The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-11-20
HUSKING BEES.

At this season OF the year, the corn crop
is being harvested, and while the farmer
strips the white husks manually through the
lve-long day, we propose to regulate his
mind by husking over husking bee all of
the olden time. Though we did not live
then, our sources of information are good,
being none other than the testimony of an
octogenarlan girl of remarkable memory.
The early settlers in the absence of such
luxurles as books and papers, combined in
structIon with sociability, and pleasure with
profit, in Il wonderful degree. If the work
of the house or the farm began to drive, as
all " Dirk will sometimes, the whole village
came to the rescue.
'Many hands make light work. and merry
hearts make willing hands, were the mot
toes of our fathers. There We're fewer
fashionable calls then than now, but more
visiting where the parties worked and talked
too. Perhaps one reason why the old fash
ioned family greetings were so cordial, was
because they helped one another more
Zach felt a common interest in the welfare
OF all, and when by sickness or calamity one
member of a community was stricken the
kind Offices of the ncig ghhors did much to re-
pair the breach.
Now for the husking. The evening is
fixed. The farmer and his sturdy sons no.
tify their friends of the time, and redouble
their diligence in the field to gather the
mighty maize.' The good housewife and
her bouncing girls bake stacks of doughnuts
and pumpkin pies. In those days Il family
meant something. None were of any ac-
count unless there was bakers dozen, half
of either sex, and in every village there
a,nl b,, l Il
from - to %. The kitchen, the largest
room IN the house, is the theatre of action.
A huge pile Of unhusked corn occupies its
centre. Monstrous red and stripped pump
k:ns are placed around the pile at regular
intervals for seats. Whole neighborhoods
assemble. The men put on their frocks,
and the women woolen aprons. There is
no hesitation in taking hold. Each feels
that she or he has something to do, and they
work with Il will. Stories and laughter,
sweet cider and refreshments, alternate the
hours. The young men cast sleeps eyes,
and the madens return baShful glanccs.-
The host busies himself cmptying overflow
ing baskets into the swelling crib, and the
dame snutls the candles and passes the deli
cious eatablcs around. The corn pile
grows beautifully less, and about the good
old hour OF it is finished. As if by magic
the long kitchen is quickly cleared of its
litter and husks. Refreshments are again
served. The fiddle is introduced. and the
dance begins. Light hearts chase the merry
hours with flying feet, and when this pleasure
pals, all 60 courting homeward.
\ score of huskings like this were often
annually attended in Il single village. Such
was the simple life our grandsres led in the
Indian harvest days. No wonder that their
eyes sparkle with pleasure and their lips arc
wreathcd with smiles us they recount such
scenes as these. No wonder that they love
labor and have hardy constitutions under
such training. The spring time of life
spent in such frugal pleasures, may become,
in age. serene and mellow AS the light
of an October sun.-Springtield Repubii-
can.