Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-11-03
Gbe Storp GtIItr.
THE RED EAR;
Or. The Husking FroliC.

In the rural districts, the merry-makings
have natural heartiness about them never
seen in cities, towns, nor villages. Overween-
ing selfrespect has not come in to fetter the
motions of the body, nor to smother the laugh
in its free utterance. Feeling and action are
in close relationship. You come nearer to
nature, untrammeled by custom and unaffected
by art.
A merfy-making, par eroellence, is a New
England husking froIic. The husking frolic
at the South is different affair altogether
There it is a congregation ofnegroes from the
various plantations near at hand, who, while
they work, make the air vocal almost for
miles around with their rude melodies, 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 husk-
ing,' like the quilting draws together the
gentle maidens and loving swains of neigh
borhood, who meet to enjoy themselves in
their own way And such enjoyment as they
have in kind and degree, is not to be met with
every day. In former times, the 'husking'
was wilder affair than at present Straight
laced conventionality is gradually finding its
way beyond the city limits, and binding the
free spirits of our country maidens. They
meet oftener with the 'city folks gradually
falling more and more into their habits as
they partake more and more of their spirit
and, when they assemble for enjoyment, they
check their impulses, restrain their move
ments, and hush almost into silence the merry
laughter that seeks TO leap forth like the sing
ing waters of the. fountain. No 'huskings'
are not what they were. Instead of seeing on
the threshing-foor troop of young men and
maidens, stripping from the bright ears of
grain their heavy coverings, amid laughter,
music, and the mingling of sweet voices, as of
old, mere labor comes in too often to per-
form the service, and silently and coldly does
its work. Yet, here and there a farmer, who
cannot forget the pleasant times when he was
young, sends forth his annual summons after
the maize harvest is gathered, and then comes
merry-making for old and young that is en-
joyed in a way never to be forgotten.
Old Ephraim Bradley was a man Of this
school If his head grew white under the
falling SHOWS of many winters, the grass was
fresh and green, and the flowers ever bloom
ing on his heart. With him, the annual
'husking' was never omitted. 1t was like
Christmas and Thanksgiving, almost sacred
thing half involving sin in the omission.
Kate Mayfower, a wild romp of girl from
BOston-at least some in the city regarded her
as such-was spending few weeks in D,
when invitations came to attend a husking par
ty at 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 in the neighbor-
hood, and that she was invited to be present.
1t was a frolic that, from all she had heard,
would just suit her temperament, and she set
off, when the time came, to make one of the
party, 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 the large
kitchen, where lay heaped up in the centre a
huge pile of Indian corn.
'All that to be husked q whispered Kate,
as she entered the room.
'Oh yes; all that, and more, perhaps,
was the smiling reply. 'We have come to
work, you know
Now, gals, said old Mr.. Bradley, who
stood looking on as the young folks gathered,
with bright faces, around the golden grain,
'now for good old-fashioned time. If there
are not half dozen weddings between this
and Christmas, | shall say there is no virtue
in red ears
AS he ceased, down dropped, amid gay
voices and laughter, the whole company upon
the floor, in all graceful and ungraceful posi-
tions, in a circle around the pile of corn
Kate alone remained standing, for the move
ment 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 a
place by her side; and down sank Kate, feel
ing, for the first time, little awkward and
confused. Beside her was stout, rough,
country youth, whose face was all merriment,
and whose eyes were dancing with anticipated
pleasure. The city girl eyed his rough,
brown hands, coarse garments, and unpublished
face, with a slight feeling of repulsion, and
drew little from him towards her friend.
Oh, plenty Of room, Miss! Plenty of
room,' said he, turning broadly around and
addressing her with familiar leer. The
tighter we fit in the better. Lay the brands
close, if you want good fire.
Kate could not help laughing at this. AS
she laughed, he added
sAll free and easy here He had grasped
an ear of corn, and was already stripping down
the husk "A red ear, by jingo,' suddenly
burst from his lips, in tone Of triumph and,
as he spoke, he sprang towards, or rather
upon Kate, with the grace of young bear,
and kissed her with ssmack' that might have
been heard dozen rooms off Ere she had
time to recover from the surprise, and, it must
be admitted, Indignation, occasioned by this
unexpected assault upon her lips, the hero of
the first 'red ear was half around the circle