Tazewell County, Illinois - Chapter 10, 1879

Log Cabins

WE shall, in this chapter, give a clear and exact description of pioneer life in this county, commencing with the time the sturdy settlers first arrived with their scanty stores. They had migrated from older States, where the prospects for even a competency were very poor, many of them coming from Kentucky, for, it is supposed, they found that a good State to emigrate from. Their entire stock of furniture, implements and family necessities were easily stored in one wagon, and sometimes a cart was their only vehicle.

As the first thing after they arrived and found a suitable location, they would set about the building of a log cabin, a description of which may be interesting to the younger readers, and especially their descendants, who may never see a structure of the kind. Trees of uniform size were selected and cut into pieces of the desired length, each end being saddled and notched so as to bring the logs as, near together as possible. The cracks were " chinked and daubed" to prevent the wind from whistling through. This had to be renewed every fall before cold weather set in. The usual height was one story of about seven or eight feet. The gables were made of logs gradually shortened up to the top. The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from gable to gable, suitable distances apart, on which were laid the clapboards after the mannner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather. The clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called " weight poles," reaching from one gable to the other, being kept apart and in their place by laying pieces of timber between them called " runs." A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of the cabin, the chimney standing entirely outside, and built of rived sticks, laid up cob-house fashion, and filled with clay, or built of stone, often using two or three cords of stone in building one chimney. For a window a piece about two feet long was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed, sometimes with glass, but oftener with greased paper pasted over it. A doorway was also cut through one of the walls, and the door was made of spliced clapboards and hung with. wooden hinges. This was opened by pulling a leather latch-string which raised a wooden latch inside the door. For security at night this latch-string was pulled in, but for friends and neighbors, and even strangers, the " latch-string was always hanging out," as a welcome.

In the interior, upon one side, is the huge fire-place, large enough to contain a back-log as big as the strongest man could carry, and holding enough wood to supply an ordinary stove a week ; on either side are huge poles and kettles, and over all a mantle on which was placed the tallow dip. In one corner stood the larger bed for the old folks, under this the trundle-bed for the children ; in another corner stood the old-fashioned large spinning wheel, with a smaller one by its side ; in another the pine table, around which the family gathered to partake of their plain food ; over the door hung the ever trustful rifle and powder-horn ; while around the room were scattered a few splint-bottomed chairs and three-legged stools ; a rude cupboard holding the table ware, which consisted of a few cups and saucers and blue-edged plates, standing singly on their edges against the back, to make the display of table furniture more conspicuous.

These simple cabins were inhabited by a kind and true-hearted people. They were strangers to mock modesty, and the traveler, seeking lodgings for the night or desirous of spending a few days in the community, if willing to accept the rude offering, was always welcome, although how they were disposed of at night the reader may not easily imagine ; for, as described, a single room was made to serve the purpose of kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room, bed-room, and parlor, and many families consisted of six or eight members.

Selection Of Homes

For a great many years but few thought it advisable to attempt farming in the prairie. To many of them the cultivation of the prairies was an untried experiment and it was the prevailing opinion that the timber would soon become very scarce, a fear soon proven to be without foundation. Another obstacle that was in the way for a great many years was that no plows suitable for breaking the prairie land could be had. The sod was very much tougher then than it was in after years when the stock had pastured the prairies and killed out the grass to some extent. It would be astonishing to the younger residents to see the immense crops of prairie grass that grew upon the fields which are to day in such a high state of cultivation. It grew in places six to twelve feet high. It was these immense crops of grass that furnished the fuel for the terrible fires that swept over the prairies during the fall. Then, again, there was so much of the prairie land that was considered too wet to be ever suitable for cultivation. Many of the older settlers now living well remember when farms that are now in the highest state of cultivation were a vast swamp. There was another drawback in the settlement of the prairies, and that was the great labor and cost of fencing. But the principal reasons for locating in the timber was that many of their cabins were poor, half-finished affairs, and protection from the driving storms was absolutely required. The timber also sheltered stock until such times as sheds and out buildings could be erected. That the time should soon come when intelligent, enterprising farmers would see that their interest lay in improving prairie farms, and cease clearing fields, when there were boundless acres presenting no obstacle to the most perfect cultivation, argues nothing in the policy of sheltering for a time in the woods. In regard to the pioneers settling along the timber, we often hear remarks made as though the selection of such locations implied a lack of judgment. Those who are disposed to treat it in that manner are asked to consider carefully the above facts, when they will conclude such selection argued in their favor.

