Corn Husking

 

 

Source: Price

The image you sent is a page from a book about pioneer social gatherings in the United States. The text describes the "raising" of a dwelling or barn, which was a community event where people would come together to help each other build a new structure.

The text mentions that no monetary payment was expected for this type of assistance, but rather a return of like service when needed. This suggests that pioneer communities were based on mutual aid and cooperation.

The text also describes the "husking" of corn, which was another popular social gathering. Huskings were held in the evening, often under the moonlight. A "managing boss" would be chosen to arrange the men on opposite sides of a rick of cornstalks. The contest was to see who could husk the most corn in the shortest amount of time. Finding a red ear of corn was considered good luck.

The passage concludes by mentioning that the author's father had a dogwood fork that he used for building hay shocks in the meadow. The author remembers the fork with pleasure, describing it as a "thing of beauty" and "the joy of many a summer day."

The image provides a glimpse into the social life of pioneers in the United States. It shows that these communities were based on mutual aid and cooperation, and that people enjoyed spending time together at social gatherings such as barn raisings and huskings.

Here is a summary of the main points of the passage:

• Pioneer social gatherings in the United States were based on mutual aid and cooperation.
• No monetary payment was expected for helping to raise a dwelling or barn; rather, a return of like service was expected when needed.
• Huskings were popular social gatherings where people would compete to see who could husk the most corn in the shortest amount of time.
• Finding a red ear of corn was considered good luck.
• The author remembers his father's dogwood fork with pleasure, describing it as a "thing of beauty" and "the joy of many a summer day."