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VOL. III., NO. 4.
PINEHURST, N. C, NOV. 24, 1899.
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CORN SHOCKING.
Annual Husking Bee at Mr. J.
B. Saddler's Last Monday.
A Party from Pinehurst is Royally Enter
tained by this Hospitable Host.
A Pleasant and Novel Experience for All
of Our Villagers Who Attended.
It is an old custom in agricultural dis
tricts in many parts of the world to cel
ebrate the harvest time by a season of
rejoicing and feasting, after the bounti
ful crops have been safely stored away
for the winter. In different localities
this celebration takes different names
and forms, but the same spirit of glad
ness and goodwill presides over all.
In the legion about Pinehurst the
"corn-shucking'" is the popular autumn
festival, and is still observed in the good
old fashioned way. Corn is one of the
last of the big crops to be harvested
here, and when it has been gathered the
most pressing part of the fall work is
over and the farmer is therefore at liber
ty to devote a little time to merry-making.
When the corn (which in this section
is not golden, but white) is brought from
the fields it is placed in great piles near
the corn crib. Then a day is set for the
husking, or "shucking"" as it is called
here, the neighbors for miles around are
notified, and all turn out to help in the
work and enjoy the fun th.it follows.
The farmers" wives and daughters are
kept busy preparing the good things for
the feast, and the blazing logs roar in
the huge fireplaces while the numerous
pots, kettles and Dufch ovens send forth
appetizing odors indicative of the savory
contents.
The shucking generally commences in
the afternoon, so that all the work may
be finished early and the evening be de
voted to the good time that always fol
lows. Part of the workers gather about
the big pile of corn and the air is soon
filled with flying missies, the shucked
ears being thrown into a pile in front
while the husks are thrown to the rear
where they are gathered together by
another party and stored away. The
people chat and joke, and the infectious
laugh of the darkeys is heard continu
ously ; but while tongues are active, fin
gers are not idle, and the huge pile of
husked ears rapidly increases in size.
When night comes lanterns and torches
are produced, and large bonfires send
forth light and warmth.
The variety of corn grown here pro
duces plenty of red ears, and well of
course everybody knows what that
means at a shucking. And if some luck
less swain from Pinehurst is so unfor
tunate as to secure but few of these
prizes, the "Squire" (who declares he is
too old for such "foolishness") is sure to
slyly hand him one of the coveted arti
cles and then stand back and enjoy
watching the result.
But the corn is all shucked at last, and
the tired but h:0py company adjourns to
the house where long tables loaded with
eatables await the hungry host. After
the feast is over the floor is cleared, ban
jo and violin are produced, and dancing
and games are enjoyed well into the
small hours.
Last Monday Mr. J. B. Saddler held his
annual corn shucking at his plantation
about four miles from Pinehurst, and in
vited a number of our villagers to be
knife in her pocket, and if the worst
happened she would be able to make a
wigwam and build a fire so that all
would be comfortable.
However, one of the guides soon re
turned from a scouting expedition and
announced that the right road was close
at hand, and a short cut through the
woods and over a few fallen trees,
brought them to the right path, and a
few minutes later the party reached its
destination just as the full moon was
peeping above the tops of the trees.
On arriving at the house the party was
warmly welcomed by Mrs. Elizabeth
Saddler and her son, who informed
them that the last ear of corn
had been shucked about ten minutes be
fore. Most of the workers were found
busily engaged in clearing away the
husks. In front of the door a group
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A COUNTRY RESIDENCE.
present. Most of the young people here
have lived in Northern cities most of
their lives, and their knowledge of a
"shucking" was confined to what they
had read or heard; consequently all
were anxious to accept the invitation.
At 7.15 o'clock Monday evening the
wagonette and another team with the
Pinehurst party aboard started from the
store on their way to the scene of the
festivities. Messrs. Louis Letien and J.
It. Hitter acted as guides, and managed
to pilot the party across the ford at Mc
Kenzie s mill, past the McKenzie home
stead, and over the bridge at Little river
in safety ; but the night was dark and
the woods thick, and shortly after pass
ing the river the wrong road was taken
and traveled several hundred yards be
fore the sharp-eyed guides discovered
the mistake. Visions of a night spent in
the woods rose up before some of the
timid members of the party, but one
young lady quieted their fears by the an
nouncement that she had matches and a
was gathered about a large bonfire, as
the night was a little chilly. Numerous
youngsters were skylarking about in a
happy mood, and casting wistful glances
through the open door at the good things
prepared for the feast that was soon to
come. One little darkey created consid
erable fun by dancing on the sand in
front of the fire.
The kitchen chimney built of sticks
and mud was soon discovered to be on
tire, having caught from the great blaz
ing logs in the fireplace where the ex
tensive cooking operations were going
on, but a few buckets of water skillfully
applied soon quenched the flames and no
damage was done. It seemed queer to
the Northerners in the party to see but
little excitement over the fire, but chim
ney fires are of frequent occurrence here.
After a short time spent in looking
over the premises and getting acquainted,
supper was announced, and the call was
welcomed by all present. The visitors
from Pinehurst were given the place of
honor, and were soon seated at a table
loaded with good things for the inner
man.
In the South the sweet-potato pie oc
cupies about the same place in the hearts
of the people as the pumpkin pie does in
the North. To many of the Northern
people present this was the first oppor
tunity to sample this dainty, and few
neglected to embrace the chance. Great
piles of these and other kinds of pies
were placed near at hand, while vegeta
bles, meats and cake of various kinds
were lavishly provided, and it seemed to
the visitors that preparations had been
made to feed an army instead of a few
score of people. But the sequel showed
that those in charge of this department
knew their business. The best that the
country offorded was there, and it was
dispensed with a lavish hospitality that
left no doubt about all being welcome.
But at last even the pickaninnies found
that their capacity was limited,and could
only look longingly at the sweetmeats
for which they could find no more room.
Then the company repaired to a large
building near by, the banjo was produced
and dancing began. Several of the
young men gave excellent exhibitions of
clog dancing, and a young darkey danced
a jig and was heartily applauded. Then
a party of young people went through
the intricate figures of the cotillion in
the good old-fashioned way, and pre
parations were being made for playing
games, when it was discovered that the
hour was late and the Pinehurst partjT
felt obliged to leave.
Mrs. Saddler and her son left nothing
undone that would promote the pleasure
of their guests. All were made to feel
that they were heartily welcome, and
the Pinehurst party regretted that they
were Unable to stop longer.
The return trip was made by the light
of the moon and the company arrived in
the village about midnight. The outing
was a new experience to many of our vil
lagers and will be pleasantly remem
bered for many years to come.
A Pretty li!ld Story.
The prettiest child story that I have
seen lately is in French. A mother tells
her little girl that because she has been
naughty she will not kiss her for a week.
Before two days have gone by the child's
lips hunger so for her mother's kiss that
she begs her not to punish her any more.
The mother says : "No. my dear; I told
you that I should not kiss you and I must
keep my word." "But, mamma,
mamma," says the little girl, "would it
be breaking your word if you should kiss
me just once to-night, when I'm asleep?"
Boston Transcript.
The leading papers and magazines are
to be found in the reading room on the
second floor at the Casino. This room
and contents are for the free use of our
villagers.