The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-11-30
HUsKING TIME.
Dr.. Talmage Preaches a Sermon
Suitable to the Time
Following the Ingathering of the Harvests
Tho Lilo OF Man Hkoned Unto an
Ear of Corn-Heaven n Great So
ciable with JOY Like tho Joy
OF the Husking Time.

W buo DTOOhlyu JdDtrudClo was Ouo
eminently suited to the time following
the ingathering OF the harvests and to
the Thanksgiving season. The text
selected was, "As shock of corn
cometh in in his season."-Job W, 20.
The sermon follows:
This is the time of the year for husk-
ing corn. If you have recently been In
the fields of Pennsylvania, or New Jer-
sey, or New York, or New England, or
in any Of the country districts you
know that the corn is all cut The
sharp knife struck through the stalks
and left them all along the fields until
a man came with bundle Of straw
and twisted few of these wisps OF
straw into band, and then gathering
up as much Of the corn as he could
compass with his arms, he bound 1t
with this wisp Of straw, and then stood
II In field In what is called shock
There are now at least two billion
bushels Of corn either standing in the
shock or having been already husked
The farmers gather, one day on one
farm, and then another day on another
farm, and then put on their rough
huslting apron, and they take the husk-
ing peg, which is piece Of iron with
leather loop fastened to the hand,
and with it unsheath the corn from the
husk and toss it into the golden heap.
Then the wagons come along and take
II TO the corn crib.
About corn as an important cereal or
corn as metaphor the Bible is con.
stantly speaking. You know about the
people in famine coming to buy corn OF
Joseph, and the foxes on fire running
into the standing corn" and about
the oxen treading out the corn, and
about the seven thin ears Of corn that
in Pharoah's dream devoured the seven
good ears, and the "parched corn"
handed to beautiful Ruth by the har.
vesters Of Bethlehem, and Abigairs five
measures OF "parched corn" with which
she hoped to appease the enemies OF
her drunken husband, and David's de-
scription of the valleys covered over
with corn," and "the handful Of corn in
the EARTH" and "the full corn In the
ear" and Christs Sabbath morning
walk through corn fields, and the disci'
pies "pluclsing ears Of corn" and so
am not surprised to find corn huslSing
time referred to in my text: "As a
shock Of corn cometh in in his season
How wildly to all those Of US who
were born in the country comes the re-
membrance of husking time. We waited
for It as for gala day of the year. 1t
was called frolic. The trees hav-
ing for the most part shed their foliage,
the farmers waded through the fallen
leaves and came through the keen
morning air TO the gleeful company.
The frosts which had slivered every
thing during the night began to melt
off the topbf the corn-shocks While
the farmers were waiting for Others
they stood blowing their breath
through their fingers, or thrashing their
arms around their body to keep up
warmth OF circulation. Roaring mirth
greeted the late farmer as he crawled
over the fence. Joke and repartee and
rustic salutation abounded. All ready
nowl The men take hold Of the shocl
OF corn and hurl It PROSTATE while the
moles and mice which have secretet
themselves there for warmth attempt
escape. The withe OF straw Is unwounc
from the corn-shock, and the stalks
heavy with the wealth of grain
are rolled into two bundles, between
which the husker sits down. The husk
ing peg Is thrust in until II strikes thu
corn, and then the fingers rip Off tn,
sheathing OF the ear, and there is I
crack as the root of the ear is snappe,
off from the huslS, and the grain, disim
prisoned, is hurled up into the sun
light. The air Is so tonic, the work 1
so very exhilarating, the company Is s.
blithe that some laugh, and some shout
and some sing, and some banter, ant
some tease neighbor for a romanti
ride along the edge Of the woods in al
eventide, in n carriage that holds bu
two, and some prophesy as to the mum
Der Of bushels TO the field, and other
20 into competition as TO which shal
rifle the most corn-shocks before SUI
down. After while, the dinner hor
sounds from the farm house, and tn
table is surrounded by group Of joll
and hungry men. From all the pantrie
and the cellars and the perches Of fo1
on the place the richest dainties CONF
and there Is carnival and neighborhoo
reunion, and scene which fills on
memory, part with smiles butmore wit
tears. MS we remember that the farr
belongs now TO other owners, and othe
hands gather in the field, and many {
those who mingled In that merry husl
ing scene have themsclve been reapec
alike as q shock Of corn cometh In In hi
season"
4 There Is a difference OF opinion as I
4 whether the orientals knew anythin
about the corn as IL stands In our field
but recent discoveries have found ou
that the Hebrew knew all about India
maize, for there have been grains {
corn picked up out Of ancient crypt
and exhumed from hiding places wher
they were put down many centurie
ago, and they have been planted In ou
time and have como up just such II
dian maize as we raise In New Yor
and Ohio; SO am right when l say tbs
my text may refer TO a shock Of cor
just as you and bound IT. just as yo
and threw II, just as you and Ihuske
IL There may come some practical an
useful and comforting lessons TO all on
annla. txhiIa We think Of coming In Q