The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-06-06
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branches above.
"oh! George, tell them to stop
This was the cry OF Marian;
But the louder she hollered
The harder they pushed.
And the swing weat a little BIT higher
Fish fries" broke up about dark,
and the grind of wheels on the gravel
ly spots and the shouts of the return
ing couples soon died away along the
road.
Barbecues were rather infrequent
affairs, sometimes occurring when =
noted political speaker was to make
an address. They were held usually
at the county fair grounds, or out In
the woods somewhere, and whole
beeves, sheep and hogs were roasted.
and literally tons of eatables con-
sumed. There was always something
to spend money over, and while tho
boys and girls seldom enthused over
the oratory, they did over the good
things to eat. Picnics were also in
frequent happenings.
The buggy ride is at present the
piece de resistance Of country court
ship. 1t takes the couple away from
the prying eyes of little Dub" and
Sis" and 1t usually loosens the
tongue of many bashful swain.
There is something for a boys hands
to do, and his feet are under cover.
The awkwardness OF hanging on
to a chair and trying to think Of
something to say is gotten rid of, and
the motion of the flying buggy cheers,
but does. not inebriate him. He =
therefore more at an advantage, - to
carrying on a conversation, and many
proposal is jolted out on q buggy
ride which otherwise might remain
unspoken.
The fashion mainly in our neighbor-
hood was for the girls to go bare
headed on these drives, and Sunday
afternoon and evening the dull rever-
beration Of wheels along the road,
and the distant rumble over nearby
bridges, told that Cupid's cohorts were
bestirring themselves. In the winter
time there was of course the shifting
from buggies to sleighs and cutters,
and even the old-time bob-sleds, when
parties went out. Skating parties
were also popular, and at all seasons
they held the dances.
Bridge whist" needless to say, was
unknown. Progressive euchre" an
unknown quantity. Receptions"
there were none, and as for ''teapour.
ing" or any such lack-a-daisaical per
formances, they were unheard Of
Cupid depended mostly on the red
wheeled buggies and the country
dances, and his success justified his
selections. OF course the time-honor-
ed institution of sparkling" was not
done away with. This interesting proc
ess, however, is mostly confined to
Sunday nights, and may be, and usual
ly Is protracted until around Monday
morning early, say close to one o'clock
a. m. Sunday nights the lights in
many farm house shone out over
the fields, and inside the houses the
various couples talked over their
dances, and parties, their neighbor-
hood topics and matters of local inter-
est, and scanned the family album,
and gossiped and bantered. one an
other.
And here, too, Cupid appeared be-
hind the scenes, and, matrimonially
inclined, wove the webs of mutual
trust and confidence between the
couples, and aided in unfolding the
mystery of his divine art. Outside the
stars cleaned, and the trees waved
by still fields. Inside, perhaps the
organ sounded softly, or fire glowed
in an old-fashioned fireplace or in .
more modern stove.
After the "old folks went to bed
and there was nothing to disturb the
quiet Of indoors but the monotone Of
the two responding voices. Cupid be-
took himself to other times and spaces,
confident that his spell was already
progressing bravely.
In the country papers the ''corre-
spondents" from the various quarters
of the township regularly reported all
these different counting bees" and
the usual jokes were leveled at the
swain when the paper made its ap-
pearance. Indeed, he would be some
what disappointed IL he thought that
his comings and goings were to pass
unrecorded, and generally had . re-
tort ready for the greetings which he
may be sure will follow his appear.
ance in public.
And how quickly marriage follows
on in the country! And be sure that |
whoever are invited to the wedding,
all the country round knows of It.
And the thoughtful groom, knowing
the custom of the country, provides |
himself with various boxes of cigars,
and the newly-made bride cooks plen. !
tiful quantities of toothsome viands,
and together they sit down In their |
darkened home, awaiting with pleased |
expectancy the arrival of the band Of |
neighbors intent on "shivareeing" |