The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1886-08-07
RED EARS AND KISSES,

CaihSr lit Ndudultiu lduubCdDc II;
been clothed several times in silve
frost. The rye was peeping up throuf
the upturned fields, and the first wot
of the farmers season of leisure he
passed. In that great stretch of lev
country about Stratford, where farme
reap as rich haryests as are garnere
anywhere in the Dominion, q Or,
gramme OF fun had been prepared b
the young men and women. Their
were corn-huskings where red ear
brought kisses, surprise parties, wher
nobody was surprised, straw rides, an
ple-paring parties, and gatherings wher
the staid cotilion was danced to til,
music of a violin. The first event Of
the fall of 1882 was an apple pairing
This whetted the appetites of the coun-
try folks, and everybody was eager foI
the big corn-husking that was to bring
all the beaus and bellies into the big barn
OF Farmer Treuette. 1t was known to
the young, hard-fsted farmers that
Sally Treuette, the only daughter of the
old farmer, was to guide the course Of
eys5ts during the husking and that a
great many red grains of corn had been
mingled with the white grains that had
been dropped in the corn hills in the
spring. Every red grain of corn meant
an ear OF the same color, and every ear
meant one kiss to the finder, and per-
haps more if he could smuggle the ear
forward again.
There was another circumstance that
added an unusual excitement to the
husking Sally Treuette was rosy
checked, plump, raven-haired lass whose
rogulsh eyes had made sad havoc with
sthe hearts of nearly all the young men
for miles around. There was hardly
one of them whom she had not smiled
upon at various times and whom she
had not snubbed numerically after
ward. Red-haired Jim Radford, who
owned forty acres of fine farming land
near st: Mary's, and Owen Jones,
sharp-feathered Yankee, who had
opened country store near the railway
station in Stratford, had each sworn in
the most solemn manner to marry Sally
or prevent her from marrying anybody
else. Radford was tall, broad-shoul-
dered, and strong of limb, with muscles
hardened by work. Jones was tall,
slim, and angular, with hectic cheeks
and sharp cough that told of weakness
and disease, but lied every time they
told it. He was like many old stone
houses in the neighborhood. The more
they settled and the worse they ap-
peared the stronger they WERE Rad
FORD was always nervous and ill at ease
when he was in the presence of Sally.
but Owen was always able to talk a
streak and tell marvellous and interest
ing stories of adventure that were very
entertaining to the unsophisticated
sally. She liked Radford for his worth
and Jones for what he seemed to be.
The night of the husking came at last.
The silver crescent of the new moon
hung in the west, The air was lust
frosty enough to be inyigorating. A /,
string OF twinkling lanterns hung across /:
Farmer Treuette's barnyard. Lanterns ,
swung from rusty nails all over the in
error OF the barn. The unhusked ears :
II corn had been torn from the stalks
md heaped in great pile in the center
II the barn. Store boxes, upturned nail
'egs, and rough benches formed circle
bout the pile. The old, rambling farm
louse 100 yards away blazed with lights.
was crowded with elderly men and
Fomen preparing, in a busting, gar ,
ulous way, the refreshments. Sally.
lad In the brightest calico purchasable
Jones store, with punches of bright Ia
bbons at her throat and in her hair. a.
tilted about like a speck of color in an IL
;ean OF somberness. Canadian farmers
ways make as much noise as possible :"
hen they are out for a Notification, and
e juggling of bells, the gathering. of 4 4,
agons, and shouts from vigorous lungs =. "a
ade the night air CULVER Young men ~
I'd women soon appeared in the farm !.
lrd, and peals of laughter We're heard q,
ming from the barn. Sally shook
'nds with everybody who appeared, y
a welcomed them all in a sprightly GO 90
'hlon. Then the work of husking be- o'
\ at once, for both men and women
re eager for the dancing that was to
low it. Radford seated his big form.
Iusted a hickory com-peg on his
ong right hand, and soon a stream of
stenmg ears was flying over his left Il
'ulder' Jones sat right opposite him,
ere the ears bulged out as if to meet
n. The others sat wherever thew
lid lind seats, or stood back and LO
eyed little piles of ears toward them.
most the first ear that Jones husked NJ,
red one. He arose deliberately. P,J.
ked over to where Sally was sitting.
kissed her before she knew what m
intentions were. She uttered a little s
'am' and Radford half sprang from -
seat.
Watcher dom ?" he asked angrilv. m
Keep CAM" said Jones, smilingly; ~
RS red ear" q
verybody laughed uproariously ex- 8
Radford. Jones had hardly seated
self again before he found another m
ear, and again he kissed Sally with &
motion that filed Radford's heart X
envy. Jones found the red ear
silently, but nobody else succeeded ~
citing any, and the laugh that had m
ided his success finally gave place W
utterings of discomfort. ~
ook yer" said Radford suddenly. q
those yer ears must be left whar all g
zee EN-. No repeatin', mind yer.n
ao,ato Il.