The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-07-03

ANU II uuo5 10 dutHilttu, l1Uiru
ton occasioned BIZ this unexpecte
assault upon ber Fps, the hero OF Il
first "red ear" was half round th
circle Of struggling girls, kissin
both right aud left with a skill an
heartiness that awoke shouts of al
plause from the young "fellers,p y wh
envied his good fortune.
That was new phrase in the Iii
of Kate. She had heard Of kissin
as an amusement among young folk
and had often thought the custor
was too good TO have become obsc
lete; but practical view and g Del
sonal participation ike this, was
thing that her imagination had, i
none Of its vageries conceived. A
old-iashioned, straight.backed, fiat
bottomed chair stood near, and, un
willing 10 trust herself again upol
the floor, Kate drew that into th
circle, and seated herself close to th,
pile of corn just as the young nal
had completed his task Of kissin!
every girl in the room.
"First-rate, thatm said be, smack
ing Lis lips. as he threw himself q
her feet. Wasn't ! lucky ?"
Kate's Indignation had, by thi.
time, oil melted away under q lively
sense of the ludicrous, and she coult
not help laughing the merriest
Soon another red ear was announced
and then the kissing commenced
again. Such struggling, wrestling
screaming, and laughing, Kate had
never heard nor seen. The Young
man who held the prize had all the
nerve required to go through his part,
as Kate clearly proved when it came
to Der turn to receive q salute.
Springiug from her chair, she fed in
10 the next room bat this only iu-
creased his eagerness to touch the
lips Of "the beautiful girl from Bos-
ton," ard be soon had his arms
around her and his hands upon her
cheeks. The struggle was long and
well sustained on the part Of the
maiden; bu. her fate was to be kiss
ed, and kissed by rough young
countryman whom she had never
seen before. The deed was done,
and then the blushing, painting girl
was led back in triumph 20 the room
from which she had escaped.
Red ears were in plenty that
evening. 1t was sbrewdly guessed
that every youpg man had come
with at least two in bis pocket, for
all the girls avowed that never be-
fore had Farmer Bradley's field Of
corn produced 50 many. As for
Kate, she was Kissed until making,
as she alleged to her friend, virtue
of necessity, she submitted with the
kindliest grace imaginable; and, if
the truth must be told, enjoyed the
frolic with as lively zest as any one
present.
At length, the great pile Of corr
disappeared, and the guests arranged
themselves for dancing; but they
all had hardly been on the floor half
an hour when supper was announced
and such supper as it was No
pyramids of ice-cream or candid
oranges. No mock or real turtle; no
oysters in q dozen styles Turkies
there were, but not scientifically
"boned." No; there were none of
the fashionable city delicacies; but,
instead, "a gigantic round Of beef in
the centre of the table was aanked
on either side with vegetables. A
bouncing junk of eorned beef was at
one end, and big chicken pie at the
other. An Indian pudding, Of am
pie dimensions, stood forth between
the middle and the end OF the end
dishes. and a giant pot Of beans
loomed up on the other side; while
pumpkir-pies, apple pies, apple-sauce
and host Of other 'fxings' filed up
the spaces"
This was the bill of fare of the
evening, and our city belle looked on
with o new surprise, as she saw the |
articles disappearing one after anoth-
er like frost work cn window panes |
at sunrise. II the good wife did |
not say on this, as was said on q sim
liar occasion, Lay hold, and help |
yourselves gals-make a long arm,
and let the men folks take keer of
themselves. If any on you like tur-
nips squat and but.ered, squat and
butter 'em to suit yourselves"-at
least as hearty and primitive an invi-
tation to go to work on the goo0
things was extended, and no one |
could complain that it was not acted
upon. What followed is best given
in the language of one who has al
ready described similar scene:
"The guests seemed to do ample
Justice to the viands; mirth and fes
tivity reigned around the board.
Jokes, wittieisms, and flashes of fun
would occasionally set The table in a
roar All appeared determined to
enjoy themselves at the top of their
bent"
"SoCn as supper was over, all the
girls lent hand, ana the table was
cleared away in jiffy. Blindman's
buff was then introduced the CON-
pany was uproarious Dancing was
The next consideration. Amos Bunk
er screwed up his violin, rosinel the
bow, and did up the toe and heel
notes Of Fishers Hornpipe;
whilst some of the party who we're
somewhat skilled in the terpsichore-
IN art, put in the double shuttle riga
ioon' Presently the lookerson
caught the enthusiasm. and the whole
old and young, adopts and
1ovices took the floor and did their
Utmost:
: Twas right and LETT, anI down outside, six
around AMI back to back;
Isrum-scarum. heltcr-skelter bump together,
whack:
"And thus was the husking kept
Up till the old clock, which stood in
me corner of the kitchen, beat out
welve; then broke up this jolly
gathering"
So il was at old Father Bradley's
When Kate went back to Boston,
The was free to own that she had en-
Dyed new kind of merry-making,
md avowed her purpose to be at old