The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-08-14
A SPELLING MATCH,

A SPELLING MATCH.
The freight made fantastic shadows
in old Farmer Dobson's kitchen il
fickered up and down ON the huge
brown rafters, and on the great dresser
where the quaint willow-ware dishes
we're arranged, and where Mrs. Dob.
sons wonderful wealth of tin-ware was
arraJed in shining ranks. A great far.
cornered, shadcw-haunted kitchen OF
the old-fsshioned type, with fireplace
OF the old-fashioned type, enc of the
generous, provident, pen-hearted kind
that is passing away with the woods
it helped to devour.
We have mere economical arrange
ments coming in fashion, even in the
cid country-houses, now, but there are
none 50 full of evening witchery, 70
care beguiling and heartsome, as the
old wood fire.
What elfsh pranks it played that
night How it Redeemed old Farmer
Dobson's smoking-cap and shown on
his good wife's spectacles, and tinted
Jobs high cheek bones and sleek, black
hair, as he sat in the off corner bending
obtusely over his book, utterly absorbed,
as man might be who had SO little
time to explore the mysteries of Web
ster, and who was to take part in the
spelling match tonight.
Job was Farmer Dobson's 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 big mastiff, who might be Danger
Gus, but under ordinary circumstances
could be safely teased and formented to
the top of our bent. A mist gathered
IN my eyes as looked across the great
kitchen to where he sat unconscious,
plodd,ng away Mt his task. I thought
OF our glib and easily acquired learn
ing hid of poor Jobs hard struggle for
f4e, and 1 Hitied Job.
Yes, pitied him but yet, neverthe-
saw him STOPPING SO pro-
1(1I kby the light of that witchine
..ueeoless OF the shadow and shine
CT the room, an imp of nnischief-per-
maps one of the pranksome elves ees-
ticulating in the chimney-corner-e
possession of me. 1 arose softly. and
gliding over to where he sat. sprinkled
the absorbed student with a shower of
can de- COLOGNE, and putting the vial
quickly in my pocket, walked demurely
back to my seat. The start Job gave.
and the Hush on his face as he returned
to his book, were comical. That Co.
logre was Abijah Piummer'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 stoopsd and his
head dropping, looking into the fire.
Well, as have eaid, we were to bave
a spelling match that night, not our
nrst one by any means but the old
folks had put their heads together to
give us a 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 edge
family Bible.
The young people dropped in one by
one, shaking off the snow as thew came
IN. for there had been light snow fall
that evening, which made us all the
merrier. By-and-by the great kitchen
was filled up, the ca cdles were Lit.
Farmer Dobson laid aside his pine. the
school master Strengthened his neck tie.
and grabbed the big Webster before
him, and we all became properly i'm.
pressed with the Importance of the occa-
sion, though there was a general nudo-
ing 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 e's and az lying in wait in
unexpected places, and words without
rs, and words with odd rs, and all the
deceltful 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 a dozen we'll
schooled fellows. ALI his face was kin
died with eagerness, and the dull and
piodding look habitual to him had dis
appeared. The spelling was waking him
up. Bnt there sat Abijah PIummer.
who didn't Join in the match-Abiiah
Plummer, the well-to do beau of the
village. who had no need, mayhap. of
book learning. There he sat and
laughed Mt Jobs excitement. I saw an
uneasy light in Jobs eyes, as if he were
being severely tried. The spelling
match was kindling hin to the ceptre.
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
master; and Abiiah laughed as Job got
mp to spell it. Job looked at Abijah,
nd began. "B-e-u-" and there was a
eneral scream Of laughter.
"Darn it !" said Job between his
teeth "what can a fellow do with q
fool like that. grinniDg at him ?" The
mastiff was shaking himself up, and I
trembled for Abijah.
"Order :" said the school-master,
and gave out the word again.
It was my turn. don't know, as 1
say, what imp possessed me this even
ing, but 1 stood up and spelled the word
with vim. Just as il didn't care one
lot for Jobs defeat, and before knew
it the blue-and gold prize was put into
my hands. 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. 1
wanted TO speak to Job, but there stood
\Abiiab in the doorway with my shawl in
rnds waiting to see me home, and
"A = iodded to Job as he stood at the
kwith his lantern to show us the
-. One after another the merry
disappeared down the snowy road
and the winding lanes. Abijah and
were the last.
IN see you down to the creek, said
JOB, humbly; its q rough road to-
night. And without another word he
stalked on ahead, his lantern cleaning
after him.
We did not say much either, Abiiab
and ], for we were laundering thronpl,
the soft, ick-falling snow, and some.
how il seemed awkward to be walking