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Health-Wealth-Happiness

THE early settlers knew that corn must be their principal sustaining food. It was a new grain to them. They did not know how to plant or use it. So Captain John Smith sent for Redskin Braves to teach him how to sow this unknown grain.

Lest the "grim and grizzled face of starvation" stare upon them, wise Governors, of early days, enforced by law the raising of corn. Each colonist was allowed free "Corn-Ground," and each was compelled to grow more than he needed, to furnish a surplus to feed the soldiers, fishermen and officers, who had no time to raise crops. The corn was ground to meal in Indian mortars hollowed from trees with wooden pestles fastened to saplings which were pulled quickly up and down to crush the grain. These were called "Sweep and Mortar Mills."

The pounding of the pestle could be heard for miles around. The settlers worked out a code in time of danger, illness or accident-so many pestle "pounds" for this exigency or that.

Corn was used for other things than food. In balloting, one kernel meant a favorable vote, a bean was a black ball!

Taxes were paid with it.

Corn took the place of currency. The lucky man who raised a bountiful crop, could sell a portion to the Indians in exchange for furs, and send the furs to England, where they brought "much gold."

It was a criminal offence to feed the hogs with corn, their only food was gained by scavenging the streets. On winter nights the boys would shell the corn, drawing the ears over the shovel's edge, while the mother carded wool, the girls threaded apples, the man cleaned his gun, or spelled out words from the "Goode Booke." When the work was done, the younger folk played games, with kernels, red or yellow, instead of counters. Corn stood for American health, wealth and happiness.