The Houstons were not lacking in a sense of humor. While the children played and frolicked, the elders reveled in humorous anecdotes, the favorite butt of their jokes being the "Irishman." Often the story had to do with the supposed stupidity of the native Irish. The characters were usually "Pat and Mike." The line of jokes was stale from having been handed down through generations and repeated over and over, but still brought a hearty laugh.

So despite the remoteness from the society of the coastal plains, life on the frontier was seldom lonely. The people lived in communities—for mutual protection, for social contacts and for the establishment of schools and churches. When there was time off from work, there was usually a busy round of activities. In a growing community, things naturally happened. When a young couple married, they must have a cabin and the community pitched in with a house-raising. A one-room log cabin could be built from the ground up in a day of work and festivities, leaving only the finishing touches to be completed later. Then when the newlyweds were established, they entertained the community with a housewarming.

When a farmer needed a new field cleared, the neighbors gathered for a log-rolling. There were corn-huskings, joined in by young and old; the fellow who found a red ear could kiss the prettiest girl. Quilting parties were a favorite work-social for the women. In some areas there were flax-pullings and apple-cuttings. Surely there must have been candy-pullings, jolliest of all such entertainments, in which boy and girl pulled great, glistening ropes of taffy, until it became light and brittle.

A popular phrase of hospitality was, "The latch string is on the outside." Doors fastened on the inside with a wooden latch to which was attached a cord passed through a hole to the outside. A pull of the string lifted the latch. To lock the door against prowlers or Indians at night, the string was simply drawn inside. The string—usually left on the outside—was a sign of welcome and a neighbor could enter at will. Often in the evenings, one family visited another to "sit awhile," exchanging news and gossip, telling jokes and possibly playing games. The children could play with the coals and ashes and roast chestnuts or yams in the wide fireplace, used for family cooking as well as heat. The housewife would bring out refreshmcnts for the guests, including probably a friendly toddy.

Hunting was a favorite outdoor sport, which had its util-