Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-11-03

THE HUSKING.


Good old days of the pioneer life; when the
habits of the people were yet homespun and hon.
est. and the wayfarer, dreaming not of decep-
ton, was sure of hearty welcome from the in
habitants
In the city man is not free: the moment he
touches the frontier of the logcabint the restraint
falls and he is himself. But if he wishes to
know the genuine border of freedom, and lire
it, he must be newer of the Titan, himself
a bona Jide sinew, to try and rough it through.
The amusement Of the city and the country
are entirely adverse to each other. The former
are constantly fluctuating, the latter never
They were sterotyped at the settlement of the
country, rough, joyous, innocent paslimes, and
so they are kept by the border life, and will be,
till the last log-hut is built, and the last falow
cleared
Logging-bees, apple-cuts, huskings, shooting
matches, and hunts, are the pride Of the back.
woodsmen. And all these occur in the glorious
season of mild days, long nights and moonlight
evenings, when the harvest is gathered, and the
fruit waits in store the occasion. All these
have their attractions but the most
priced is that enjoyed by the huskers. Thanks
to the early settler; the bulk of the people were
Graded in the honest simplicity of these times,
and we are yet part and parcel of the good
old days. Here in this early rustic life is nur-
tured the liberty of the country, and the inAu.
ence of the early yeoman is not limited by the
oceans that bound the continent-freedom's le-
brawny arm Of the American will
derness is raised the tomahawk has vanished
before it; the sword of the foreign invader has
been broken by it and the Old Worlds dynas-
Ties tremble with i'll ease at the sight of the phe-
The world S destiny is in the hands Of the rus
tic backwoodsman; (be not shocked dear read
er) his axe has severed the despot's chain, the
log-cabin is dsplacing his palace. Why is it (!
The sincere life is here developed, such as nature
prompts and chershes and what is done, is
fathers, are the actors the rest are not of the
genius of the country they are outsiders, and be-
long elsewhere.
The city has its parties of pleasure. What is
their object! Ostensibly amusements. But too
often are they made the means of carrying out
some evil policy, or vicious motive. They are
always cloaked with hypocrisy. But in the ear
ly amusements, the real object, and that which
suggested itself was always the coup
ling of innocent pleasures with industry. Here
friendships, deeper than friendship, were con-
tracted; promises made not to be broken; and
a feeling of goodwill cultivated in emulation.
Well, if the rough men of a new country are
the tosterers of liberty, which is to make the
world free, let me shake the hand of fellowship
with them. | shall do it frankly and then how
frankly will it be returned Ahypocrite would
be oused from their society as though he were
an enemy. But the reader is waiting for the
huskng. All, what "reminiscences come crowd
ing up at the thought of the old pastme!
If the reader has kept alive the spark, caught
by actual participation in these gatherings, as
they were formerly understood, he will know
now to lament with one of the same experience
he disappearance of what seemed sine qua non
n the autumn merry. .makings. We have husk-
ngs, but what affairs are they! A libel on the
name.
If one wishes to engage in an old-fashioned
as our forefathers and mothers, the
ads and lasses, enjoyed it, he may, thanks to
good old habits, still engage in it. But he must
20 to a new country. The genuine is here a
one to be found, where both sexes young and
I'D participate.
The husking takes place on those long, mild
evenings in October when the moon is shining
brighter, Gf the Indian summer comes early)
ooks from the southern hemisphere with soft
ed beam, that makes so delightful the Autumn
hight. The moon! who ever forgets the pro-
lie of her old familiar disc? Her light is not
90 bright, or too dim; it is the nights twilight.
The time selected for the occasion is, if possi-
lie, when the moon is full. The summer heat
,aving fled, the evenings at this season are cool
Ind pleasant. The news of gathering is not
by "card." 1t is only necessary
hat the host secure the corn, and conclude up
On the time. The word goes forth, as if by Sc
ret telegraph, from clearing to clearing, till it
has spread through the whole fraternity of
hearts within the prescribed circuit.