The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-07-13
Spelling Schools.

Have you forgotten themP When from
all the region about they were gathered
in the log school-house with its huge
fireplace yawning like the entrance of
AvernusY How the sleigh-bells, big in
the middle of the string and growing
small by degrees, and beautifully less
towards the broad brass buckles, chimed
in every direction long before night
the gathering of the class There came
one to school, "the Master" Give him
capital Nj, for he is entitled to it
Master, and all bundled into one huge
red, double sleigh, strewn with an abun-
dance of straw, and tucked up like a
Christmas pie, with half score of buff
falo robes. There are q dozen cutters
each with young man and q maiden,
they two, no more. And there again a
pair of jumpers, mounting great out
landish looking bin heaped up, pressed
down, and running over, Scripture
measure, with small collection of hu-
manity picked up en- route from dozen
homes, and all as merry as kittens in q
basket of wool. And the bright eyes,
and ripe red lips that one caught a
glimpse of beneath those pink lined,
quilted hoods, and the silvery laugh
that escaped the mufflers and fur tippets
they wore then-who does not remem-
berp Who can ever forget them?
The school-house destined to be the
arena of the conflict has been garnished,
boughs of evergreen adorn the smoked,
stained and battered walls. The pellets
of chewed paper have all been swept
from the ceiling, and two pals of water
brought from the spring and set on q
bench in the entry, with an immemorial
tin cup-a wise provision, indeed, for
warm is that spelling rooml
The big boys have famed and replen-
ished the fire, till the old chimney fairly
jars with the roaring flames, and the
sparks fly out of the top like a furnace,
and as flame of the battle.
The two "Masters" are there, and
such moving to and fro Will they
swarm2
The ferule comes down upon the desk
with emphasis. What the roll of the
drum is to the armies, the "rule" is to
this whispering, laughing company.
The challengers are one side of the
house, the challenged on the other. Back
seats, middle seats, low front seats are
all filled. Some of the fathers and grand
fathers, who could, no doubt, upon occa-
sion
| "Shoulder the crutch
| And show how fields were won,"
occupy the bench of honor near the
desk.
Now the preliminaries. The reputed
best speller on each side chooses. "Su-
san Brown" Out comes round-eyed
creature, blushing like peony. Such
a little thing.
Moses Jones. Out comes Moses, an
awkward fellow, with shock of red
hair, shockingly harvested, surmounting
his brow. The girls laugh at him, but
what he don't know in the Elementary,
isn't worth knowing.
Jane Murray. Out trips Jane, futter-
ing as bride, and takes her place next
to the caller. She's pretty girl, but a
sorry speller. Don't you hear the whis-
pers round the house? "Why, that's
Johns sweetheart" John is the leader,
and battle lost with Jane by his side,
would be sweeter than victory without
her.
And SO they go, " calling names," un-
til five or six champions stand forth to
do battle, and the contest is fairly be-
gun.
Down goes one after another, as words
of three syllables are followed by those
of four, and those again of similar pro-
nunciation and divers Specification, un-
til Moses and Susan remain.
The spelling-book has been exhausted,
and still they stand. Dictionaries are
turned over, memories are sacked for
"Words of lengthy sound"
until, by-and-by, Moses comes down like
a tree, and Susan flutters there still, a
little leaf aloft, that the forest and fall
have forgotten.
Pollysyllables follow, and by-and-by
Susan hesitates just a breath or two, and
twenty tongues are working their way
through the labyrinth of letters in a
twinkle. Little Susan sinks into the
chink left for her on the crowded seat
and there is lull in the battle. Then
all get in solid phalanx by schools, and
the struggle is to spell each other down
And down they go, like leaves in winter
weather, and the victory is declared fol
our district, and the school is dismissed
Then comes the hurrying and bun.
ding, the whispering and glancing, and
pairing off and tumbling in. There are
hearts that tutter, and hearts that ache
"mittins that cannot be worn, hopes
that are not returned. There is jing,
ling among the bells at the door, anG
one after another dash up, receive theil
freight, and are gone.
"Our Master" covers the fire anG
snuffs the candles don't you remember
how he used to pinch the smoking wicl
with his forefger and thumb, and ther
thrust each helpless luminary head frs
in the socket p and we wsit for him.
The bells ring family in the woods
over the hill in the valley. The school
house is dark and tenantless, and we arr
alone in the dark.
Merry, care-free company Some O
them are sorrowing; some are dead, anc
all we fear are changed! Spell All
the "spell" has come over that crowd o
dreamers-over you-over us; will i
ever be dissolved? In "the white radi
ance of eternity ?"-B. n. Taylor.
A Vessels Crew Saved by u Dog.