Clearing of timber land was attended with much hard labor. The underbrush was grubbed up, piled into heaps and burned. The large trees were in many cases left standing, and deadened by girdling. This was done by cutting through the bark into the wood, generally through the " sap," all around the trunk.

Milling

Not the least of the hardships of the pioneers was the procuring of bread. The first settlers must be supplied at least one year from other sources than their own lands. But the first crops, however abundant, gave only partial relief, there being no mills to grind the grain. Hence the necessity of grinding by hand power, and many families were poorly provided with means for doing this. Another way was to grate the corn. A grater was made from a piece of tin, sometimes taken from an old worn-out tin bucket or other vessel. It was thickly perforated, bent into a semi-circular form, and nailed, rough side upwards, on a board. The corn was taken in the ear and grated before it got dry and hard. Corn, however, was eaten in. various ways.

Soon after the country became more generally settled, enterprising men were ready to embark in the milling business. Sites along the streams were selected for water-power. A person looking for a millsite would follow up and down the stream for a desired location, and when found he would go before the County Commissioners and secure a writ of ad quod damnum. This would enable the miller to have the adjoining land officially examined, and the amount of damage by making a dam was named. Mills being such a great public necessity, they were permitted to be located upon any person's land if the miller thought the site desirable.

A horse-mill was built on the southeast quarter of section 1, Sand Prairie township, in 1830-1, by Elisha Perkins. People for many miles away came to this mill, but its capacity was small. During the Black Hawk war John Essex and others came from the extreme northern part of Knox county to this mill to have their grain ground. During these perilous times a fort was began at this mill. It was intended to enclose it with a heavy palisade so that the settlers would not be cut oiF from food, and also to jn-otect the people. But the fort was never fully completed. The puncheons of which it was made remained in position for several years afterward.

Mrs. Parmelia Brown, widow of Rev. William Brown, the i^ioneer preacher, tells us that during the winter of the deep snow they, as well as many others, had to pound their corn in a mortar.

Native Animals

The wild animals infesting this county at the time of its settlement, were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, fox, otter, raccoon, woodchuck or ground-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, muskrat, opossum, rabbit, and squirrel ; and the principal feathered game were the quail, prairie-chicken, and wild turkey. Several of these animals furnished meat for the early settlers ; but their principal meat did not consist long of game. Pork and poultry were soon raised in abundance. The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common enemy of the sheep. It was quite difficult to protect the sheep from their ravages. Sometimes pigs and calves were also victims of the wolf. Their howling in the night would often keep families awake, and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. Their yells often were terrific. Says one old settler : " Suppose six boys, having six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would hear such music as two wolves would make." To effect the destruction of these animals the county authorities offered a bounty for their scalps and besides big hunts were inaugurated for their destruction, and " wolf hunts " are prominent among the memories of the early settlers. Such events were generally turned into a holiday, and everybody that could ride a nag or stand the tramp on foot joined in the deadly pursuit. A large circuit was generally made by the hunters, who then closed in on every side, driving the hungry wolves into the center of the corral, where they were despatched. The return home with the carcasses was the signal for a general turn-out, and these " pleasure parties " are still referred to by old citizens as among the pleasantest memories of early life in Tazewell county. Many a hungry wolf has been run down on the prairies where now is located a town or fine farm residence. This rare old pastime, like much of the early hunting and fishing the pioneers indulged in here, departed at the appearance of the locomotive.

Mr. J. Mooberry, his friend, Mr, Hudson, from Ohio, and a number of young men of Groveland, started on a wolf hunt one day many years ago. The young fellows were careful to take the best and fleetest horses, leaving, as they laughingly said, " the plugs for the old men." A wolf was soon found and chase given. After running a long distance it went through a herd of horses. This checked all the dogs save two, Avhich followed it. It ran directly toward the two "old men," and plunged into the thick, tall grass of a slough ; but soon the dogs came up and jumped upon the fatigued animal. Before the dogs killed it, however, the men jumped from their horses, muzzled the wolf and secured it alive. Mr. Mooberry took it upon his horse in front of himself. Soon the laugh was on the " boys," as the old men had captured the game.

