Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-06
TO A HUSKING BEE.

Away back in the corner Of a neighbor-
ing village, where tho turmoil of the city
has never interfered with his thoughts,
there lives Il man whom it will be well to
call Thomas Smith, who is noted for his
bashfulness and also for his flow of speech,
which is conspicuous for its absence.
Tom is tall, angular and awkward, pos,
sessed of IA rugged constitution and "A re-
markable adaptability for the work aboub
his farm, which is ono of the best in the
country around. He is the oldest of three
brothers, none Of whom are at all given
to loquacity, but are honest, hard work.
ing and, we may add, successful farmers.
Tom Is fully 30 years of age, yet up to
the time that this story takes his expert.
ence in hand he had never had ii sweet.
heart. The mere sight of a young lady
was enough TO drive him from the room,
or when fairly cornerod he would blush so
violently that even the scant set of fiery
red whiskers which he wore during the
cold season were, in comparison, but as a
shadow to the sunlight.
During the fall of tho year, after the
crops had been harvested, Toms thoughts
began to wander in the direction Of the
quilting and husking bees that all the 9TH
err people, both young and old, were APP
parently enjoying so much, and he began
to wonder why it was that he never went
to any of the Qualifications, and in a spirit
of remors he condemned himself roundly
for having been so negligent of his social
education.
1t was a hard and bitter fight that his
social nature fought with his old self one
night, but the social nature won, and
Tom decided to 60 to Wasson's husking
bee the next evening, and, furthermore,
he had solemnly taken oath by himself to
take along a young lady, and this was the
part that made him almost lose his breath
every time he thought Of it, which was al
most continuously.
But very little work was done during
the forenoon of that day, as he made a trip
to the village, where he purchased a fam
ing red necktie and 5 cents worth of bro
ken candy, for he avowed to himself he was
going to treat that girl in proper shape
even if it did cost money, and all girls like
confectionery.
He had not decided what particular girl
he would take, but intended to go to the
Woodmores' house and get whichever of
the three sisters happened to come to the
door.
Chores were done early that afternoon,
and by s o'clock Tom drove away from
home arrayed in his Sunday best, with the
new neoktie looming up like a light in the
dark. The horse had been carefully
groomed and the best wagon had been
washed, a fact that greatly surprised his
mother, who thought that Tommy must
surely be in love.
Mr.. Woodwork was greatly surprised at
seeing Tom drive up in front of his door
and saluted him jovially, hut the only re-
ply that can,e from Tom was the almost
incoherent words, II want "a girl"
Sitting his laughter, for Mr.. WOODWORK
saw the point at once, he stepped into the
house and sent Jennie, the oldest and jol-
lest of his daughters.
As he stepped to the door and merrily
babe Tom Good evening" that worthy
nearly fell out of his wagon in his embar-
rasslnent, and it was several minutes be.
fore he could quell the wild beating Of his
heart long enough to repeat in a ''speak-
ing a piece sort of a way as he stared
hard at the door behind Jennie:
$50 to the hnskin with me2''
Now, Jennie likes sport as we'll as the
best of girls, and she quickly accepted the
invitation, at once going back to get her
wraps and laughing with her sisters over
the immensity of the joke.
She went out to the wagon and climbed
in unaided, as he had all the while kept
bis seat. The old horse was whipped up
and off they went. Jennie made all at.
tempt to talk, but receiving no answers
she remained silent. About one-half of
the four miles had been trayersed be-
fore Tom thought of the candy in his
pocket, his mind had been in such a tur-
bulent state, and he at once selected a
large pic e~of twisted peppermint stick
and held it to his charmer, saying, "Eat,"
and that was the only word spoken by
him TIN oughout the trip, although he
made Sc yeral attempts, but every time his
tongue teemed to cleave to the roof of his
mouth.
The destination reached, he kindly al
lowed Jennie to get out of the wagon UNI
assisted and go to the house, while he,
breathing easier, drove to the barn and
embarrassed his horse.
Again there was a tussle, and again his
immense social nature predominated, and
he resis ted the inclination of sneaking
away and home and, taking another brace,
went to the stable where the husking OF
the great ears of golden corn was in prog
ress and during the long evening worked
hard and unceasing, never exchanging q
word with any one.
Supper time arrived and he had suffi-
Gent courage to go and eat with the rest,
although his feelings and sono of the
queer mistakes he made would fill II vol
ume. rf
Whatever may have been his feelings
toward Jennie that night on tho way
home, he made ron of them known, and
the ride was a wordless one.
Tom hasn't yet taken another girl to a
social entertainment, but having made
such a brave beginning his friends have
hopes for him. Augusta (Me.) Journal.