Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1885 — A “CORN-SHUCKING” [ARTICLE]

A “CORN-SHUCKING”

Away Down in Georgia in Old Plantation Days. I suppose oar Yankee friends would call it a “busking-bee,” as they are wont to calf other such gatherings “paring bees,” “quilting bees,” etc. But we call it a corn-shucking. You must imagine that it is early autumn. The foliage of the distant woodlands have taken on all the variegated colors of the rain-bow. There are gum trees and maples whose tops are one sheet oj flame, oaks and towering hickories crowned with a mass of orange and golden colored leaves. The persimmon trees are loaded with their luscious fruit, and the late summer grapes hang in rich purple clusters along the fence rows next to the swamp. The pines alone are not affected by the change of season. Thev rise, gaunt and grim, their sombre foliage taking on a deeper tint by the contrast of colors. The broad fields of cotton are white as snow, and only the ‘sir: shucks” remain on the stalks where lately hung pendant the lusty ears of golden corn which are now piled in a semi-circle inside the barnyard. Day after day the loaded wagons have deposited their precious freight cn the growing pile, until now it forms a rampart high enough to allow 100 men to seathemselves along its line. Invitations have been sent to all the neighboring farms, and as the dusk dtepens and the first timid stars raise the purple curtain and gaze timidly do m on the beautiful earth, they begin to drtjp in, singly, in pairs and in small parties. They are mostly big, brawny darkies with phenomenal lung power, intermixed with a fair sprinkling of hardy farmers and “young massas” who . ave either received permission, or have r n away to enjoy the festive frolic. Now there is considerable dis T cussion about a leader. Every big farm has an acknowledged leader, and each party stoutly maintains the excellency of its own favorite. Chas. Green is finally chosen, and seizing a long ear of corn he mounts the corn pile, pulls his hat and bows low to the “boss” and to his auditors and followers, and then strikes up his wild song:

0! dey’s one ting a po’mttn seldom cbei' do, Frow out de ole co’n to frow In de new. 0! rally ronn’ d corn pile Hoo jolly ho! Rally rulin’ de co’n pile, Hoo jolly ho! All hands join in the clious, and the rustling of the shucks and steady pattering of the clean ears as they are tossed into the open space in front makes a spirited accompaniment to the weird music. Up and down, back and forth, the leader treads i he corn pile, singing at the top of his voice and swaying his hands and arms, head and body in time to his music. All are careful not to hit him, and he seems to pay no heed to the shower of ears that is flying aronnd his head.

From Sar’d’y night twell Sunday De gals is on my min’, But Monday morn in’bright an’soon, • De white man got me a gwme. O! git er long down d - road, O! git erlong down de road, Come git er long down the oa . my lub. Come git erlo g down de road. The pile of rough corn diminishes rapidly, the shucks are being carried away by the boys who have some high old times praticing gymnastics on the yielding pile, the glistening ears fall thick and fast on the accumulating pile of clear corn.

There has been an interesting light in the east for some minutes, and now the full autumn moon rises above the tree tops, and glides up the purple sky in all her majestic and bewildering splendor. By her light we see the dusky faces, and the fantastic movements of the long row of brawny arms that are busily working, all unconscious of the hardness of the labor, so interested are they in the songs of the leader. Suddenly, at a signal from Charlie, all hands stop, and the “Old Marster” approaches the leader

with a fat looking brown jug and a tin cup, who makes obeisance, and in a loud voice calls out: “Silence! Gem'len and friends: I drinks dis to de heal* ob de good marster, de mistis’, de young marster, de missies, may dey live long an’be happy!” Amid prolonged cheers the toast is drank, first by Charlie, and then the jug is passed along the line, each man drinking his “d’spec’s to de marster and mistis;” should the first give out another U put in the hands of the servitor and particular pains is taken to see that all are treated alike. Then the leader strikes up: Fo'tv weight o’ Johnny cake Fifty weight o. cheese, A big pot o’ hominy, An’ a little pot o’ peas. O 1 Jenny, ain’t yo ash cake done my iarlln’f JecnyJ ain't eegsh cake done, my deah?

