Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-02-28
NUMBER 80.
IIUsKING PARTY.

Farewell! the pleasant huskng nlght--ts merry after
When Indian pudding smok'd beside the giant pot Of
When ladies' joined the social band. nor once affected
But gave pretty cheek kiss, for every crlmson'd
We like TO recur occasionally to the Gus.
toms and pastimes of our ancestors. Talk
as we may Of the gay masquerade, end G
fashionable ball, where beauty and elegance.
and refinement float down the dance, to the
soft music like the lovely creations of the
dream-the embodied spirits Of Joy and
light, and music-who is there that will not
turn longing and lingering glance upon
the simple ariusenients of other times
when pastime went hand in hand with use-
fulness We know that these may at first
view, appear rude and forbidding-that tho
sensibties ofthe fashionable of the present
saes Sn gopa Ss s4Sf9xa q hs ssss idea
a husking party.
The husking party takes place in those
long, bright evenings of autumn, when the
harves's moon is up among the stars, and
the streams and the hills, and the old forest
trees arc Frightening in its beautiful lumi.
nation. A group Of happy and kind.heart-
ed beings, of all ages and sexes, from the
fair young girl to the grayhaired old man,
are assembled around the fruits of their
neighbours industry--thc long and heavy
pile Of Indian corn, gathered from the field
with its covering Of husks. The whole
length of the ample barn floor is lined with
huskers, who, after few preliminary jokes,
betake themselves zealously to their task.
The presence Of females in such group
will no doubt be objected to. But where
fore? Ask the grayhaired yeonion, if, in
the days of their boyhood, it was deemed
improper, or inconsistent with the dignity
and dolicacy Of their character, for their fe.
male companions to join their brothers and
their neighbors, in an evenings amusement
Of this nature. They would smile at the
idea of impr opriefy. The assembly is not
one of strangers, where doubt and appre.
henson must seal every lip, and fetter eve-
ry movement, but those who have lived to.
gether as children of one family, and have
met each other at all timcs-and at all pla.
ces-in the kitchen 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 pleasantly, tempered as
they are here with pure unstudied natural
modesty! There can be none. The par.
! ties have not mingled in the hollow world,
and learned to tamper with the hearts best
feelings, to curl the lip at sincerity, and be.
tray without scruple, the confidence of tho
artess and unsupported. The girl who seats
herself at the husking, and the lively frank
hearted youth beside her have no sentimen.
tai and borrowed nonsense, TO exchange
they have never read and sighed over tho
pernicious pages of Moore and Byron, or
looked unblushingly at an immodest theat-
rical representation. On the contrary they
have drawn their beautiful ideas of love and
friendship from the praiseworthy examples
and maxims of their ancestors, and conse-
| quently, the vicissitudcs Of life-its alternate
| light and shadow, are met without that bit.
ter disappointment which follows so closely
upon the dreams of the romantic and idle
visionary.
All there is nilrth, life and jollity in your
genuine husking party. The huskers ply
their tongues as busily as their hands, while
engaged in the pleasant task. Stories are
related-songs are sung-jokes are passed
and soft words spoken. Imagine to
yourself reader, the sight of a long row of
fine, healthy looking girls with glowing
countenances, and bright eyes and sweet
smiles. Depend upon it, there is nothing
like sensible good natured romp Of
country girl-one who will play 'hide and
SEEK and blind mans buff with you, bat
would cuff your ears in indgnsss should
you address her in language Win moro
refined ard fashionable ladies would listen
to with complaisance. During the process
of husking, if red ear of corn is found by
any 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 readily understands the signal, and
acts accordingly. The red cheek is sure
to be great deal redder before he leaves
it.
After the task is finished, the company
adjourn to the house, supper is provided,
and after partaking of it, the parties separate
for their respective homes, the girls being
all provided with fellows, to accompany
them. But the genuine parties, we grieve
TO say, are now rarely heard Of. They have
lost the spirit which enlivened them--a
false refinement has broken in upon their
pleasant amusement and bright eyes
and fair hands no longer figure at a Husk-
ing.