Bundling; Its Origin, Progress and Decline in America Part 2

Again, when, on a sabbath night, the faithful swain arrived, having, perhaps, walked ten or more weary miles, to enjoy the company of his favorite la.s.s, in the few brief hours which would elapse before the morning light should call him again to his homeward walk and his week of toil, was it not the dictate of humanity as well as of economy, which prompted the _old folks_ to allow the approved and accepted suitor of their daughter to pursue his wooing under the downy coverlid of a good feather bed (oftentimes, too, in the very same room in which they themselves slept), rather than to have them _sit up_ and _burn out uselessly_ firewood and _candles_, to say nothing of the risk of catching their _death a' cold_? Indeed, was not the sanction of bundling in such cases a tacit admission, on the part of the parents, of their perfect confidence in the young folks, which necessarily acted upon the latter as, at once, a strong restraint from wrong, and a strong incentive to right doing? The influence of early religious training, the powerful control which the church had obtained upon the social and domestic life of the people, and the superst.i.tious aspect which, in those days, the gospel was made to wear, must also be taken into the account. And, moreover, is it not probable that the universality of the custom, which certainly cleared it from anything like odium or reproach, would naturally tend to preclude, in a degree, any improper ideas in the minds of those who practiced it? Such, then, we consider the _status_ of the custom in the earlier history of the colonies, and among the _first generation_ of settlers.

"But," if the reader will allow us to quote from a previous work, "the emigration from a civilized to a new country,[31] is necessarily a step backward into barbarism. The _second generation_ did not fill the place of the fathers. Reared amid the trials and dangers of a new settlement, they were in a great measure deprived of the advantages, both social and educational, which their parents had enjoyed. Nearly all of the former could write, which cannot be said of their children. Neither did the latter possess that depth of religious feeling, or earnest practical piety which distinguished the first comers. Religion was to them less a matter of the heart than of social privilege, and in the _half way covenant_ controversy we behold the gradual _letting down of bars_ between a pure church and a grasping world.

"The _third_ generation followed in the footsteps of their predecessors.

Then came war; and young New England brought from the long Canadian campaigns, stores of loose camp vices, and recklessness, which soon flooded the land with immorality and infidelity. The church was neglected, drunkenness fearfully increased, and social life was sadly corrupted."[32]

It is not, therefore, a matter of surprise that bundling should, in the increased laxity of public morals, become more frequently abused. Its pernicious effects became constantly more apparent, and more decidedly challenged the attention of the comparatively few G.o.dly men who endeavored to stem and to control the rapidly widening current of immorality which threatened to overwhelm the land.[33] The powerful intellect of Jonathan Edwards thundered its anathemas upon it; pious divines prayed against it in their closets, and wrestled with it in their pulpits; while many attempted by a revision of their church polity, by greater carefulness in the admission of members; by rules more stringently framed and enforced, to preserve, as best they might, the purity of the churches committed to their charge, and to make them, if it were possible, beacon lights amid the surrounding darkness of the times.[34] The task, however, was well nigh hopeless. The French wars were succeeded by that of the American Revolution, and not before the close of that struggle, may the custom of bundling be said to have received its deathblow, and even then it _died hard_.

Its final disuse was brought about by a variety of causes, among which may be named the improved condition of the people after the Revolution, enabling many to live in larger and better warmed houses, and in the very few places where the ministers dared to touch the subject in the pulpit, as in Dedham, already referred to, a decided effect was produced, but it was confined to the neighborhood, having very little effect on the general custom. Probably no single thing tended so much to break up the practice as the publication of a song, or ballad, in an almanac, about 1785.

This ballad described in a free and easy style the various plans adopted by those who bundled, and rather more than hinted at the results in certain cases. Being published in an almanac, it had a much larger circulation than could have been obtained for it in any other way (tract societies not being then in vogue), and the descriptions were so _pat_, that each one who saw them was disposed to apply them in a joking way to any other who was known to practice bundling; and the result was, such a general storm of banter and ridicule that no girl had the courage to stand against it, and continue to admit her lovers to her bed.

We have found many persons who distinctly remember the publication of this song, and the effect which it had on the public mind, but all our efforts to find the almanac containing it, have proved of no avail.

We have, however, been favored with the use of a broadside copy of a ballad, preserved among the treasures of the American Antiquarian Society, at Worcester, Ma.s.sachusetts, which several of our ancient friends have recognized as identical with that in the almanac, one of them proving it by repeating from memory several lines from the Almanac version, which were precisely like that of the broadside, a copy of which we give herewith.

A NEW BUNDLING SONG;

_Or a reproof to those Young Country Women, who follow that reproachful Practice, and to their Mothers for upholding them therein_.

Since bundling very much abounds, In many parts in country towns, No doubt but some will spurn my song, And say I'd better hold my tongue; But none I'm sure will take offence, Or deem my song impertinence, But only those who guilty be, And plainly here their pictures see.

Some maidens say, if through the nation, Bundling should quite go out of fashion, Courtship would lose its sweets; and they Could have no fun till wedding day.

It shant be so, they rage and storm, And country girls in cl.u.s.ters swarm, And fly and buz, like angry bees, And vow they'll bundle when they please.

Some mothers too, will plead their cause, And give their daughters great applause, And tell them, 'tis no sin nor shame, For we, your mothers, did the same; We hope the custom ne'er will alter, But wish its enemies a halter.

Dissatisfaction great appear'd, In several places where they've heard Their preacher's bold, aloud disclaim That bundling is a burning shame; This too was cause of direful rout And talk'd and told of, all about, That ministers should disapprove Sparks courting in a bed of love, So justified the custom more, Than e'er was heard or known before.

