98 Corn-stalk Fiddles 



to all boys. And now a word concerning an 

 old-time musical instrument that may be now 

 quite out of date, the corn-stalk fiddle. 



This very primitive musical instrument is 

 associated with the dreamy Indian-summer 

 days of late November. Then it discoursed 

 delicious music, but at other times it would 

 have been <( out of tune and harsh." Did the 

 Indians give the secret to the children of our 

 colonial forefathers ? It would be a pleasing 

 thought whenever the toy comes to mind, as 

 the mere suggestion is a pleasant fancy. 



The husking over, the corn-stalks carted 

 and stored in a huge rick by the barn-yard, 

 the apples gathered, the winter wood cut, and 

 then the long quiet, with almost nothing to do. 

 Such was the routine when I was a boy, and 

 if the uncertain, dreamy days would only 

 come, there was sure to be a short round of 

 pleasure wherein the fiddle figured more 

 prominently than all else. 



It was no small part of the fun to see Billy 

 make a fiddle ; it was such a curious combi- 

 nation of mummery and skill. Having whet- 

 ted his keen, old-fashioned Barlow knife on 

 the toe of his boot, he would flourish it above 

 his head with a whoop as though he was 