Kezer Hancock, an early settler and quite a noted hunter, was out hunting in Groveland township in the year 1839, when he sent his very large bull-dog after a panther. He followed it until it gave a terrible yawl, when the dog hastily retreated to his master, and would not leave him again while in the woods. The wily pan- ther kept apace with them, and only about fifteen feet away all through the timber. It was doubtless the jiresence of the dog that kept the panther at bay and enabled Mr. Hancock to escape.

Mr. Hancock has killed as many as 23 deer within three weeks' time. At one time while out hunting without a dog, he shot a large buck deer, causing him to fall. On attempting to rise Mr. Hancock siezed him by the hind leg, and with his hunting knife struggled Avith him for about three quarters of an hour, gashing his body, until finally, he succeeded in thrusting his knife to the heart. Often has Mrs. Hancock chased the wolves from her door-yard to save her chickens. Once a wolf caught a big sheep by his tail, and pulled him back as he attempted to jump the fence, but Mrs. Hancock frightened the wolf away and saved her sheep.

Louis White, of Spring Lake, in relating to us a number of incidents of early times in Tazewell, tells of a scare he received by being lost on the prairie, and being surrounded by the pesky wolves. While the wolves were not generally dangerous to persons, yet they would occasionally attack them, and especially after night. Mr. White had been at the carding-mill in Dillonville to have some wool carded for home use. He returned by way of Tremont and Pekin, and it was well after dark when he passed through Pekiu. He had a very trusty pair of horses, and after getting a good start on the road, as he often did he tied the lines around his body and lay down in the wagon for a nap. He was awakened, after going he knew not how far, by the yelping and howling of the wolves which were following him. It was pitch dark, and the horses were greatly excited. He could not induce them to go as he wished. They wanted to go one way and he another. He got out of the wagon and found he was off the road, and in reality lost on the prairie with packs of ravenous wolves howling on every side. Unfortunately he had no fire-arms to defend himself against their attack. He became alarmed at the unpleasant, yes, dangerous, situation he was in. Who would not ? Finally he thought he would let his horses go where they would and trust to them and Providence for his safety. After going a little ways they again stopped, and he could not possibly urge them further. Here was a dilemma worse than the first, - in the midst of the prairie, pitch dark, with wolves all around to eat him, and his trusty animals unwilling to move. At last he ventured to get out of his wagon to examine and discover, if he could, what prevented his horses from going, and to his

Bee-Hunting

During the early settlement of this part of the State, one of the prevailing customs of the pioneers was "bee-hunting." Often a small company would travel many miles into a wild, unsettled country, in search of the sweet-flavored honey of the wild bee. Large trees, containing many gallons, and often a barrel, were frequently found by bee-hunters. The little, busy bees would be carefully watched as they flew heavily laden with the richest extract of the flowers that were purely native and unknown to the present generation. They always took a "bee line" for their homes. This was a correct guide to the sturdy hunter, who had studied with care the ways of the bee and by their knowledge took advantage of the little insect. Once on the trail, good bee-hunters were almost certain to capture the rich prize. After the bee tree was discovered it was no trouble to get possession of the honey. The tree was felled, and the hunters would rush for their booty ere it was lost by running out upon the ground.

Manners And Customs

We copy a very interesting and graphic article from the " History of Washington," by John W. Dougherty, upon the social habits and customs of the people of this community. He says :

" We know but little of the social habits of the people in those days," referring to the time the first settlers came to the county. " Their appreciation of education is shown in their efforts to establish schools, temporary at first, but finally perhianent. Their religious zeal is shown by their successful efforts in establishing churches, and their Christian liberality by the number and variety of them. Nor are we informed in regard to the amusements indulged in by the young folks ; but, being young folks, we have no doubt they found many ways of robbing Old Time of loneliness. It would be unfair to suppose them, especially the ladies, destitute of fashonable aspirations, but the means for gaudy display were very much circumscribed in those days. The male attire consisted chiefly of buckskin, or homespun cloth, - we might add home-woven, the loom beiu": far more common in or near their rude huts than the piano or organ. They were not, however, destitute of musical taste, and many of their vocal performances would compare favorably with our present choirs. We may safely say they sang with the spirit. Most of the ladies, also, wore homespun, which they manufactured from wool, flax, cotton, and the bark or lint of the nettle, colored with such ingredients as nature provided, without the aid of art. A few even adopted buckskin. How many yards of the latter article were required for a fashionable dress in those times, or in what particular style they were cut and trimmed we are not informed, and must leave the ladies to draw their own conclusions. These dresses certainly were durable, and shielded the wearer in out-door exercises incident to the planting, attending and gathering of crops, in which pursuit the ladies in all new countries assist.