The pulpit then it seems must yield, And female valor take the field, In places where their custom long Increasing strength has grown so strong; When mothers herein bear a sway, And daughters joyfully obey.

And young men highly pleased too, Good Lord! what can't the devil do.

Can this vile practice ne'er be broke?

Is there no way to give a stroke, To wound it or to strike it dead.

And girls with sparks not go to bed 'Twill strike them more than preacher's tongue, To let the world know what they've done And let it be in common fame, Held up to view a noted shame.

Young miss if this your practice be, I'll teach you now yourself to see: You plead you're honest, modest too, But such a plea will never do; For how can modesty consist, With shameful practice such as this?

I'll give your answer to the life: "You don't undress, like man wife,"

That is your plea, I'll freely own, But whose your bondsmen when alone, That further rules you will not break, And marriage liberties partake?

Some really do, as I suppose, Upon design keep on some clothes, And yet in truth I'm not afraid For to describe a bundling maid; She'll sometimes say when she lies down, She can't be c.u.mber'd with a gown, And that the weather is so warm, To take it off can be no harm: The girl it seems had been at strift; For widest bosom to her shift, She gownless, when the bed they're in, The spark, nought feels but naked skin.

But she is modest, also chaste, While only bare from neck to waist, And he of boasted freedom sings, Of all above her ap.r.o.n strings.

And where such freedoms great are shar'd And further freedoms feebly bar'd, I leave for others to relate, How long she'll keep her virgin state.

Another pretty la.s.s we'll scan, That loves to bundle with a man, For many different ways they take, Through modest rules they all will break.

Some clothes I'll keep on, she will say, For that has always been my way, Nor would I be quite naked found, With spark in bed, for thousand pound.

But petticoats, I've always said, Were never made to wear in bed, I'll take them off, keep on my gown, And then I dare defy the town, To charge me with immodesty, While I so ever cautious be.

The spark was pleased with his maid, Of apprehension quick he said, Her witty scheme was keen he swore, Lying in gown open before.

Another maid when in the dark, Going to bed with her dear spark, She'll tell him that 'tis rather shocking, To bundle in with shoes and stockings.

Nor scrupling but she's quite discreet, Lying with naked legs and feet, With petticoat so thin and short, That she is scarce the better for't; But you will say that I'm unfair, That some who bundle take more care, For some we may with truth suppose, Bundle in bed with all their clothes.

But bundler's clothes are no defence, Unly[35] horses push the fence; A certain fact I'll now relate, That's true indeed without debate.

A bundling couple went to bed.

With all their clothes from foot to head, That the defence might seem complete, Each one was wrapped in a sheet.

But O! this bundling's such a witch The man of her did catch the itch, And so provoked was the wretch, That she of him a b.a.s.t.a.r.d catch'd.

Ye bundle misses don't you blush, You hang your heads and bid me hush.

If you wont tell me how you feel, I'll ask your sparks, they best can tell.

But it is custom you will say, And custom always bears the sway, If I wont take my sparks to bed, A laughing stock I shall be made; A vulgar custom 'tis, I own, Admir'd by many a s.l.u.t and clown, But 'tis a method of proceeding, As much abhorr'd by those of breeding.

You're welcome to the lines I've penn'd, For they were written by a friend, Who'll think himself quite well rewarded, If this vile practice is discarded.

The party in favor of bundling were able, too, to _keep a poet_, as is shown by the following ballad, which we transcribe from a printed copy preserved by the American Antiquarian Society.

A NEW SONG IN FAVOUR OF COURTING.

Adam at first was form'd of dust, As scripture doth record; And did receive a wife call'd Eve, From his Creator Lord.

From Adam's side a crooked bride, The Lord was pleas'd to form; Ordain'd that they in bed might lay to keep each other warm.

To court indeed they had no need, She was his wife at first, And she was made to be his aid, Whose origin was dust.

This new made pair full happy were, And happy might remain'd, If his help mate had never ate, The fruit that was restrain'd.

Tho' Adam's wife destroy'd his life, In manner that was awful; Yet marriage now we all allow To be both just and lawful.

But women must be courted first, Because it is the fashion, And so at times commit great crimes, Caus'd by a l.u.s.tful pa.s.sion.

And now a days there are two ways, Which of the two is right, To lie between sheets sweet and clean, Or sit up all the night;

But some suppose bundling in clothes Do heaven sorely vex; Then let me know which way to go, To court the female s.e.x.

Whether they must be hugg'd or kiss'd When sitting by the fire Or whether they in bed may lay, Which doth the Lord require?

But some pretend to recommend The sitting up all night; Courting in chairs as doth appear To them to be most right.

Nature's request is, grant me rest, Our bodies seek repose; Night is the time, and 'tis no crime To bundle in your clothes,

Since in a bed a man and maid, May bundle and be chaste, It does no good to burn out wood, It is a needless waste.

Let coats and gowns be laid aside, And breeches take their flight, An honest man and woman can Lay quiet all the night.

In Genesis no knowledge is Of this thing to be got, Whether young men did bundle then, Or whether they did not.

The sacred book says wives they took, It don't say how they courted, Whether that they in bed did lay, Or by the fire sported.

But some do hold in times of old, That those about to wed, Spent not the night, nor yet the light By fire, or in the bed.

They only meant to say they sent A man to chuse a bride, Isaac did so, but let me know Of any one beside.

Man don't pretend to trust a friend, To choose him sheep and cows, Much less a wife which all his life He doth expect to house.

Since it doth stand each man in hand, To happify his life, I would advise each to be wise, And chuse a prudent wife.

Since bundling is not the thing, That judgments will procure, Go on young men and bundle then, But keep your bodies pure.

(Printed and sold by Nathaniel Coverly, Jun. Boston.)