A HUSKING-BEE. 1 43 



Her dark hair hung loose down her back, and her 

 arms, which were beautifully shaped, were bare to 

 the elbows. As she stooped forward at her occupa- 

 tion, a disengaged lock would fall over her face, and 

 she would raise her white hand to throw it back into 

 its place. At last I drew near, and spoke to her. 

 She rose with a little start, and her brunette com- 

 plexion was suffused with a deep blush, which even 

 passed down her neck. She soon recovered her com- 

 posure, however, and long I sat and talked to her. 

 As the old man was gone for the day, there was no 

 chance of interruption, and though time was flying 

 fast, not a word of love could I say. Whatever 

 direction our talk took, not a chance occurred to 

 speak of what was next my heart. 



'At length, among the ears of corn she shelled 

 there came a red one. Says I, " Angey, were you ever 

 at a husking-bee ? they are common down where I 

 come from." 



' " No," she answered ; " but I have heard tell of 

 them." 



' " Well, do you know," continued I, " what hap- 

 pens to those who get a red ear of corn ? " 



' She shook her head, to imply that she did not, 

 so I continued, " When a young woman gets a red 

 head of corn when husking, whoever is her sweet- 

 heart has the privilege of kissing her.. If a young 

 man gets one, he has the right to kiss his sweetheart/ 



' " So the young women get kissed any way," said 

 Angey. 



