Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-10-28
A SPELLING MATCH.
81

flrmer Dobsons kitchen; it hickered up and
d,wn on the huge brown rafters, and on the
great dresser where the quaint willow ware
dishes were arranged, and where Mrs. Dob
sons wonderful wealth of tin-ware was array
ed in shining ranks. A great far cdfnered,
shadow-haunted kitchen of the old fashioned
type, with fire place of the oldfashfned
type, one of the generous, provident, open
hearted kind that is passing away with the
woods it helped to devour.
We have more economical arrangements
CO ming in fashion, ever in the old country
house, now, but there are none 30 full of even
ing witchery, so care-beguiling and heartsome,
as the old fire.
What elfsh pranks it played tLat night! How
it redeemed old farmer Dobson's smoking cap,
and shone on his good wife's spectacles, and
tinted Jobs high cheek-bones and sleek .black
hair, es he sat in the off corner bending OBJ
tusely 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 Dobson's farm hand tale
strong, patient fellow who had been so quietly
the butt of us all this winter, that we had got
to using him as big mastiff, who might be
dangerous, but under ordinary circumstances
could be safely teased and tormented to the
top of our bent. A mist gathered in my eyes
as looked across the great kitchen to where
he sat unconscious, plodding away at his task.
thought of our glib and easily acquired learn
ing, and of poor Jobs hard struggle for life,
and pitied Job.
Yes, piteid him; but yet, nevertheless as
slw him STOPPING so profoundly by the light of
the witching fire, needless of the shadow and
shine of the room, an imp of mischief-perhaps
one of the pranksome elfs gesticulating in the
chimney corner-got possession of me. l arose
softly, and glided over to where he sal, ,skrink-
led the absorbed student with shower of eau
de-Cologne, and putting the wal quickly in my
pocket walked demurely back to my seat. The
start Job gave, and the flush on his face as he
returned to his book, were comical. That
Cologne was Abijah Plummer's present, and /
should't have wasted it perhaps, and perhaps
Job didn't like Cologne. He shut the book
presently, and sat with his shoulder stopped
and head droopin, looking into the fire.
Well, as | have said, we were to have spell
ing 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, beauti-
full 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, for there
had 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 Strengthened his neck-tie, and grabbed
the big Webster before him, and we all became
properly impressed with the importance of the
occasion, though the,e was a general nudging
of elbows and sly grimace as big, shy job
ioined 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, worqs with treacher-
Gus e's and as lying in wait in unexpected
places. and words without as, and words with
odd he, and all the deceitful distionary dread
fulness that lies in wait to trip up the unwary
And one after another of our champions were
spelled down, and Job actually stood his ground
against half dozen well schooled fellows. =
All his face was kindled with eagerness, and
the dull and plodding look habitual 10 him had
disappeared. The spelling was waking him
up. But there sat Abijah Plummer, who didn't
take part in the match-Abijah Plummer, the
well to-do beau of the village, who had no need,
mayhap of book learhing. There he sat and
laughed at Jobs excitement. / saw an uneasy
light in Jobs eyes, as if he were being severe
" tried. The spelling match was kindling him
TO the centre, it seemed.
A few more words were yet on the list, and
there Law the beautiful books smiling and shin
ing on u.s.
s.Beautiful!' gave out the school school
master; and ,Abijan laughed as Job got upto
speli it. Job looked at Abijah, and began,
..Be-u-n and there was general scream of
laughter.
"Darn it," said job between his teeth; "wllat
can a fellow do with fool like that grinning
at himy" The mastif was shaking himself up,
and trembled for Abijah- sa
ssOrder.." said the school-master, and gave
out the word again. 4
It was my turn don't know, as / say,
what imp possessed me this evening, but |
stood up and spelled the word with vim, just
as if didn't care one jot for Jobs defeat, and
Lefore knew it the blue and gold prize was