New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-10
DEACON JONESS HCSKIN' BEE.
A RUSTIC EPISODE.

1Deacon Jones's wife called me to-day. Zeb,'
said Mandy the other evenin. "She says the Deacon
hasn't been in his usual sperets ever since the failure
As he calls IT, OF his huskn bee, last al' and Mahdy
laughed right heartily over the reckoiechon OF uA'
notable event.
It's the custom OF the farmers in our naborhood u
have husldn bee every fall. an thus bring the sea-
som, work 10 an end with round OF merry MAXIM
which Is looked fOr'ard 10 an talked ABOUT oy the
young folks all summer long. an many castles IN inc
air are built by them they fondly think Of the many
opportunities and hoped-for results. Deacon Jopess,
Specially are held in great favor By them all. OWN,
no doubt TO his only child. Mole, the prettiest and
sociablest girl in the naborhood But the good
Deacon made up his mind that he wouldn't nave any
more o. the COINS on at his hushdn bee that had
worried an scandalized him. leadn' pillar o the
church. at the last he had. one evenin' Nolie
overheard him telln' her mother how he goin
carefully through the unhusked corn, pichn' out
all the red ears I'll there wouldn't be single nuobin
left o. THAT color lie didn't intend to leave the least
bit OF an excuse for the young feers havin chance
% kissin the girls an specially their Molne. who
always seemed 10 Git more'n her share. He thought
IL was sin an a shame to allow such doins an he'd
show the nabors huSkn' bee was huskn' bee.
Everything would go of orderly s II they in
moetln 50 the Deacon went on citin' ready for the
event not KNOWN that his daughter was o.
his plans. Now. Molle had her own ideas about a
huskn' bee. an they were far different than her
how her father pannn spoil their fun. an they
must tell the young men TO come prepared They told
her not TO worry; they'd see that there was plenty
o. red ears for the occasion.
The cventful evenin arrived at last. an all the Young
folks In the naborlood were gathered in tie Deacons
barn. eagerly watn' for the word 70 begin husin'
the great heaps Of corn piled upon the floor. Mandy
an went TO look an enjoy the young peoples
frollcs for Mollie had told Mandy what was in the
wind. We stood talldn' 10 the Deacon an his wife
an when he length gave the word for them o
begin work le turned 10 an says:
Now. Zeb you'll see what a huskin' bee should
be- accordn' to my idee. In all them piles III war
rant they won't find a single red
jest then the Deacon cut short by shout OF
JOY from one o the young chaps as he waved a biz
red ear over Ids head an started after Moe who gave
Il shrek an scampered across the barn floor After
good deal o. dodcin' an squrmin' she caught al
last. an the lucky fecr took his reward in hearty
Hiss upon her rosy lips. You'd ortervc the Dea-
con face at that mint 1t was picture Of aston.
ment an diSmay.
wall. swan" he stammered ont at don't SEQ
bow | could've overlooked that ear. Right on top,
too. don't believe they'll find any more though
he chuckled. That's one consoa-o
But Jest then another red ear was found an Mollc
seen tryn' to dodge another young man. who was
after her. holdn' aloit his prize. she rushed behind
Mandy. where he caught her. an gave her a rousln'
his, right before the Deacou's Mortified eyes Mandy
an the Deacons wife couldn't keep their faces straight
any longer, but jest set down an laughed Ill the tears
ran down their cheeks. The Deacon sat down with
a groan Of helpless despair. an SAYS
b" | must be looSin' my cycsight. Zeb I'd a made
an ally davy that there wasn't red ear I'm the harm
but the pcsky stalks are fun OF EN-
lie was right. Full Of 'em they were for every
youngNtcr had come with his pockets stuffed with red
ears. an they do say that the girls brought moren one
ear apiece. SOS 10 be sure OF good supply. Least.
ways there WINS more red found at the Deacon's
huskin bee than were found at all tie other bees In
the naborho)d last fall. an the fun the Young folks
had over EN- was sight TO behold When the DeacDn
found ont Row his plans had mscarried he was awful
angry an vowed that he'd never have another huskin
bee, but Mandy says she iesscs that when the tine
comes around again Mollie an her mothcrn be able
TO him into clangln' his mind about it,