Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-06-01
!. WEDNESDAY EVENING. JUNE /. 1892.
A RUSTIC EPISODE.
DEACON JONES' tiUSKlNG BEE AND
ITS NUMBER or RED EARS

The scenes OF That Night Made the Good
old Man Think That He was Losing
His Eyesight-It Takes q Bright Girl
20 circumvent Her Papa.
Deacon Jones' wife called on me
today, 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 huskin bee,"
and Mandy laughed right heartily over
the recollection of that notable event
It's the custom of the farmers in our
naborhood TO have husl1in bee every
fall, an thus bring the seasons work to
an end with a round of merrymakin
which is looked for'ard to an talked
about by the young folks all summer
long, an many castles in the air are built
by them as they fondly think of the
many opportunities an hoped for results.
Deacon Jones', specially, are held in
great favor by them all, OWN no doubt,
to his only child, Molhe, the prettiest
and sociablest girl in the naborhood.
But the good deacon made up his mind
that he wouldn't have any more o. the
coins on at his huskin bee that had wor-
ried an scandalized him as a leadin
pillar o the church at the last one he
had.
One eyenin Mollie overheard him
tellin her mother how he was goin care
fully through the unhusked corn, pickin
out all the red ears till there wouldn't
be q single nubbin left o. that color.
He didn't intend to leave the least bit of
an excuse for the young fellers havin
chance o. kissin the girls, IAN specially their
Mollie, who always seemed to get more'n
her share. He thought it was sin an
q shame to allow such doin's an he'd
show the nabors huskin bee as was
huskin bee.
Everything would go off as orderly s
If they were in meetin. So the deacon
went on gittin ready for the event, not
KNOWN that his daughter was aware o.
his plans. Now, Mollie had her own
ideas about a huskin bee, an they were
far different than her fathers. So she
told two or three of her admirers how
her father was plannin to 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 eventful evenin arrived at last,
an all the young folks in the naborhood
were gathered in the deacons barn,
eagerly waitin for the word to begin
huskin the great heaps of corn piled
upon the floor. Mandy an l went over
to look on an enjoy the young peoples
frolics, for Mollie had told Mandy what
was in the wind. We stood talkin to the
deacon an his wife, an when he at length
gave the word for them to begin work
he turned to me an says:
"Now, Zeb, you'll see what a huskin
bee should be, accordin to my idee. In
all them piles I'll warrant they won't
find single red"-
Jest then the deacon was cut short by
shout of Joy from one of the young
chaps, as he waved a big red ear over
his head an started after Mollie, who
gave q shrek an scampered across the
barn floor. After good deal O. dodgin
an squirmin she was caught at last, an
the lucky feller took his reward in a
hearty kiss upon her rosy lips. You'd
orte've seen the deacon's face at that
mint 1t was picture of astonishment
an dismay.
"Wall, l swan" he stammered out, 81
don't see how could've overlooked that
ear. Right on top too. don't believe
they'll find any more though" he
chuckled. That's one consola"-
But jest then another red ear was
found, an Mollie was seen tryin to dodge
another young man who was after her,
holdin aloft his prize. She rushed be-
hind Mandy, where he caught her an
gave her rousin kiss right before the
deacon's Mortified eyes. Mandy an the
deacon's wife couldn't keep their faces
straight any longer, but jest set down an
laughed till the tears ran down their
cheeks. The deacon sat down with
groan of helpless despair an says:
81 must be loosin my eyesight, Zeb.
I'd made affydavy that there wasn't
a red ear in the barn, but the pesky
stalks are full of 'em."
He was right Full of 'em they were,
for every youngster had come with his
pockets stuffed with red ears, an they do
say that the girls brought more'n one
ear apiece, SOS to be sure of good sup
ply. Leastways there was more red ears
found at the deacon's huslin bee than
were found at all the other bees in the
naborhood last fall, and the fun the
young folks had over 'em was sight to
behold. When the deacon found out
how his plans had miscarried he was
awful angry an vowed that he'd never
have another huskin bee, but Mandy
says she guesses that when the time
comes around again Mollie an her
mother'n be able to coax him into
changin his mind about it.-New York
Tribune.