Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-12-26
A CORN SHUCKINC.
Away Down In Georgia In Old
Plantation Days.
The Choice Leader and His Songs
from the Corn Pile. The BOunteous
ster and Mf>ti.."

supoo.e our Yankee friends would
call it husking bee," as they arc wont
to call other such gatherings "paring
bees" quilting bees" ETC., Wi es NJ
Folsom to the Valdosta. Georgia, Times
But we call it a corn shucking. You
must imagine that it is early autumn
The foliage of the distant woodlands
have taken on all the veriegated colors
Of the rainbow. There are gum trees and
naples whose tops are one sheet of fame
oaks and towering hickories crowned
with a mass of orange and golden colored
leaves. The persimmon trees are loaded
with their luscious fruit and the late
summer grapes hang in rich purple clus-
tiers along the fence rows next to the
swamp. The pines alone are not affect
ed by the change of season. They rise,
Gaunt and grim, their sombre foliage
taking on deeper tint by the contrast
of eolors.
The broad fields ofcotton are white as
snow, and only the "slip shuCks" remain
on the stalks where lately hung pendant
the lusty ears of golden corn which are
now piled in a semicircle inside the
barn yard. Day after day the loaded
wagons have deposited their precious
freight on the growing pile, until now il
forms rampant high enough to allow
100 men to seat themselves along its
line. Invitations have been sent to all
the neighboring farms, and as the dusk
deepens and the first timid stars raise
the purple curtain and gaze ti1nidly
down on the beautiful earth, they begin
to drop in, singly, in pairs and in small
parties. They are mostly big, brawny
cnkies with phenomenal lung power.
intermixed with fair sprinkling Of
hardy farmers and "young massas" who
have either received permission, or have
run away to enjoy the festive frolic.
Now there is considerable discusson
about leader. Every biz farm bas on
acknowledged LEADER HEADER and each party
s'o'',y IsAtains the excellency of its
ow1fsvoritc: Charley Green is finally
chosen, snd seizing long ear of corn
he mounts the corn pile, pulls his ha.
and bows low to the "boss" and to his
auditors and followers, and then strik es
up his wild song:
.oldey's one ting DO man siIdom eber do.
frow out de ole CON to frow in de new.
D! rally roun' de CON pile
MOO Jolly no!
Rslley round de con pile,
Hoo jolly hot"
All hands join in the chorus, and the
rustling of the shucks, and steady pat
terlDg Of the clean ears as they are
tossed into the open space in front,
makes spirited accompaniment to the
weird usic. Up and down, back and
forth. the leader treads the corn pile.
nging at the top of his voice and syav.
ing his hands and arms, head and BODY.
in the time OF his music. All are careful
not TO hit him, and he seems 10 nav no
heed to the shower of ears that are tIyinp
around his head.
From sst'd'y night twell Sunday.
De gals is on my min.
But Monday mornin' bright an soon,
De white man got me gwine,
On sit or long down de road,
On git er long down de road,
Come git er long down de road, my lub.
Come Kit er long down de road.
The pile of rough corn dIminisbes
rapidly, the shucks are being carried
away by the boys who have some high
Old times practicing gymnastics and on
the yielding pile, the glistening ears fall
thick and fast on the accumulating pile
of clear corn.
There has been an interesting light in
the east for some minutes, and now the
full autumn moon arises above the tree
tops, and glides up the purple sky in all
her majestic and bewildering spiendor
by her light we see the dusky faces. end
the fantastic movements of the long row
OF brawny arms that are busily working.
all unconscious of the hardness of the
labor, so interested are they in the songs
of the leader.
Suddenly, at signal from Charlie. all
han.ls stop. and the "Old Marster" an
proacbes the leader with fat looking
brown jug ano a tin cup. He speaks a
word to Charley, who makes obeisance
and in loud voice calls out:
"Silencs! Gem'len an friends. r
drinks dis to de healt oh de good mars.
ter, de mistis', de young mar1er de
missies, may dey lib long an be happyin
Amid prolonged cheers the toast is drank
inst by Charley, and then the iue is
passed along the line, each mar drinking
his specs to de mafster and mist;s.n
should the first give out another is mt
IN the hands of the servitor and partic.
ular pains is taken to see that ali Is
treated alike. Then the leader strikes
up: 'A'S
Fo,ty weight O. Johnny cake,
fIty weight o. cheese,
big pot o. honiny,
An little pot o. peas
ylJenny, amt 20 ash cake dene INV dsr,,r,,
Jenny amt 90 ash cake done. my desh5
Away they 20, and the laugh and sono
included With jests at the expense Of The
leader, who is sure to be ready with a
dtticg repartee are kept up until the last
nubbin Is shucked. '
Then comes the tug of war. For some