Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-08

next CNaL on ora times IN u description
of the farming seasons in Brandywine
hundred. He said:
Farm work at the beginning of the CEN
fury was divided just about as it is now
according 10 the seasons Flax was sown
in the spring and harvested about July
10th. Buckwheat was put in about In
dependence Day and reaped three
months later. Corn was planted in May
and June, according to the variations Of
the season, and gathered September
and October--that is to say it was
shocked, cut and hauled off the ground,
probably to barrack, or else placed
leaning against fence.
1t seems that there has never been dis
covered any machine that will cut aud
gather corn, 1t has been tried. But
the corn stalk is too heavy. Some stalks
are IA feet high, and occasionally still
higher. The seed time in my day, rs
years ago, ranged from the middle Of
October to the middle Of November.
CORN uUsKING TINE.
When the time had come, and all the
minor crops had been gathered in, the
first frost was due notice that husking
time had come. The neighbors always
gathered together to help one another
in this fall work. Usually invitations
were sent around. The corn was either
in the shock in the field, or else the ears
had been pulled and the corn was stored
away in the barn.
The big barn was always very com
Portable and cosy for the huskers. They
always got whisky. When the husk-
ing was TO be done out in the fields the
moonlight nights were always chosen,
and it was generally during the dry
month of October. The start was made
with Is or 20 huskers. The shocks were
pushed over and opened and then began
the rivalry as to who could husk the
most. The rule was always very strict
that no corn be left on the stalks. They
generally commenced work about s
O'clock and kept on to 10. Work in
the barn was always preferred, and it
suited the older folks best.
YELLow-LEGGED CHICKEN PoT-PIE.
The women were not idle those times.
They had plenty to do to prepare meals
for the huskers. A good repast was
always provided It was generally
what the Brandywine hundred people
called acknowledged chicken pot pic. !"
There was plenty of chicken mixed
with good dough. 1t made first-rate
meal.
The huskers were of all ages, from IS
TO 60, though of course more OF the
former After supper there would be .
good time sitting around chatting and
singing. The folks had no organs nor
pianos in those days. Tho crowd dis
persed generally about midnight.
One of the neighbors of Uncle George
Davis was an old colored man who
farmed small patch from John Beeson.
His name was Jacob and his wife was
Phyllis. AS the white folks had husking
matches Jacob OF course had to have his.
HusKING SUPPER ETIQUETTE.
His 80 bushels were too much for him
and Phyllis to harvest and then he had
the ambition to do us the white folks
did. The latter helped him with
pleasure, Jake was aided also by his
colored friends. The neighbors also
helped Phyllis out with her needs fol
the larder.
The husking was done by 0 O'Clock
and then all went in to supper. The
white people always sat down first, and
the colored people helped to wait on the
table. Everything worked smooth and
nice. When the whites were served all
around and had left the table, the col
ored folks, men and women, sat down
and ate the chicken pot-pie with re-
doubled appetite. The huskings at old
Jake's passed off pleasantly. He genur.
ally had little whisky of which all
partook. But no one drank enough to
show it.
WHERE THE SLAVES WE'RE.
There were only few slaves around
here at that time. There was Lodges
Tom," and "Miller's Jack, and "Sharp.
ley's BilP'-that was the way they were
called in those days. Tommy Ba6b had
slave who was drowned while loading
J vessel at Quarryville. | saw the
negro lying on the shore. There was a
white man drowned at the same time
named Joseph Cartmell. The mer
were hauling the anchor of sloop wher
some mishap occurred and MIR. Cartmol
and the slave wore thrown overheard
Both were drowned.
DIR, Jeremiah HaTker, neighbor O.
Uncle George Davis, had two slaves
both boys. One was right black littlt
negro and the other mulatto.
SMELLING CoRN-oLD STYLE.
There were several ways of shellins
corn in the old days. One method bI
which they got along very fast was t
get spade, then placing it, handle on ,
ehair and the spade end over a washtub
49, operator sat on the chair with thu
candle under him. Then he took al
car of corn and rasped it hard agains
the sharp edge of the spade when til,
corn was stripped off, the seed fallint
into the tub below. Others would shei
the corn with their hands. Now, o
course, we have Smelling machine
Smelling hundreds Of bushels an hour.
HUsKING BEE-NEw STYLE.
Close by Carcroft station there is
house standing there now. Huber
.Weldin and his sister Eliza lived in !
about 1926. They gavo husklng be
on new style altogether. This froli
was not like a quilting match, but !
served the same purpose in the emo
When there is a quitting bee the girl
always came first to do the quilting
But at a husking the men are the frs
to arrive. Then the men went to tn
quilting to take the girls home, this tim
the girls came to take the men home.
JOHN HUSBANDS, THE FIDDLER.
A fiddler was at Mr.. Weldin's hom
that night and Immediately supper wa
over the fun began. 1t was basemen
kitchen and the parlor was above. Til
fiddler was John Husbands. His brothe
is still living. Others Of those present q
the Publication that / can call to min
were John Thompson, Hubert Weldir
Bill Husbands, Sam Forwood, Williar
Loyell-poor fellows! they are all dca
now-and so arc their girls, l guess. Tn
dancing was on the cotillion order. !
xtsag III, utut,,i.y Ill 1 -.