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 quite out of date, — the corn-stalk fiddle.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 



