, 1844-05-25
From the 81. Louis Transcript.
The Husking PARTY.
Farewell the Jolly husking night

Nhen indian pudding smoked bes.dc
A giant pot Of beans. J. C WHITTIER.
We like to recur occasionally to
the customs and paStimeS Of our an
ceStors. Talk rs we may of the CAV
masquerade, and the fashionable ball,
where beauty and elegance and refine
ment float down the dance to the soft
music like the lovely creations Of Il
dream-the embodied spirits Of iov.
and light, and music-who is there
that will not turn a longing and Il
lingering glance upon the simp'e a.
mUsementS OF other times-when pas
times went hand IN hand with useful
ness. We know that these nav. at
first view, appear rude and f~orbidding
that the senSibiIitieS OF the fashion
abIes OF the present generation would
tie shocked al the bare idea of n quilt
inc froIic, an apple pairing. or 4 husk-
Ing party.
The husking party takes place n
those long bright evenings of autumn.
when the harvest moon i up among
the stars, and tie streams and the
hills and the old forest trees bright
CHING in It's beautiful illumination. 4
group of happy kind hearted beings
of all ages and sexes. from the far
young girl down to the haired
old man. are assembled around the
fruits of their neighbour. industry
the long and heavy piles of Indian
corn, gathered from The field with its
covering Of huSis. The whole length
Il the ample barn floor is lined with
The huskrrs. Who. after Il few prelim-
i"arv jokes. betake themselves zeal
ouS,v 10 their task.
The presence Of females in euch .
group will. no doubt. 10 objected t..
But wherefore? AK the crev-haired
woman il. in the DAYS oC his bovhood
it was deemed improper. or inronsist.
ent with the divinity and delicacv Of
their character. tor his female CON
ranInns 10 JON the'r brothers and
their neighborS in IN evenings =
mrSemcnt OF this nature. They
wonId sraiIe at the improprieiv. The
assembly is not one Of strangers.
where doubt and apprehension seal
every liz and fetter every movement.
Int those who have lived together IS
children Of ore family. and have net
each other II all times. md all Places
m the kitchen or in the rarlor. tho
Fl ii or workshop. withrhe same frank
smle Of welcome. And pray where
i the harm of mI'th and pl-asantrv.
t'mTered ~ hey are here with rnrc.
un>iudied and natural mndestv?Thcre
can he none. Tie parties have no.
mingled in TIE hollow worll. and
Termed 10 tanner with the hearts
best feelInG. to curl the lip n SINGER
Nv.and he'rav without Il scruFlc. the
confidence Of the a~r'IcsS and unsus
rprlinC. The girl who seats herself.
ut Il c LUskIEg, and Tie lively frank
hearted vouh beside her have no
sentimcntaI.novsi borrow ei nonsense
to exchange. They ave never read
and sighed over TIE pcInicionz p~Ces
81. Moore ana Hrron or lnnkod or
nnb'ushinCiy At III im'noies' th-a,ri.
cal representation. On tho coatr--I
~. they have drawn their beautiful
ideas Of love and friendship from the
rralseworihy cxamp!es and r.azius
OF their ancestors; and consequently .
the vicisitudcs Of life--irs alternate
lights and shadows. are net without
that bitter disappointment which fol-
lows 50 closely upon the dreams of
the romantic and idle ~visionarv.
Ah--thrre is mirfh. life. iollitv. in
Your genuine hnekinc party, The
huskers ply their tongues rs husiIv
as their hands, while engaged in their
pleasant task. Stories are related.
songs are sung, Jokes are passed. and
soft words are spoken. Imagine to
yourself. reader, the sight 81 4 long
row Of fine healthy looking girls. with
glowing countcnanccs and bright
eyes, and sweet smiles. Depend up
on il. there is nothing Ike 4 sensible.
good naiured romp of a country cir!
one who will play 'hidc and seek"
and blind mans buff" with you. but
who would cuff your cars in inGigna-
ton should you address her in Ian
guage which more refined ladies
would listen to with compIaiSance.-
During the process of husking. if a
redear Of corn is found by any Of the
ladies', she is liable to receive n kiss
from one of the company. She, of
course, hands the ear 10 her favorirc !
beau. who readily understands the
signal. and acts accordingly. The
red cheek is sure to be redder before
lie leaves il. After the task is finish