The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-12-01
The Red Ear, or the IIusking Frolic
By T. $. ARTHUR.

natural heaTtlneSs about them, never seen IN toWnS
and yages. Overweening se'f respect has not
come in to fefter the m1iions of thu body, nor to
smother a free laugh in its utterance. Feeling
and action are in close relationship. You
nearer to nature, untrummeled by custom and un-
affected by art.
A merry making par e1cetlence is New Eng
land husking froic. The husking frolc at the
South, is different affair altogether. There it is
congregation of negroes from the ous panta
tons near at hnnd, who, while they work, make
the air vocal almost for miles around, with their
rude melodies, a few of which have been rendered
familiar to ears polite by the Serenaders who
have SO highly amused the public during the past
two or three years. But, at the North, the s'husk
ing" like the "quilting" draws together the gem
tie maidens and loving swains of neighborhood,
who meet to enjoy themselves in their own way.
And such enjoyment as they have, in kind and de-
gree. is not TO be met with every day. In former
times, the ssbusking" was n wilder affair than at
present. Straight faced couventionality is gradu-
ally finding its way beyond the city limits, aud bind
ing the free spirits of cur country maidens. They
meet ofener with the city folks, gradually falling
more and more into their habits, as they partake
more and more of their spirit; and, when they as
sembe for enjoyment, they check their impulses
restrain their movements, and hush almost into ST.
lence the merry laughter that seeks 10 leap forth
like the singing waters of the fountain. No
'Fhuskings not what they were. Instead of
seeing on the threshng- floor troop of young men
and maidens, stripping from the bright ears of grain
their leafy covering, amid the laughter, music and
mingling Of sweet voices, as Of old, mere labor
comes in too often to perform the SERVICE and ST.
leutly and coldly does the work. Y Ell here and
there, farmer, who cannot forget the pleasant
times when he was young, sends forth his annunI
summons, after the maize harvest is gathered, and
then comes merry-making for old and young. that
is enjoyed in a way never to be forgotten.
Old Ephraim Bradley was one of this school.
his head grew white under the filing SHOWS of
many winters, the grass was fresh and green, and
the flowers ever blooming on his heart. With him
the annual "husking" was never omitted 1t was.
like Christmas and Thanksgiving, amosta sacred
thing, half involving sin in its ON ssion
Kate Mayfower, wild romp of girl from Bos-
ton-at least some in the city regarded her as such
was spending a few weeks in D, when
invitations came to attend husking party ut
Ephraim Bradley's The old man lived some three
miles from the village. Kate had heard about
husking parties, and her young spirits leaped up
when the announcement was made that one was
to be held 10 the neighborhood, and that shs was
invited to be present 1t was Fl oc that, from all
she had heard, would just suit her temperament,
and she set off, when the time came. to make one
of f'asparty, in the merriest 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 large kitchen, where lay
heaped up 10 the center, huge pile of Indian
eorn.
"All that to be huskedl" whispered Kate, as she
entered the com
80. yes; all that and more perhaps" was The
smiling reply. We have come to work, you know"
SNOW. gals said old Mr. Bradley who stood
looking as The young folks gathered with bright
faces around the golden grain, now for good old
fashloned time, If there is not half dozen
weddings between this and Christmas, shall say
there is not much virtue in red ears"
AS be ceased, down dropped, amid gay voices and
laughter, the whole company upon the floor in all
graceful aud ungracefu positions, in circle around
the pile of corn. Kate alone remained standing.
for the movement was so sudden that she could not
act with it
"Here's room for you, Kate" cried one of the
girls who had come with her. making place I,y
ersde; and down sank Kate, feeling for the first
timea little awkward and confused. Beside her was
a stout country youth, whose face was all antc-
ipated pleasure. The city girl eyed his rough
brown hands, course garments, and unpublished face
witha slight feeling ofrepusion, and drew little
from him towards her friend.
30, plenty Of rooih," said he, turning broadly
around and addressing her with familiar leer.
1.-THE tighter we fit in, thebetter. Lay the brands
close ifyou want good fire."
Kate could not help laughing ut this AS she
laughed, he added:
.AH free and easy here" He had grasped an ear
of corn aud was already stripping down the husk
"a red eaf by jingo! suddenly burst from his lips
IN tone oftriumph, and as he spoke he sprang to-
wards or rather upon Kate, with the grace of n
young bear, and kissed her with smack that miobt
bave been heard dozen rooms off. Ere abe had
time to recover from her surprise, and. if must h.,
admitted Indignation, occasioned by this upcxnected
assault upon ber lips, the hero of the frat ..red
ear was nall around the circle of struggling o,ls
kissing both right and left with hearIiness tba,
awoke shouts ofappause from the youpo :. fslIero,
who enyied his good fortune.
That was new phrase in the life of Ko,o
She had heard ofkissing as anamusement anon,
young folks and had often thought that the custom
was too good to become obsolete; but prac,ica
Tiew' and personal participation like this was ,
thing that her imagination had in none of its vasa
yes conceived An old fashioned; straight -baeke,
asg- -bottomed chair stood near, and unwilling f
ssF,sRerselfa again upon the floor, Kate drew tha
e lhs circle, and seated herself close to the pil