The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-07-13
A Spelling Match,


in old Farmer Dobson's kitchen; it flick
cred up and down the huge brown rafters
and on the great dresser where the quaint
willow-ware dishes were arranged, and
where Mrs. Dobsons wonderful wealth oi
tin.ware was arrayed in shining ranks.
A great far-cornered, shadow haunted
kitchen of the old.fashioned type, one Of
the generous, provident, open hearted
kind that is passing away with the woods
it helped to devour.
We have more economical arrange.
ments coming in fashion, even in the old
country-houses, now, but there are none
so full of evening witchcry, so care.be.
guiling and heartsome, as the old wood
fire.
What elfsh pranks it played that night
How it reddcned old Farmer Dobson's
smoking. cap, and shone on his good wife's
spectacles, and tinted Jobs high check
bones and sleek black haii, as he sat in
the off corner bending obtusely over his
book, utterly absorbed, as a man might
be who had so little time to explore the
mysteries of Webster, and who was to
take part in the spelling match tonight.
JOB was Farmer Dobsons farm hand
"a tall, strong, patient fellow, who had
been so quietly the butt Of us all this
winter that we had got to using him like
a big mastiff, who might be dangerous,
but under ordinary circumstances could
be safely teascd and tormented to the top
Of our bent. A mist gathered in my
eyes as | looked across the great
kitchen 10 where he sat unconscious,
plodding away at his task. | though ht Of
our glib and easily acquired learning, and
Of poor Jobs hard struggle for life, and l
piticd Job,
Yes, | pitied him; but yet. neverthe.
less, us | saw him stopping so profoundly
by the light Of that witching fire, needless
Of the shadow and shine of the room, an
imp OF mischief--perhaps one of the
pranksome elves gesticuating in the
chimney corner-got possession of me, |
arose softly, and gliding over to where he
sat, sprinkled the absorbed student with
shower Of eau-de-co cologne, and putting
the vial quickly in my pocket, walked de-
murely back to my seat. The start Job
gave, and the flush on his face as he re.
turned TO his book, was comical. That
cologne was Abijah Plummer's present,
and | shouldn't have wasted it, perhaps,
and perhaps Job didn't like cologne. He
shut the book presently, and sat with his
shoulders stopped and his head dropping,
looking into the fire.
Well as have said, we were to have
a spelling match that night not our first
one by any means but the old folks had
put their heads together to give us prize
this time, beautiful set of gold.and blue
poets, six dainty little volumes that stood
cleaning in the fire.light on the round
table, in the place Of honor along with
the great gilt.edged family Bible.
The young people dropped in one by
one, shaking off the snow as they came in,
Tor there mad been light snowfall that
evening, which made us all the merrier.
By.and.by the great kitchen was filled up,
the candles were lit, Farmer Dobson laid
aside his pipe, the school. master straight.
ened his neck-tie, and grabbed the big
Webster before him, and we all became
properly impressed with the importance
of the occasion, though there was gen.
eral nudging Of elbows and a sly grimace
as big, shy JOB Joined the class. But
Job was used to our merry. making, and
took no notice of it.
Round and round went the spelling
big words and little words, words with
treacherous es and as lying in wait in un.
expected places, and words without as,
and words with odd hs, and all the de.
ceitiul dictionary dreadfulness that lies
in wait TO trip up the unwary. And one
after another our champions were spelled
down, and Job actually stood his ground
against half dozen we'll .schooled fellows.
All his face was kindled with eagerness,
and the dull and ploddng look habitual
to him had disappeared. The spelling
was waking him up. But there sat Abb.
jah Plummer, who didn't join in the
match-Abijah Plummer, the well o.do
beau of the village, who had no need may.
har, Of book. learning There he sat and
laughed at Jobs excitement. | saw an
uneasy light in Jobs eyes, as if he were
being severely tried. The spelling match
was kindling him to the centre,it seemed.
A few more words were yet on the list,
and there lay the beautiful books smiling
and shining on us.
Beautiful !" gave out the school. l.mas-
ter; and Abijah laughed as Job got up
to spell it. Job looked at Abiah, and
began, "B.e.u-" and there was gener-
al scream Of laughter.
"Darn it :" said Job between his
teeth what can a fellow do with fool
like that grinning at him 2" The mastiff
was shaking himself up, and | trembled
for Abijah.
"Order !" said the school.master, and
gave out the word again.
II was my turn. don't know, as
say, what imp possessed me this evening
but | stood up and spelled the word with
a vim, just as if | didn't care one loi for
Jobs defeat, and before knew il the
blue and-gold prize was put into my
hand. Then looked at Job, and could
have cried.
But every one was merry, and all were
talking and chatting and laughing as we
broke up and said good. night wanted
to speak to Job, but there stood Abiiah
in the doorway with my shawl in his
hands, waiting to see me home, and |
only nodded TO Job as he stood at the
gate with his lantern to show us the path.
One after another the merry party disap
peared down the snowy road and the
winding lanes. Abjah and l were the
last.
"l'll see you down TO the creek" said
Job, humbly; "it's a rough road tonight"
And without another word he stalked on
ahead, his lantern cleaning after him.
We did not say much either, Abijah
and | for We were houndering. through