Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-16
EVENING STAR.
THE HUSKIEG FRoLIC.

garlands of white pine, golden maple leaves,
| and red oak branches, that swept from the
| roof dOWnwards like tent. Butternut leaves
wreathed their clustering gold ameng the
dark-green hemlOck, while sumach cones with
hane-colored leaves, shot through the gor-
| geous forest branches. The rustic chand elicr
was In fall blaze, while now and then a can
de CLEANED out through the garlands, star
| ring them 10 the roof Still. the illumination
was neither broad nor bold, but shed a deli
! cious starlight through the barn, that left
much TO the imagination, and concealed
| thousand httlo signs of loye-making that
would have been ventured On more silly had
! the light been broader
But the candles were aided bya host of
| sparkling eyes. The air was warm and rich
| laughter and pleasant nonsense, banded from
| group to group amid the rustling of corr
| husks and the dash Of golden ears, as they
| fell from the heap that swelled larger aud
larger with every passing minute.
| Uncle Nathan's great armchair had been
| placed in the centre of the barn, just beneath
the hoop Of lights. There he sat ruddy and
smiling, the very impcrsonatiOn of ripe ha.-
vest, with an iron fire shovel fastened in some
mysterious manner across his seat, large
| splint basket between his knees, working
away with an energy that brought the perspi-
ration like rain to bis forehead Up ard down
across the sharp edge of the shovel he drew
| the slender corn, sending a shower of golden
kernels into the basket with every pull Of his
| arm, and stopping now and then with a well
pleased smile TO even down the corn as IL rose
higher in his basket.
Oar old friend Salina sat at little distance,
with her fiery tTesSes rolled in upright puffs
over each temple, and her great horn comb
towering therein like battlement. calico
gown with very gay cOlors Struggling over it,
like honey suckles and buttercups on a hill
side, adorned her latby person, leaving a trim
foot visible upon bundle of stalks just within
range Of Uncle Mats eye. Not that Salina
Intended it, or that Uncle Nat had any par
ticular regard for neatly clad feet, but your
strong minded woman has an instinct which is
sure to place the few charms sparsely distrib-
uted to the class, in conspicuous relief on all
OCCASION
As Salina sat perched on the base of the
corn-stalk, tearing away vigorously at the
husks, she cast an admiring glance now and
then on the old man as his head rose and fell
to the notion of his hands; but that glance was
quickly withdrawn with defiant toss Of the
head, for Uncle Mats eyes never once turned
on the trim foot with its calf-skin SHOE much
less on its owner, VINO began to be little ex-
asperated, as maidens Of her class will be
when their best points are overlooked
"Humpb!' muttered the maiden. looking
down at her calico; lone might as well have
como with linsey woolsey frock on for what
any body cares" In order 10 relieve these
exasperated feelings, SaliDa seized an ear of
corn by the dead silk and reut away the eu-
tire husk at once; when 10! a long, plump ear
appeared, the very thing that half "a dozen of
the prettlest girls en- the stalk-heap had been
searching and wishing for all the evening
The discovery was hailed with a shout The
possession of red ear, according to the estab-
llshed usage of all husking parties entitled
every gentleman present to kiss from the
holder.
The barn rang again with the cIamor of
voices and the shouts Of merry laughter. There
was general crashing down of ears upon the
corn heap. The rogulsh girls that had failed
in finding the red ear, abandoned work and
began dancing over the stalk heap, clapping
their Lands like mad things, and sending shout
after shout Of merry laugbte that went ring
ing eheerily among the stariit eyergreens over
head.
But the young men, after the first wild shout.
remained unusually silent, looking sheepishly
on each other with a shy unWillingness to COM
mence duty. No one seemed urgent to be first.
and this very awkwardness set the girls off
like mad again.
There sat Salina, amid the merry din. bran.
dishing the red ear in her hand, with a grim
smile upon her mouth, prepared for despe-
rate defence.
cried pretty black eyed piece of mischief.
from the top Of the stalk heap; "why, before
this time, L thought you would have been
snatcbing kisses by hsndsful''
I'D like to see them try, that's all -
said the strong minded female, sweeping a
glance of scOrntui defiance over the young
men.
Now Joseph Nash, are you going to stand
that!'' cried tho pretty piece Of mischief to a
handsome young fellow that had haunted her
neiSbborhood all the evening; "afraid to fight
for a kiss, are you!'
No, not exactly" said Joseph, rolling
back bis wristbands and settling himself in
ms c.othes; = 1t the after clap, if shOuldn
happen to please" he added in q whisner
that brought his lips so close to the cheek OF
his fair tormeatOr, that he absolutely gath
cred toll from its peachy bloom before start
ing on his pilgrimage, a toll that brought the
glow still more richly to her face
The maiden, laughing till the tesrs sparkled
in her eyes, pushed him towards Salina in re-
yenge.
But Salina losi no time in placing herself on
the defensive. She started up, flung the bum
die of stalks on which she had been seated
AT the head Of her ass liant kicked up a tor
nado OF loose husks with her trim foot, and
stood brandishing her red ear furiously, as if
it had been dagger in the hand of Lady
Macbeth, rather than inofensive food for
chickens.
"Keep your distance. Joe Nash; keen elear
of me, now l tell you; L amt afraid of the
face of man; so back out of this while You
have chance; you can't kiss me, tell you,
without you are stronger than be, and L
know you are :"
81 shan't-shan't I?' answered Joe, who
was reinforced by half dozen laughing
youngsters, eli eager for frolic; " well, L
never did take stump from gal in my life,
so here goes for that kiss"
Joe bounded forward as he spoke, aud made
snatch at Salina with his great hands; but,
with the quickness of deer, she sprang aside,
leaving her black silk apron in his grasp
Another plunge, and down came the ear Of
corn across his head, rolling shower of red
kernels among his thick brown hair
But Joe had secured his hold, and after an-
other DASH that broke her ear of corn in tw ain,
Salina was left defenceless, with nothing but |
her two hands to fight with; but she piled |
these with great vigor, leaving long crimson
marks upon her assailant's cheeks with every
blow, till, in very self defence, he was com |
pelled TO lessen the distance between her face |