" Another of the prevailing fashions was that of carrying firearms, made necessary by the presence in the neighborhood of roving bands of Indians, most of whom were ostensibly friendly, but like Indians in all times, treacherous and unreliable. These tribes were principally Pottawatomies. There were also in the northern part of the State several tribes of hostile Indians, ready at any time to make a murderous, thieving raid upon the white settlers ; and an Indian war at any time was an accepted probability ; and these old settlers to-day have vivid recollections of the Black Hawk and other Indian wars. And, while target practice was much indulged in as an amusement, it was also necessary for a proper self-defense ; the settlers finding it necessary at times to carry their guns with them when they went to hoe their corn. In some instances their guns were stacked in the field and the laborers worked for a certain distance around them, and then moved the guns to a certain position and again proceeded with their work.

" These were only a few of the hardships incident to pioneer life, which was largely made up of privations, inconveniences and dangers. They had few labor-saving machines and no reliable markets. Even communication by letter with their distant friends and relatives was rendered difficult for want of proper mail facilities, and sometimes for the want of money to pay the postage on the letters sent to them, - the postage then being twenty-five cents for a single letter, many of which remained in the office for weeks on account of the inability of the persons addressed to pay the postage."

Preaching Of The Gospel

The earlv settlers were not entirely without preaching. Says an old pioneer on this subject : " The ministers of the Gospel of the Savior of the world hunted us up and preached to what few there were ; therefore we did not degenerate and turn heathen, as any community will where the sound of the gospel is never heard. I shall not give their names, though sacred in memory, for they were not after the fleece, but after the flock, because they had but little to say about science and philosophy, but spoke of purer things."

Though struggling under the pressure of poverty and privation, the early settlers planted among them the school-house at the earliest practicable period. So important an object as the education of their children they did not defer until they could build more comely and convenient houses. They were for a time content with such as corresponded with their rude dwellings, but soon better buildings and accommodations were provided. As may readily be supposed, the accommodations of the earliest schools were not good. Sometimes school was taught in small log houses erected for the purpose. Stoves and such heating apparatus as are now in use were unknown. A mud-and-stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen hearth and fire-place wide and deep enough to take in a four-foot back-log, and smaller wood to match, served for warming purposes in winter and a kind of conservatory in summer. For windows, part of a log was cut out in either side, and may be a few lights of eight-by-ten glass set in, or just as likely as not the aperture would be covered over with greased paper. Writing benches were made of wide planks, or likely puncheons, resting on pins or arms, clriven into two-inch auger-holes, bored into the logs beneath the windows. Seats were made out of puncheons, and flooring of the same material. Everything was rude and plain; but many of America's greatest men have gone out from just such school-houses to grapple with the world and make names for themselves, and have come to be an honor to their country. Among these we can name Abraham Lincoln, our martyred President, one of the noblest men ever known to the world's history. Stephen A. Douglas, one of the greatest statesmen of the age, began liis career in Illinois teaching in one of these primitive school-houses.

school-house. Their places are filled with handsome frame or brick structures, which for elegance and beauty of design, rival those of older settled countries ; and in place of the " masters, " who were " looked up to " as superior beings, and were consulted on all matters of law, physic and religion, there are teachers of liberal culture, intelligent and progressive, many of whom have a broad and comprehensive idea of education, and regard their labor as something more than teaching merely in order to make a living - more than a knowledge of a great number of facts in the universe of mind and matter. It means culture, the educating, developing and disciplining of all the faculties of the human mind. It is the comprehension of the entire being of man ; and the school or teacher who takes charge and care of the young should provide the means and methods for carrying forward the process in all departments of their complex natures, ' physical, mental and spiritual.

