The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-11-20

YAa4z2S@ II you have recent
| ssz &Em VI 1y been. in the fields
>Nf9A4 z of Pennsylvania, or
&Y&EB New Jersey or New
Nkr{H8 .,. York, or New Eng
~ land, or any of the
r - country districts;
=. a you know that corn
| is nearly all cut. The sharp knife
struck through the stalks and left
| came with a bundle of straw and
twisted few of these wisps of straw
into band, and then gathering up as
much OF the corn as he could compass
with his arms, he bound it with this
Wlsp OF straw, and then stood it in the
field in what is called shock. .
1t is estimated that there are now
several billion bushels of corn standing
IN the shock, waiting to be husked.
sometime during the latter part of next
month, the farmers will gather, one day
| on one farm, another day on another
farm, and they wilt put on their rough
husklng apron, and they will take the
husklng peg, which is piece of iron
With leather loop fastened to the
hand, and with it unsheath the corn
from the husk and toss it into the
golden heap. Then the wagons will
come along and take it to the corn
crib. "I.
HOW vividly to all those of us who
were born in the country comes the re-
| memprance of husking time. We wait
ea 1or 1t as for gala day in the year.
1t was called frolic. The trees hav-
! ing for the most part shed their foliage,
the farmers waded through the fallen
leaves and came through the keen
morning air to the gleeful company.
Ihe frosts which had silvered every
thing during the night began to melt
on OF the top of the corn shocks.
While the farmers were waiting for
others, they stood blowing their breath
through their fingers, or threshing their
arms! arms arounds their body to keep up
warmth of circulation. ES5:
Roarlng mirth greeted the late farm
er as he crawled over the fence. Joke
ana repartee and rustic salutation
abounded. All ready, now! The men
take hold the shock of corn and hurl
1t prostrate, while the moles and mice
which have secreted themselves there
Tor warmth attempt escape. The withe
OF straw is unwound from the corn
shock, and the stalks, heavy with the
wealth OF grain, are rolled into two
bundles, between which the husker sits
down. The husking peg is thrust in
until 1t strikes the corn, and then the
hngers rip off the sheathing of the ear,
ana there is a crack as the root of the
corn is snapped off from the husk, and
the grain, disimprisoned, is hurled up
into the sunlight.
The air is so tonic, the work is so
very exhilarating, the company is SO
bllthe, that some laugh, and some shout
and some sing, and some banter. and
some tease neighbor for romantic
ride along the edge of the woods in an
eventlde, in carriage that holds but
two, and some prophesy as to the num-
Der OF bushels to the field. and others
go into competition as to which shall
rifle the most corn shocks before sun
down. .,-
After while, the dinner horn sounds
from the farmhouse, and the, table is
surrounded by group of Jolly and
hungry men. From all the pantries
and the cellars and the perches of fowl
on the place the richest dainties come.
and there is carnival and neighborhood
reunion, and scene which fills our
memory, part with smiles but more
With tears as We remember that the
farm belongs now to other owners. and
other hands gather in the fields, and
many of those who mingled in that
merry husking scene have themselves
been reaped like as a shock OF corn
cometh in in his season. 49,
There is difference of opinion as to
whether the Orientals knew ANYTHING
about the corn as it stands in our fields.
but recent discoveries have found ont
that the Hebrew knew all about Indian
maize, for there have been grains of the
corn picked up out of ancient crynts
and exhumed from hiding places where
they were put down many Centuries
ago, and they have been planted in our
time and have come up just such Indian
ma maize as we raise in New York and
Ohio; SO am right when I say that nv
text may refer to a shock Of corn lust
as you and ! bound it, Just as you and 4
threw it, just as you and husked it.
There may come some practical and
useful and comforting lessons to all
our souls, while we think Of coming il,
at last I'll Ike a sh hock Of corn coming ia
in his season. e 755A
8. It is high time that the King of Ter
rors were thrown out Of the Christian
vocal abulary A vast multitude Of peo-
pie talk Of death as though it were the
disaster of disasters instead Of being
to. 81 good man the blessing of blessings.