Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-02-03
An Old-Tine iiuskirg Bee.

An Old-Time EiusIliEg Bee.
From the Iroy Times, ..,-,;,s-.,,-s,,..ssa..-,,,
Well, here we are in the big fragrant
barn, with the forty lads and lasses.
There has been q clean sweeping be-
tween the mows, and the floor is as
neat as the deck of man-of-war. 1t is
o'clock of November evening-sharp
without, to be sure, and a bit frosty
within, but what care we with our coats
a1d taIs;ld iliv sld A
goodly number Of lanterns have been
hung from the beams and over the doors
and on wire stretched between the
mows, and it is light enough to see the
red corn peeping through the curled
edges of the husks, as they lie piled up
in great heap midway of the floor
light enough to see the glow of health on
the cheeks of the boys and girls and to
reveal the traces of the paint-pot and
the burnt match and the powder rag, il
there were any there. The good man
of the barn and his buxom dame 90
about shaking hands with the young
people, and asking after the "folks,'" and
when their "huskin' is comm of" and
how many cows they are milking, and
so forth, without once troubling their
heads about introducing" their guesIs,,
or seeing that they are paired oil,
which is spontaneous process IN cottn-
try gatherings, and always happens OF
itself. Later in the evening it is expect
ed that more Of the old folks will drop
in, Just to see how the husking comes
out, and sample of the good cheer
Their DAYS of gratuitous activity have
long since passed, but they do love to
see young folks enjoy themselves" in the
profitable combination of business and
pleasure.
When the guests have all arrived the
boys 90 to work and pull great armfuls
of hay from the NOV, which they spread
around the heap of corn. Then each boy
seats himself by his fay rite girl, draw
ing a bundle o. husks into the hay be-
tween them and the husking begins
Work is by no means suffered, however
to 1ntefere with play. The merry joke
goes round; the stolen mitten travels
about the circle and back to its owner at
last. If a girl happens to pull Iusk
from & dark-red ear, she must forfeit g
kiss to the lad who is nearest or quick
est fails to snatch it. AS fast as the ears
are removed from the husks they are
thrown into separate piles; one for each
party on opposite sides of the heap; and
there is sure to be a deal of pleasant RI
valry to see which side will have the
.arger heap Of corn when the huskil z is
done. 1t is wonderful to see how fast
the mountain of unhusked corn is low
cred, though the farmer and his boys
keep bringing fresh basketfuls and
piling them on tne heap perfect storm
of the golden grain keeps rainingon each
pile of corn. AS the supply of material
nears the end the contest wakes warmer,
the girls throw off their hoods and shawls,
and the boys fling aside their oyercoats
The warm blood of health rushes to each
cheek, and the faster the hands fly the
brighter do the faces grow, and the last
few ears are scrabbled for by the con-
tending sides, and with shouts of merri-
ment the husking is finished. The victo.
rious side is first served with refresh
ments. Great platefuls of doughnuts
and "fritters," and slices of snowy cake,
pies cut i'll generous pieces, cider and
APPLES. nuts and home made candy are
passed around. The cold folks" come
stamping in by twos and threes and are
immediately assailed with conflicting
stories of Individual proves and as
sociate achievement, and they stuffed
with good things to stop their laughing
Bv 80 o'clock the festivities are over
and the merry company disperses twt
and two. The farmer takes down the
lanterns, closes the big barn and retire!
to the kitchen tosmoke hispipe and cal
culate how many bushels of corn he vii
have when it is ''off the ear"