The earliest settlers of the county went to St. Louis with what little produce they had to sell and the merchants bought all their goods in that city. Soon, however, Peoria and Pekin became markets, and produce was wagoned to those cities and from there sent south on the river. There was at that time no sale for corn, or comparatively none, and wheat would bring only a small price ; so that really there was no impetus given to the raising of grain of any sort, except for home consumption, until the advent of the railroad. At that time improvement began. The great resources of the county which had scarcely supplied more than home demand, were then turned to supply the wants of thousands. That occasion, the advent of railroads, was the commencement of agricultural development. It was the commencement of the manufacturing institutions the county can now boast of; it was the building of her thriving cities and towns, - indeed it was the beginning of progress.

The people of this county experienced considerable trouble getting to Peoria before the construction of the bridge across the Illinois. It consumed so much time to cross on the slow-going ferry, especially when there was a " big day " at that place, or when the river was high. To the settlers who lived on this side of the river the Peoria merchants offered inducements by paying their toll across and back if they would trade to the amount of one dollar. The pork-buyers would also pay the ferriage of those who would bring them pork,

In those early days large crops of all kinds of grain could be raised, but the prices were exceedingly low. Dressed hogs would bring $1.10 per hundred pounds, while wheat would bring 25 cents per bushel. At present, when hogs are considered very low, they are worth alive ^3.50 per hundred, and wheat 95 cents per bushel.

C. R. Crandall tells us he sent a load of grain to Chicago to exchange for shingles to cover his first house with. Indeed, many of the early settlers hauled their produce to that city.

" When the first settlers came to the wilderness, " says an old settler, "they all supposed that their hard struggle would be principally over after the first year ; but alas ! we looked for ' easier times next year' for about ten years, and learned to bear hardships, privation and hard living as good soldiers do. As the facilities for making money were riot great, we lived pretty well satisfied in an atmosphere of good, social, friendly feeling, and thought ourselves as good as those we left behind when we emigrated West."

Chills And Fever

One of the greatest obstacles, and one which wielded a very potent influence in retarding the early settlement of this county, was the "chills and fever," or the "ague," or the "Illinois shakes," as it was variously styled. This disease was a terror to new comers. In the fall of the year everybody was afflicted with it. It was no respecter of persons ; everybody shook with it, and it was in every person's system. They all looked pale and yellow as though they were frostbitten. It was not contagious, but was a kind of miasma that floated around in the atmosphere and was absorbed into the system. It continued to be absorbed from day to day, and week to week, until the whole body corporate became charged with it as with electricity, and then the shock came ; and the shock ^v as a regular shake, with a fixed beginning and an ending, coming on each day, or each alternate day, with a regularity that was surprising. After the shake came the fever, and this " last estate was worse than the first." It was a burning hot fever and lasted for hours. When you had the chill you couldn't get warm, and when you had the fever you couldn't get cool. It was exceedingly awkward in this respect, indeed it was. It would not stop, either, for any sort of contingency. Not even a wedding in the family would stop it. It was imperative and tyranincal. When the appointed time came around everthing else had to be stopped to attend to its demands. It didn't even have any Sundays or holidays. After the fever went down you still didn't feel much better. You felt as though you had gone through some sort of collision and came out not killed but badly demoralized. You felt weak, as though you had run too far after something, and then didn't catch it. You felt languid, stupid and sore, and was down in the mouth and heel and partially raveled out, so to speak. Your back was out of fix and your appetite was in a worse condition than your back. Your head ached and your eyes had more white in them than usual, and altogether you felt poor, disconsolate and sad. You didn't think much of yourself, and didn't believe othfer people did either, and you didn't care. You didn't think much of suicide, but at the same time you almost made up your mind that under certain circumstances it was justifiable. You imagined that even the dogs looked at you with a kind of self-complacency. You thought the sun had a kind of sickly shine about it. About this time you came to the conclusion that you would not accept the whole State of Illinois as a gift, and if you had the strength and means, picked up Hannah and the baby and your traps, and went back "yander" to Injianny, Ohio, or old Kaintuck.

The above is no picture of the imagination. It is simply recounting what occurred in hundreds of instances. Whole families would some time be sick at one time, and not one member scarcely able to wait upon another. One widow lady at Pekin informs us she lost nine children from this dreaded disease !

