Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-10-30
miscellaneous.
THE RED EAR:
OR, THE HUSKlNG FROLlC,
By 7. s. ARTHUR.


In the cities, towns, nor villages. Overwecn
ing seif.rcspect has no, come in to ietcr the
motions of the body, nor TO smother the
Iaugh in its free utterance. Feeling aud ac-
Rior are in close relationship. YOU come
nearer TO nature, untraininelcd by custom,
and unaffected by art.
A merrymakng par crceiieace is n New
England huskng iiolic. Tie iiIshing irolc
at the South is different afiair altogether
There, 1t is congregation OF ncgrors from
the various plantaliuns noar nj hand, who,
while they work, make the air vocal almost
for miles around with their rude melodies. n
few Of which have been rendered fanliiinr to
ears polite by the Scrcnadcrs" wllo have so
highly amused the public during the past
two or three years. But, Mt the North, the
"husking," like the "qniiins.', draws to-
geiher the gentle naitlcms aud loving swains
of n neighborlood, who meet to culny them
selves III their own why. Aud such enjoy
ment as they have in Kind and degree, is not
to be met with every day. III i;lrmer times,
the " husking" was wilder affair than at
present. Siraight laced conve",ionaijy is
gradually finding its way hcyond the city lin
Its, and binding the free spirits of our conn
try maidens. They meet oltensr with the
city folks, gradually falling more and more
into their habits as they pnrukc more and
more of their spirit and when they nssem-
ble for enjoyment, they check their impulses,
restrain their movements, md hush almost
into silence the merry laughter that SC, Is 10
leap forth like the singing waters of the
fountain. No; "hu kings" are not what
they were. lusiead of seeing on the ilircsll-
ing floor troop of young ncn and nlnileis,
stripping from the bright ears Of grain their
Ieafy covering, nmid laughter, music, and
minSlibg o! sweet voices, as Of old, mere
labor comes III too 0iten to perform the ser
vice, and silently and coldly does tie woi H.
Yet, here and there, u farmer, who cannot
forget the pleasant times when iie was ,o,ru,
sends forth his annual summons after tie
maize harvest is gathered, and then comes
inerrynnking for old and young that is cn-
joyed in a way never TO be forgotten.
Old Ephram Bradley was one of this
school. II his head grew white under the
falling SHOWS of many winters, the grass was
fresh aud green, and the flowers ever bloom
ing OH his heart. With him The annual
"huskiug" was never omitted. Ii was, like
Christmas and Thanksgiving, almost II sa-
cred thing, half involving sin in its omis
sion.
Kate Alay!iower, wild ronip of n girl
from Bosoil--at least some in the city re-
garded her as such--was spending Il few
weeks in D, WHEN invitations came 10
attend a husking party at Ephrain Brad!ey's.
The old man lived some three miles fiom
the village. Kate had heard about li,Isking
parties, and her young spirits leape,l up when
the announcement was made that one was
TO be held in the neighhorhood, nnd that she
was invited TO he present. 1t was n irolic
that, from all she had heard, would Just suit
her temperament, aud she set Oft when the
time came, to make one of party, in the
mcrriesi possible mood.
Evening had closed in on the arrival of
the party from D, who quickly joined
some score or two OF young people in n
large kitchen, where lay henprd up in the
centre huge pile of Indian corn.
"All that to be husked: z" whispered Kate
as she entered tile room.
30, yes; all that and more, perhaps" was
the smiling reply. ave have come 10 work,
you know"
-"Now, gals" said old Mr.. Bradley, who
stood looking on MS tie young folks gathered,
with bright faces, around the golden grain
now for good old fashioned time. If
there is not n half n dozen weddings between
this and Christmas, shall say there is no
virtue in red ears"
As he ceased, down dropped, amid gny
voice and laughter, the " hole company upon
the floor in nl, graceful and ungracctul posi-
tions, in circle aronnd the pile of corr
Kate alone remnined standing. for the move
ment was so sudden that she could not nc
with il.
Here's room for you. Kate" cried one o
the girls who had come with her, making
place by her side and down sank Late
feeling for ie FIRST time lit,e awkward an,
confused. Beside her WAS n stout, couuIr
youth, whose face WAS all rcrI,nent, an,
whose eyes were dancing with anticipate,
pleasure. The city girl eyed his rough brow
hands, coarse garments, and unpublished face
with slight feeling of repulaion, and Dire,
little from him towards her friend.
30, plenty of roon,," said he, turnin
broadly around and addressing her with
familiar leer,-" The tighter we ft in ih
better. Lay tic brands close il. YOU want
good fire."
Kate could not help laughing at this. a
she laughed, he added
All free aud easy here" He had grasp
ed an ear of corn, and was already st,irpin
down the husk. "A red car ty jngo" sud
denly burst from his lips, in II tone ot ,r
uniph; and, rs lie spoke, lie sprang towards
or rather upon Kate, with ilie grace of .
young bear, and kissed her with smack
that might have been heard dozen rooms oi
Ere she had Time to reroyrr from her s,l
prise, and, it must I've admitted, indignation
occasioned by this unexpected assault mpo
her lips, the hero OF tie first "red ear" WI
half around the circle OF struggling cir
kissing both righ, and left with n skill nj
lieariiness that nwoke shouts of npplau
from the young "lt!ers" mho cnvied Il
good fortune.
This was new phase in tie life Of Kat
She had heard Of kissing as an amuscne
among young folks, and had often thoug
shat the custom was too good 10 become o
solete; hut practical view, and n person
participation like this, was Thing that h
tmaginn,ion had, in none of lis vagaric
conceived. An old-ihshioned, slraig ighi. bsc
ed, flag -botionied chair stood near, and u