Fretting [pp. 224]

FRETTING.
elect. The candidates for Congress led the way.
There was but one of these, however, present; the
other appeared by proxy. The one who was present
made a popular harangue, suited to the opinions
and tastes of those whom he addressed, and plen tifully spiced with "words of learned length and
thundering sound," but guiltless of sense and
method. The proxy of his opponent followed,
and, in a clear and sensible speech, gave an expo sition of the principles and views of the gentle man whom he represented. Edmund Morris-the
Bishop's elder brother-one of the candidates for
the Legislature, then took the stand. He was tall
and slender, of a fine personal figure, and withal
very handsome, and of exceedingly graceful and
engaging manners, and an eloquent and popular
speaker. Hle addressed the audience upward of an
hour, and was listened to with deep attention.
Some attempts had been made to prejudice his
election on account of a vote he had given in the
Legislature at its previous session. This he noticed
at some length, and made a most triumphant vin dication of his course, and retired amidst the ap plause of the whole assembly. William MorrisEdmund's cousin-followed, in a well-delivered
and dignified address of some twenty minutes.
Two or three other candidates subsequently occu,
pied the stand, the last of whom was Col. John
Reynolds, the original proprietor, we believe, of
the town, and who resided in a beautiful mansion
back of it, near the base of the hills. He was
aged about forty years, a small, spare man, thin
visage, and stern countenance, but friendly and
sociable in his manners-a fair specimen of the
generous and hospitable Virginia gentleman, and
exceedingly popular in the county. On mounting
the stand, and looking around upon the audience,
and bowing, he addressed them as follows:
Friends and fellow-citizens! I am a candidate
for the house of delegates of the General Assembly;
and according to custom, I suppose I must make a
speech. But so much time has been occupied by
my worthy friends who have already addressed
you, that I will only detain you a moment. You
all know my political principles and my opinions
concerning public affairs. If you choose to elect
me, I will serve you to the best of my abilities;
if you don't, you may go-" closing the sentence
with an oath and an expressive wave of the hand,
and turning round with an independent, care-fornobody air, he stepped down from the stand,
amidst the vociferous cheers of the audience. He
was elected by a large majority.
Among the common amusements of the earlier settlers were the corn-huskings. These were usually
conducted thus: The corn, in the shuck, was hauled
in, and piled up in a long ridge on the ground, in
or near the barn-yard. The men and boys of the
neighborhood, and often the girls, were gathered
together upon some moonlight evening. The latter
were not expected, however, to engage in the husking, but usually assisted in preparing the supper.
Two persons were chosen as captains, who divided
the ridge of corn into two equal parts, as nearly as
they could judge, by laying a fence-rail across it
on each side-one of them fixing the division,
and the other taking his choice of the ends. The
captains then taking their stand each at his own
end of the pile, divide the whole party into two
companies, choosing their hands one at a time
alternately, till they are all mustered, and each, as
he is called, takes his place under his captain. All
hands then sit down on the corn at the bottom of
the pile, and facing outward, commence the operation of husking. The corn is thrown over their
heads across the pile, and far enough to clear it,
while the shucks are thrown out of their way in
front.
Great emulation exists between the two companies; each striving to finish its task first-the
victors carrying off the honors and the prize, which
was a jug of whisky, a churn of fresh buttermilk,
or some nice dish at supper. The company which
won the victory usually hoisted their captain on
the shoulders of two stout men, carried him around
the pile, hurraing, and then bore him to the house,
where he received the prize, and distributed it
among the men of both companies.
The husking ended, which was often as late as
eleven or twelve o'clock, the whole assembly sat
down to a rich and bountiful supper, consisting
of the very best the country could afford. Sometimes the entertainment of the evening ended in a
dance by the young people, who not unfrequently
kept it up till morning, some negro fiddler or banjo
performer making the music for the "light fantastic toe."
FRETTING.
Do not fret. It is unamiable and unprofitable.
It can not bring back a lost dollar nor restore a
lost day. It has no virtue in it nor power of redemption. A fretting man or woman is one of the
most unlovely objects in the world. A wasp is
a comfortable housemate in comparison-it only
stings when disturbed. But a habitual fretter
buzzes if he don't sting, with or without provocation. "It is better to dwell in the corner of a
house-top than with a brawling woman in a wide
house." It is useless; it sets no broken bones,
stops no leaks, gathers no spilt milk, cements no
smashed pitchers, cures no spoiled hay, and changes
no east winds. It affects nobody but the fretter
himself. Children or servants cease to respect
the authority or obey the commands of a complaining, worrisome, exacting parent or master.
They know that "'barking dogs don't bite," and
fretters don't strike; and they conduct themselves
accordingly. We like the doctrine of doing, and a
willingness to do something for the general good;
but this everlasting whimpering is a plan only to
render every body miserable.
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