The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-12-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO!
No. %.
BY UNCLE SILAS.

BY UNCLE SILAS.
In 1912, i'll the Western and thinly
settled states, when man wanted to
have some heavy work done, he did
not do, as one now does, go out and
hire laborers to have it done but call
ed upon his nelghbors to assist him.
When II farmer had lot of land to
clear off for cultivation, he would cut
down the trees and chop and saw
them in lengths of ten to twenty feet,
and then invite his neighbors to come
on some fixed day, to his ''log rolling"
and aid him in placing the heavy tim
bers in heaps or piles ready for de-
struction by fire.
These logrollings would last some
times an entire day, but generally one
afternoon would suffice.
Subsequently, the farmer would set
| fire to his s'lOg heaps" and burn them,
leaving HE land ready for the plow.
Whilst the men were rolling the logs
into heaps the wife and d daughters of
the farmer, often aided by some of
their neighbors, would prepare sub
stantial meal for the benefit of the
''logrOllers" when their work was COM
| pleted
Again, when farmers wife would
have quilt to make she would invite
her neigiibOrs to come at some ap-
pointed time to her "quilting party;'
the ladies would meet and in a short
while the quilt would be completed
and ready tor use.
This party was also followed by a
dinner, or supper.
Sometimes, in the winter season the
neighbors of some poor widow would
collect at her home, and spend a dav.
The men in chopping and hauling up
fire wood for her use during the cold
weather, the women in sewing and
assisting in preparing warm clothing
for herself and children, and in get
ting the invariable substantial dinner.
Often the ingredients for the meal
were taken with them SO as not to en-
croach upon the scanty larder of the
widow.
One of the most agreeable and in
teresting gatherings was the corn
shuckings, or hustings. The farmer
would have a long pile of corn in
shuck extended on some smooth plot
OF ground when, at night, the huskers
! would assemble, divide the "pile" in
to two parts select two captains who
would choose their assistants, one by
one.
Often, in pleasant nights, the girls
would unite in the frolic.
1t would sometimes require two or
three hours to husk all the corn,
generous rivalry existing between the
two sides.
1t was generally customary when a
young woman shncked red ear Of
corn that she was entitled to kis 3
from her partner, and. theu she would
cast the ear into the pile of husked
corn. / remember once thatI had a
little blue eyed girl alongside of me
who found red ear of corn, the pen
atty rcr which / had to pay. 1t was
not long until she held up a second
ear. and then third and a fourth
one, which | had to pay the duty on.
By this time began to notice fami-
liarity In the size and shape OF that
particular ear, and quietly marked it.
In few minutes the red ear turned
up for the sixth time, discovered my
mark and alter redecming it told her
that had been a victim of misplace
confidence long enough and requested
her to throw that ear Of corn over IN
to the corn pile, and pot hide it under
her apron any more.
These huskings were all ended with
big supper and oftentimes by spend
ing half of the night in amusing pas
: times.
When Christmas come around as it
did once year, there was a custom of
, the young men on its eve to take their
,, guns and go to the neighbors' houses
in body, and fire off one or two
rounds, as Christmas Greeting.
,, The girls of 1912 were different
from those of 1892. Now when a
young lady hears gun fired outside
| OF her house, she crawls into her ar
| moir, runs under her bed, creeps into
all auger hole, or hides herself some
way, but then, when the guns were
fired, the girls would light their tai
low candles, open wide the doors, in-
vite the "rowdiesn in and lead them
to a table covered with cakes, pies,
applies, cider &C., and tell them ''to
make themselves at home," which
they usually did, and then bidding