ah-there is mirth, life and jollity
in your genuine husking party. The
huskers ply their tongues as busily as
their hands, while engaged in their
pleasant task. Stories are related
songs are sung Jokes are passed land
soft words spoken. Imagine to your
self, reader, the sight Of long row Of
fine, healthy-looking girls, with glow
ing countenances, and bright eyes, and
sweet smile. Depend upon it, there is
nothing like a sensible, good-natured
romp OF country giro who will
Iplay hide and seek and blind mans
buff with you, but who would cuff
your ears in indignation, should you
address her in language which more
refined and fashionable aides would
listen to with complacence. During
the process ofhusking, if red ear Of
corn is found by one Of the ladies, she
is liable to receive kiss from some of
the company. She of course hands
the ear to her favorite beau, who rea-
Oily understand the signal, and acts
accordingly. The red cheek is sure
to be redder before he leavesit.
After the task is finished, the COM
|pany adjourn to the house supper
I is provided and after partaking Of it,
theparties separate for their respective
homes-the girls being all provided