The Russellville Democrat., 1893-09-14
.arrr uNiO IN AHKANoAS.
A Coon Hunt in lihe BscEwoods Thirty
 Years Ago.
A story From Real Life it Existed When tho Writer Was
 a Boy.

POPLAR GROVE, ARK, Sept. 6. We were all at Brit Conway's 'shouse raising. Brit's wife gen erally fixed good dinners, but she had better ono than usual that day, for there existed spirit of friendly rivalry among the women in that community as to who could get up the best dinners and suppers at 'house- raisin' g" and "log rollins"
 It was a treat to all the men, from middle age down to the ''young men" of halfway it. his "teens, " to help tne:r neighbors. It may have been they were aetu- ated by desire to show their strength at the "hand spike" It was whispered around sometimes that the good meals were the propelIing power to convey them 10 their neighaor's fields to the log rollings and the house -raisings, but aside from all else there existed a whole soul desire to help their fel- bowman. In those days this dispo- sition was encouraged, cultivated and practieed to an extent that to. day the advanced age of civilizati n knows nothing of.
 Unless the logs were all rolled, or the house raised before sunset the women were sure to "giy' lem supper"
 Brit Conway and wife had a daughter just nineteen years old, who waited on the table. Mrs. Glenn and her daughter had come over and were helping Mrs. Con- way and daughter, and there was a tacit understanding that they were to have the compliment" returned next day by Mrs Conway and daughter helping them about din- ner, for old man Glenn was to have a house-raising.
 1t was considered a greater treat to be invited to a house-raising than to a log-rolling for many reasons. It was not such muddy work neither did it require as hard lifting and it hal more resting spells in it, for you could rest while tho "eorners" were being carried up. But perhaps the paramount reason for prefering the house raising to the log rolling by the young men, was because the girls could peep through the cracks of the room they were in preparing dinner, and could watch the gallants as they carried up the corners of the building, for this was an honor not to be de- apised ;and it was a distinction which only four could have conferred upon them. Many were the sly glances cast toward the room the young women were in to see if girl was watching her gay and handsome lover carrying up his corner.
 Jim Curry and Sam Holder were two leading young men of the com munity. They were noted for doing more hard work in the fields than any one else; distinction more to be prized and sought for in those a4s@-ys than to beregarded as "dude" in this day and generation. We did not get done raising the house until nearly sun-down. Con- sequvntly good supper awaited the knight of the log cabin.
 Julia Glenn and Bettie Conway were fine looking girls. They wore ' plain home made clothes for every day, and store clothes" for Sun days and extra occasions. They wore heavy shoes in cold, muddy weather Ez T.ey also wore red cheeks, but they were not painted nature's cosmetic, the reward of healthful living.
 Bettie and Julia were pretty girls, and although ever score and half of years have past and gone since then, yet l have not forgotten how they looked in those days, and notwithstanding was just fairly in my "teens. :" l can still see their pleasant faces, and "their bright smiles haunt me still. {"
 At the supper table Julia and Bettie were the recipients of many Ely glances from Jim Curry and Sam Holder, nor were Sam and Jim all, for the young men of the whole peighborhood were there.
 Jim and Sam had been elected by Reclamation as two of the corner nen that day. 1 had been selected $ the third corner man, a distinc- lon l prized far more than when, after years, was elected foreman f jury or made chairman of ohtical convention. The fourth ian was Oscar Donnelly, the poet nreate of our little kingdom.
 During the day Oscar would give select pieces from his supply of betry.
 'Le's go coon huntin' tonight, aD.
 ''All right, Jim, replied Sam.
 "I'll bet you don't ketch nuthin
 you do go, said Julia, with one
 her best smiles.
 'i bet the same ez you do, Julia, "
 ne from pretty Bettie.
 tTake the bet, '' said Jim and
 m simultaneously.
 Why shouldn'tI 1 say sonethingl
 ad carried up one of the corners
 tbo house that day, so l ventured
 ask:
 What are you going to betf'
 4 kiss piece" dryly remarked