Away they go, and the laugh and song, included with jests at the expense of the leader, who is sure to be ready with a fitting repartee, are kept up until the last nubbin is shncked.J s’lien comes the tug of war. For some time there has been wafted on the breeze from the great kitchn a most delicious aroma. Now the tables are ’aid with a bounteous repast for the white neighbors in doors. For the darkies, who are in the majority, long tables have been improvised beneath the great trees in the yard. Large fires are kindled so that the tables are well lighted, and the buxom servant maids cast long side-glances a certain bashful-looking swains o dusky hue, a i they move briskly piling up and arrauging the loave of brown bread and the disliesof meats, potatoes, vegetables and other etceteras. Charlie directs the movements of the banqueters, and they are soon ranged along each side of the long table. “Hats off, boys, an ’tention, while Popper Joe axes de blessin’.” A venerable negro whose woolly locks are scant and gray, approaches the head of the board. Slowly and reverently he lifts his palsied and withered hands. All heads are instantly bowed in reverence.

•‘0! Heabe. ly Marster! Press ’im in baskit an’ in store. Bress ’e fambly, an’e servants, an ’e prop’ty and all dat am his’n. An’ grant, oh! good Lord, to sanctify dis food to de good ob our pe’isliin’ bodies an’ feed our souls on de bread of life, fo’Jesus sake. Amen!” “Now, des’ he’p yo’selves, boys,” cries Charlie, and straiahtway they proceed to devour the tempting viands. After supper, in response to a request from the master, they sing a few of their wild plantation songs, and then disperse in all directions. —Valadosta (Ga.) Times. To Whom It May Concern: We, the undersigned citizens cheerfully recommend J. W. Poole & Bros, to any and all persons in need of fruit or ornamental trees, as they are the only nurserymen that have ever replaced stock as they a gibed to. They give u's in kin:l, variety and size just as represented. They represent the Michigan Nursery Co. Beware of all persons who are not possessed with a certificate representing the above firm. Newton County—Jno. Zoborosky, Jno. Kennedy, J. T. Decker John D. Spoilr, M. B. Carpenter, Reps. W. W. Gilman. Benton --Hugh Tracy, Lee Templeton, Mrs. Edward Sumner, Moses Fowler, J. W. Hawkins, Jesse Sumner. • -per — Hon. Fred Hoover, Jos. Parkison, H. W. Wood, S. Iliff, Sam’l Parker, Fred Zard, Sam’l Ritchey, John Bislosky.

An extract from the American Horticultura convention of the United States, held at Chicago, June 16th to 21st, 1885, says that in selecting or transplanting young nursery stock, that in no case sho’d trees be obtained in any district where trees have been killed by the last severe winter, for in this line trees are more or less diseased, even in the nursery row. This strip or blizzard line extends from the Mississippi to the Ohio river, taking in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and a portion of lowa. It is our,

opinion the best place to obtain nursery stock is from the north and lake regions, or south of this blizzard strip. But my advice to the planter is to procure fruit if possible from the north in transplanting. During the last twenty years Buch rapid strides of advancement have been made in all the different departments of horticulture, that the nurseryman and planter needs be ou the alert, or he will be distanced in the race upward in his profession. The list of varieties of twentv years ago are now largely discarded by the well informed planter, and newer and better kinds take the placet The newer things in horticulture of to-day, when compared with the mass of the old, tak' rank much as the railroad, the telegraph, and the telephone do, when compared with the old plans of travel and communication. Hardiness of tree, freedom from attacks of insects, and regular and constant bearing are qualities that now command the attention of planters.— To this end multitudinous experiments have been made, and much care has be *n tak n in testing new varieties, and not without salutary effects. Among apples quite a list can now be presented covering the season from early to late, of good flavored, showy fruit, the trees of which will withstand the severest winters withoui injury. These “iron-elads” (partly of Itussiu i origin) aTe constantly gaining favor among planters, and are continually in increasing demand.— The following are varieties of apples which can be relied upon:— Duclmss of Oldenberg, Wolf River, Walbridge, Mann, Wealthy, Pewaukee,Salome, Faumse, Scott’s Winter, Alexand Emp. and Tetofsky.