THE TRAVELLER AND THE POLE-CAT. 31 1 



Corn (ox- you may prefer calling it maize) is gathered in the husk, that 

 is, by breaking each large ear from the stem. These ears are first thrown 

 into heaps in the field, and afterwards carried in carts to the barn, or, as 

 in this instance, and in such portions of Kentucky, to a shed made of the 

 blades or long leaves that hang in graceful curves from the stalk, and 

 which, when plucked and dried, are used instead of hay as food for horses 

 and cattle. The husk consists of several thick leaves rather longer than 

 the corn-ear itself, and which secure it from the weather. It is quite a 

 labour to detach these leaves from the ear, when thousands of bushels of 

 the corn are gathered and heaped together. For this purpose, however, 

 and in the western country more especially, several neighbouring famiUes 

 join alternately at each other's plantations, and assist in clearing away the 

 husks, thus preparing the maize for the market or for domestic use. 



The good people whom we met with at this hospitable house, were on 

 the point of going to the barn (the farmer here being in rather good con- 

 dition) to work until towards the middle of the night. When we had 

 stood the few stares to which strangers must accustom themselves, no 

 matter where, even in a drawing-room, we approached the fire. What 

 a shock for the whole party ! The scent of the Pole-cat, that had been 

 almost stifled on my companion's vestments by the cold of the evening 

 air, now recovered its primitive strength. The cloak was put out of the 

 house, but its owner could not be well used in the same way. The com- 

 pany, however, took to their heels, and there only remained a single 

 black servant, who waited on us until supper was served. 



I felt vexed at myself, as I saw the good traveller displeased. But 

 he had so much good breeding as to treat this important aifair with great 

 forbearance, and merely said he was sorry for his want of knowledge in 

 zoology. The good gentleman, however, was not only deficient in 

 zoological lore, but, fresh as he was from Europe, felt more than uneasy 

 in this out-of-the-way house, and would have proceeded towards my own 

 house that night, had I not at length succeeded in persuading him that 

 he was in perfect security. 



We were shewn to bed. As I was almost a stranger to him, and he 

 to me, he thought it a very awkward thing to be obliged to lie in the 

 same bed with me, but afterwards spoke of it as a happy circumstance, 

 and requested that I should suffer him to be placed next the logs, think- 

 ing, no doubt, that there he should run no risk. 



