Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-05-26
GLE RepubHrar.
Mr.. Collins Spelling Match.

IuS o1uei eFeuiuS. Olu NIT. ana
Mrs. Coffin, VINO live on Brush street.
and in their cozy back parlor, he read
ing the paper and she knitting, and
the family Cat stretched out under the
stove, and sighed and felt sorry for
cats not so well fixed. 1t was happy
contented household, and there was
love in his heart as Mr.. Coffin put
down the newspaper and remarked {:
Il see the whole country is becom-
ing excited about spelling schools
well, it's good to know how to
spell" replied the wife. II didu't
have the chance some girls had, but
pride myself that | can spell most any
word that comes along"
"Ill see about that" he laughed;
come, now, spell, buggy
"Humph that's nothlng-b u-g-g-y,
buggy" she replied
missed the first time-ha la !"
he roared, slapping his leg.
mot much-that was right"
cit was, eh? Well, I'd like to see any
body get two g's in buggy, [ would"
But it is spelled with two g's, and
any schoolboy will tell you" she per
sisted
"Wel, | know durn sight better
than that - he exclaimed, striking the
table with his fist.
Il don't care what you know :" she
noIvn l. y
in buggy"
ado you mean to tell me that I've
forgotten how to spell p he asked.
1T looks that way
1T does, eh !? Well, [ want you and
all your relations to understand that |
know more about spelling than the
whole capoodle of you strung on a
wire !"
"And l want you to understand
Jonathan Coffin, that you are an ig-
norant old blockhead when you don't
put two g's ill the word buggy-yes
you are %
Don't talk that way to me % he
warned
And don't SHAKE your fist at me !"
she replied.
"Who's a-shaking his fist ?"
You were"
That's lie-an Internal lie !"
Don't call me liar you OLD bazaar!
I've put up with your meanness for
forty years past, but don't call me
liar, anu don't lay band on me !"
''Do you want divorced" he shout
ed, sprlnglag up; you can go now,
this minute -
Don't spit in my face-dou't you
dare do it or I'll make dead man of
you!' she warned.
Il havn't spit in your freckled old
visage yet, but | may If you provoke
further !"
''Who's got freckled face. you old
turkey buzzard z
That was little too much. He
made motion as if he would strike,
and she seized him By the necktie.
Then he reached out and grabbed her
right ear and tried to lit her off her
feet, but she twisted up on the neck
stie until his tongu ran out.
"Let go of me, you old 6end = she
screamed.
"Get down on your knees and beg
my pardon, you old wild-cAt!' he re
piled.
They surged and swayed and strug-
gled, aud the peaceful Cat was struck
by the overturning table aud mad her
back broken, while the clock fell down,
and the pictures danced around. The
woman finally sent her hu,oaads sup
ply OF alr-of and Topped him. and as
she bumped his head up and down on
the floor and scattered his grey hairs
she shouted:
You want to get up another spell
>'lEs school with me don't you %
tie was seen Iimping around the
yard yesterday, a stocking pinned
around his throat, aud she had court
plaster on her nose, and one finger tied
up. He wore the look of a martyr,
while she had the bearing of victor,
and from this time out buggy" Will
be spelled with two gs In that house.
"Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,
"Flapped in the morning wind; the sun
Of noon looked down and saw not one.
Cup rose old Barbara Frietche then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten:
ssBravest of all in Frederick town,
She took np the flag the men hauled
down;
sin her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet"
Such is the story embodied in Mr..
Whittier's poem, in accordance with
the statements currently reported at
the time during the civil war when
Frederick, Maryland, was in posses
sion of the Confederates. But recent
ly old Barbara's honors have been at
tackled, like those of many another, and
two men of Frederick, believing that