Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-01-16
Aancaster .Dntelligencer.
TUESDAY EVENING JAN. 10, 1883.
An Old-TiIne Husking Zee.

Troy Times.
Well, here we are in the big fragrant
barn, with the forty lads and lasses. There
has been a clean sweeping between the
mows, and the floor is as neat as the deck
Of man of-war. 1t is O'clock of a
November evening-sEarp without, to be
sure, and bit frosty within, but what
care we, with our coats and caps and
shawls and mittens on /? A goodiy num-
ber Of lanterns have been hung from the
beams and over the doors ard on 4 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 mid
way of the foor-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, if there were
any there. The good man of the-barn
and his buxom dame 60 about shaking
hands with the young people, and asking
after the "folks,'' and when their
huskin' is comm off 90 ard how many
COWS they are milking, and so forth,
without once troubling their heads about
" introducing their guests, or seeing
that they are " paired off," which is a
spontaneous proc IS in country gather
ings, and always happens to itself. Later
in the evening it is expected that mO,e of
the old folks will drop in, just to see how
the husking come out, and sample some OF
the good cheer. Their days of gratuitous
activity have long since passed, but they
do love to See the yOung folks enjoy
themselves " in the profitable cOmbina-
tiOn of business and pleasure
When the guests have all arrived the
boys go to work and pull great armfuls of
hay from the NOW, which they spread
around the heap of corr. Then each
seats himself by his favorite girl, draws a
bundle OF husks into the hay between them
and the husking begins. Work is by Ii q
means suffered, however, to interfere with
play The merry joke goes round the
stolen mitten travels about the circle and
back to its owner at last. If girl hap
pens TO pull the huSk from dark red ear,
she must forfeit a kiss 10 tie lad who Is
nearest or quickest to snatch it. AS fast
as the cars are removed from the husks
they are thrown into two separate piles, one
for each party. on opposite sides of the heap
and there is sure to be q deal of pleasant
rivalry to see which side will have the
larger heap of corn when the husking is
done. IL is wonderful to sec how fast the
mountain OF unhuSked corn is lowered,
though the farmer and his boys keei
bringing fresh hasketlus and piling them
on the heap. A perfcc: storm OF the
golden cars keep raining Ou each pile o!
corn. AS the supply Of material fails the
contest wakes warmer. The giils throw
off their hoods and sEawls, and the boys
fling aside their Overcea:s. The
warm bleod of health rushes to each G; eek
and the faster the hands fly the
brighter do the faces grow, and the last
Few ears are scrahbled for By the contend
ing sides, and with shouts of msrrimcnt
the husking is finished. Tic victorious
side is first served with REFRESHMENTS
Great p!atefuls Of doughnuts and " lrit-
ters," aud slices of snowy cake, pies cut
in generous pieces cider and apples, nuts
and homemade candy are passed around
The old folks" come stamping il
by twos or threes, and are Immediately
asSailed with conflicting stories OF ind'
v;dual prowess and associate achieve
ment, and then stuffed with co,d things
to stop their laughing. BY 1880 O'Clock
the festivities arc over, and the merry
company disperses two and two. Th'
farmer takes down the lanterns, closes th'
big barn door and retires to the kitchen I,
smoke his pipe ana Calculate how many
bushels of Germ he will have when it i
off the ear