Cooking

stoves and ranges came into use. Kettles were hung over the large fire, suspended on trammels which were held by strong poles. The long-handled frying-pan was used for cooking meat. It was held on the fire by hand ; or, to save time, the handle was laid across the back of a chair. This pan was also used for baking short-cake. A better article was a cast-iron spider, which was set upon coals on the hearth. But the best thing for baking bread was the flat-bottomed bakekettle of greater depth, with closely fitting cast-iron cover, and commonly known as " Dutch oven." With coals over and under it bread and biscuit would quickly and nicely bake. Turkeys and spare-ribs were sometimes roasted before the fire, suspended by a string, a dish being placed underneath to catch the drippings.

The agricultural implements used by the first farmer here would in this age of im})r()vement be great curiosities. The plow used was called the bar-share plow. The iron point consisted of a bar of iron about two feet long, and a broad shear of iron welded to it. At the extreme point was a coulter that passed through a beam six or seven feet long, to which were attached handles of corresponding length. The mold-board was a wooden one split out of winding timber, or hewed into a winding shape in order to turn the soil over. Sown seed was brushed in by a sapling with a bushy top being dragged over the ground. In harvesting the change is most striking. Instead of the reapers and mowers of to-day, the sickle and cradle were used. The grain was threshed with a flail, or trodden out by horses or oxen.

The men were not called upon to endure alone all the hardships and labor of frontier life. The women also had their physical labor to perfi)rm, and much of it was quite arduous. Spinning was one of the common household duties. This exercise is one which few of the present generation of girls have ever enjoyed. The wheel used for spinning flax was called the "little wheel," to distinguish it from the "big wheel" used for s])inning yarn. These stringed instruments furnished the principal music of the family, and were operated by our mothers and grandmothers with great skill, attained without pecuniary expense, and with far less practice than is necessary for the girls of our period to acquire a skillful use of their costly and elegant instruments.

The loom was not less necessary than the wheel. Not every house, however, in which spinning was done had a loom ; but there were always some in each settlement who, besides doing their own weaving, did some for others. Settlers, having succeeded in spite of the wolves in raising sheep, commenced the manufacture of woolen cloth ; wool was carded and made into rolls by hand-cords, and the rolls were spun on the "big wheel." We occasionally find now, in the houses of the old settlers, one of these big wheels, sometimes used for spinning and twisting stocking yarn. They are turned with the hand, and with such velocity that it will run itself while the nimble worker, by her backward step, draws out and twists her thread nearly the whole length of the cabin. A common article woven on the loom was linsey, also called linsey-woolsey, the chain being linen and the filling woolen. This cloth was used for dresses for the girls and mothers. Nearly all the clothes worn by the men were also home-made. Rarely was a farmer or his son seen in a coat made of any other. If, occasionally, a young man appeared in a suit of " boughten " clothes, he was suspected of having gotten it for a particular occasion, which occurs in the life of nearly every man.

Not until the settlers had supplied themselves with the more useful articles of clothing and with edibles of various kinds, did wheat bread become a common article of food. It is true they had it earlier, but this was only served on extra occasions, as when visitors came, or on Sundays ; and with this luxury they would have a little " store coffee." " The little brown jug" found a place in almost every home, and was often brought into use. No caller was permitted to leave the house without an invitation to partake of its contents.

Pleasures Of Pioneer Life

The history of pioneer life generally presents the dark side of the picture ; but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No ; for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation, and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish them a good, hearty laugh. Among the more general forms of amusements were the " quilting-bee," "corn-husking," and the "apple-paring," and in timbered sections, " log-rolling" and "houseraising." Our young readers will doubtless be interested in a description of these forms of amusement, when kibor was made to afibrd fun and enjoyment to all participating. The "quilting-bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy, little insect that "improves each shining hour" were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon ladies for miles around gathered at an appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, their hands were as busily engaged in making the quilt ; and desire was always manifested to get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass swiftly by in playing games or dancing. " Corn-huskings " were when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a large barn, which was arranged for the occasion ; and when each gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present ; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all husked a good supper was served ; then the " old folks " would leave, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation aiforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed, and quite as innocent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture.