Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-03
bortetp.
Spelling Jonas.

One little anecdote about Memorus Word
vile before we let him go, and this long
chapter shall be no longer. 1t happened
one day that the "cut and split" for the
fire fell short, and Jonas Patch was out
welding the axe in school time. He had
been at work about half an hour, when
Memorus, who was perceived to have less
to do than the rest, was sent out to take his
place. He was about ten years old, and
four years younger than Jonas.
Memorus, you may 60 out and spell
Jonas"
Our hero did not think of the Yankee
sense in which the master used the word
spell, indeed he had never attached but one
meaning to it, whenever it was attached to
himself. He supposed the master was
granting him a ride extraordinary on his
f%avorite hobby. So he put his spelling book
under his arm, and was out at the wood
pile with the speed of a boy rushing to
play.
Ye got yer spellin' lesson, Jonas 2" was
the first %salution,
"Hav'nt looked at it YETI was the re-
ply.
" mean to cut up this plaguy great log,
spellin or no spellin before l go in, | had as
lieve keep warm here chopin wood, as
freeze up there in that tarnal cold back
seat"
"Well, the master sent me out here to
hear you SPELL"
Did he? we'll put out the words, and
I'll SPELL"
Memorus being so distinguished a spell
err, Jonas did not doubt that he was really
sent on this errand. So our deputy-seplling-
master mounted the top of the wood pile,
Just in front Of Jonas, to put out words to
his temporary pupil, who still kept on put
ting out chips.
"Do you know where the lesson begins,
JonasW
"No, l don't;-bSt I 'spose I shall find
out now"
Well, here it's" They both belonged
to the a class.
"SpeIl abomination." Jonas spelled
4. b-o-m.bom, a bonn, lin the mean time up
goes the axe high in the air i-abomi (down
it goes again chuck into the wood hama,
abomina (up it goes AGAIN. t-i-o-n ton:
abomination chuck the axe goes again
and at the same time out flies Il furious
chip, and hits Memorus on the nose. Al
this moment the master appeared just at the
corner of the school-house with one foot
still on the threshold
"Jonas, why don't you come in ? didn't
l send Memorus out TO spell you p
Yes, sir, and he has been spelling me
how could ! come in if he spelt me ouI
here"
At this the masters eye caught Memoru'
perched upon the top stick with his boob
open upon his lap, rubbing his nose, anC
just in the act of putting out the next wore
in the column.
Accommodation, . pronounced Memoir
US in a broken but louder voice than before
for he had caught a glimpse of the master
and he wished to let him know that he was
doing his duty.
This was toe much for the masters gray.
ity. He perceived the mistake, and with
out saying more, wheeled back into the
school room, almost bursting with the most
tumultuous laugh he ever tried to suppress.
The scholars wondered at his looks and
grinned in sympathy, But in a few min.
utes Jonas came in, followed by Memorus
with his spellin' book, who exclaimed
81 have heard him spell clean through
the whole lesson, and he didn't spell hardly
none of 'em right" The master could hold
in no longer, the scholars perceived the
blunder, and there was one simultaneous
roar from pedagogue and pupils the schol.
ars laughing twice as loud and uproarously
in consequence of being permitted to laugh
in school time, and to it the accompaniment
of the master.-FrOm the District School a.
1t W0S.