Corn-stalk Fiddles 



99 



looking for an enemy instead of a corn-stalk. 

 Finding one that was glossy and long enough 

 between the joints, he would press it gently 

 between his lips, trying the several sections, 

 and then selecting the longest and most glossy 

 one. So much of the proceeding was for our 

 benefit, as the cunning old fellow well knew 

 that it added to his importance in our eyes. 



What followed was skill. Having cut off 

 the stalk above and below the ring-like joints, 

 he had now a convenient piece about eight or 

 ten inches in length. This he warmed by 

 rubbing it violently with the palm of his 

 hand, and then placing the point of the knife 

 as near the joint as practicable, he drew it 

 quickly down to the next joint or lower end. 

 It must be a straight incision, and Billy sel- 

 dom failed to make it so. A parallel one 

 was then made, not more than one-sixteenth 

 of an inch distant. A space of twice this 

 width was left, and two or three more strings 

 were made in the same manner. These were 

 freed of the pith adhering to their under sides, 

 and held up by little wooden " bridges," one 

 at each end. The bow was similarly fash- 

 ioned, but was made of a more slender sedlion 

 of corn-stalk and had but two strings. 



