In uncle Nathan's household a "bee" for the paring of apples had been
the annual custom from time immemorial; and in rural districts, the
merry-makings of any kind are a very different affair from the social
gatherings in a large city; in the country a social gathering has about
it a genuine heartiness of enjoyment, unknown in the city drawing-rooms
of wealth and fashion. In the country you come nearer to nature, as it
were, untrammelled by the customs and usages of fashionable society.
Uncle Nathan was just the one to get up a social gathering of this kind,
and enjoy it too; if his hair was growing white, the flowers of social
feeling still bloomed in his heart; and the yearly apple-paring bee was
never omitted in the household. He used to say "the apple pies would not
taste half so good in winter if the apples were not pared by the hands
of the merry company who assembled upon the occasion."
The sun rose bright and clear on the sixth of October; this was an
important day at the old homestead, for on the next evening was to be
held this annual social gathering. They did not often invite company,
and, upon the rare occasions when they did so, Aunt Lucinda made
extensive preparations for their entertainment. Some of her neighbours
took the liberty of saying she did this partly to show off her
unequalled cookery and housekeeping, but most likely these sayings were
only maliciously called forth by her superior attainments in this way.
Be this as it might, she was certainly very busy on this particular day.
The capacious brick oven was heated no less than four times during the
day, and the savory odor from the numerous dishes taken therefrom
bespoke a plentiful repast for the apple-parers. I was kept from school
that day to take part in the grand preparations going forward. Aunt made
me quite happy that morning by saying "I was a right smart handy boy,
and could help along amazingly" if I would stay from school. I would
have done much more than this for the few words of commendation bestowed
upon me by my aunt, who was usually so hard to please. Neat as was her
daily household arrangements, on this day every corner of the old house
passed under a most searching review; and dust before unnoticed was
brought to light in a most alarming manner, and as my aunt passed
through the house on her tour of investigation, the very walls, with
their closets and three-cornered cupboards, seemed to shrink back with
apprehension, not knowing where she might make the next discovery of
hidden dust or litter. I was so much elated by her encouraging words in
the morning that I set to work with a right good will; but before the
preparations were all completed I found that an apple-paring bee at
Uncle Nathan's was no trivial matter, and involved a large amount of
labour. The brass knobs on all the doors, as well as the large brass
andirons in the parlor, had to be polished till they shone like
burnished gold and this with other countless tasks all fell on me; but
the longest and most laborious day comes to a close, and so did this
sixth of October, and tired enough were we all long before night came.
Poor old grandma really entertained the idea that she was of much
assistance, and remained up for an hour or so beyond her usual time of
retiring, "to help things along," as she said. With all my aunts sharp,
crusty ways, one could not but respect her, when they noticed with what
forbearance she treated every whim and fancy of her aged mother, and
upon this occasion when she advised the old lady to retire to rest, and
she replied, "that she must sit up to hurry things along," she did not
press the matter but allowed her to take her own way. The important
evening arrived, and with it a merry company of both old and young who
filled the large kitchen and dining-room to overflowing. All were in the
best of spirits, and working and talking progressed about equally. Each
one was furnished with a knife sharpened for the purpose, and a basket
of apples allotted to every two or three. Without in the least
interrupting the flow of laughter and lively conversation the baskets
grew empty surprisingly fast, but were immediately replenished from the
well-stored cellar, till some of the younger portion of the company with
an eye to the supper, and fun in the prospective, began to wonder if the
work would never be done. Aunt Lucinda, assisted by some of the company,
was laying out the supper in the wide hall ready to be brought into the
dining-room, directly work was over. Grandma had her arm-chair removed
into the circle of the workers, and actually pared a dozen apples in the
course of the evening.
It pleased her to be there and enjoy the scene of innocent mirth,
and that was enough. As for Uncle Nathan he was here and there and
everywhere else, it seemed almost at one time, replenishing the baskets,
sharpening the edge of a knife, and diffusing mirth and good humour
through the whole company. Mr. Oswald, the teacher, was invited,
bringing with him his wife and Rose. When I first mentioned giving the
Oswalds an invitation Uncle Nathan advised me to give the Assistant one
also; I was not too well pleased at this, for Mr. Lawrence was far from
being a favorite with me, and, like most boys, I did not always pause to
consider what was right; but Aunt Lucinda, who was anxious that every
thing should be conducted after the most approved style, declared if
the Oswalds were invited Mr. Lawrence should be favoured also with an
invitation, saying, if any of the youths should make fun of his red
hair, or cut up any capers with him she'd make them sorry for their fun.
"I know," said Uncle Nathan, with a sly look, "what makes Lucinda kinda'
stand up for Mr. Lawrence, and be so watchful over his red head; every
one who knew Joshua Blake will remember that he had red hair. I thought
Lucinda had forgotten the fellow by this time, but it seems I was
mistaken after all." "Who was Joshua Blake?" I ventured to enquire. "If
you don't be off to your work this minnit," said Aunt Lucinda, "I'll let
you know who Joshua Blake was, in a way that you won't ask again, I'll
be bound." I thought it unwise to push my inquiries further, in fact I
was glad to beat a hasty retreat from the kitchen; years after I heard
the story of Joshua Blake from Aunt Lucinda's own lips.
While we have been indulging in this digression, work has progressed
steadily at Uncle Nathan's, till the last basket of apples was pared,
and deposited in the back-kitchen. Then the rooms were hastily cleared
up and the long supper-table set out. I will not attempt a description
of that supper, and will only say that it met all my ideas of nicety,
added to profusion and plenty. The girls lent a willing hand in
assisting to clear away the tables after the supper was over; and then
the fun begun in right good earnest. Soon there was a call among the
younger part of the company for "Blind Mans' Buff." Grandma, who from
her quiet corner watched the scene of mirth with as much enjoyment
as the youngest present, was disposed to dispute the name, saying that
in her young days the game was known by the name of "Blind Harry," and
when the point was finally settled the game began, and was for some time
continued with unabated enjoyment. Aunt Lucinda even allowed herself to
be blinded and a very efficient blind woman did she prove, as many of
the youngsters could testify who endeavoured to escape from her vigorous
grasp. When the company became tired of this lively, but somewhat
laborious amusement it was quickly succeeded by others of an equally
lively character, which was continued for some two or three hours, and
it was not till the tall clock in the corner of the kitchen tolled the
hour of one that a move was made for the company to break up; and after
a somewhat lengthy search in the hall for countless shawls, veils,
gloves, and wrappers, each one was at last fortunate enough to find up
their own, and the merry company took their respective ways home beneath
the silver light of the full moon; and, half an hour later, sleep had
settled over the inmates of the old farm-house. Afterwards in giving a
description of the apple-paring bee to my mother, I allowed that it
surpassed in enjoyment any thing in which I had ever before participated.