Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-02-11
The Spelling Match.

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now to some extent, among dis
trict schools in this country, to have
spelling schools during the winter
term. These gatherings were al
ways anticipated with great inter-
est by the scholars, as at those times
was to be decided who was the best
speller. Occasionally one schoo
would visit another for a test of
scholarship in this regard. All {!
how the little hearts would throb,
and the big ones thump, in their
anxiety to beat the whole.
Once on a time a neighboring
school sent word to ours that on
certain day in the afternoon they
would meet in our school-housc for
the contest. AS the time was short
most of the other studies were sus-
pended, and at school, and at home
in the evening, all hands were
studying to master the monosylla-
bles, dissyllables, polysyllables, alb
breviations, etc, ETC., which the
spclling-boolzs contained.
At length the day arrived, and
as our visitors were considered
rather our superiors, our fears
were proportionately great. The
scholars were ranged in standing
position on opposite sides of the
house, and the words pronounced
to each side alternately, and the
scholar that "missed' was to sit
down. His game was up.
1t did not take long to thin the
ranks on both sides. In short
thine our school had but eight on
the floor, and theirs but six. After
few rounds the contest turned in
their favor, rs they had four stand
ing to our two. For long time it
seemed as though these six had the
book by heart. Atlength the num-
Der was reduced to one on both
sides. Our visitors were represen-
ted by an accomplished young la
dy, whose parents had recently ar
rived in town, and ours, by myself,
ragged little boy of ten summers,
who had sat up night after night,
while my mother, with no other
light than that produced by pine
knots, pronounced my lesson to me.
The interest Of the spectators was
excited to the highest pitch, as word
after word was spelled by each. AT
length the young lady missed and i
stood alone. Her teacher said she
did not understand tho word. She
declared she did; that the honor
was mine and that / richly deserv-
ed it. That was a proud moment
for me. l had spelled down both
schools and was declared victor.
My checks burned, and my brain
was dizzy with excitement.
Seen as the school was dismissed
my competitress came and sat down
by my side, and congratulated me
on my success in lif,. Unaccus-
toned to such attentions, / doubt
less acted, as most little boys would
under the circumstances sinjudi-
ciously. At this .juncturo Master
g., the son of the rich man of our
neighborhood, tauntingly said to
me, in the presence of my fair
friend and a number of the boys
from the other school, ooh, you
needn't feel so big-your folks are
poor, and your father is a drunk
ard"
was happy no more--I was
drunkard's son--and how could ]
look my new friend in the face!
My heart seemed to rise up in my
throat, and almost suffocated me.
The hot tears scalded my eyes, but
/ kept them back and soon as poss-
iblc quietly slipped away from my
companions, procured my dinner
basket, and, unobscrved, left the
scene of my triumph and disgrace,
with aheavy heart, for my home.
But what home! My folks were
poor-and my father was drunk
ard. But why should l be re-
preached for thati I could not
prevent my fathers drinking, and,
assisted and encouraged by my
mother, ! had done all Lcould to
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