Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-12
a Dnnbnry spelllng school.

From the Danbury News.
An ihpromptu spelling school was in
augurated in MerrilPs grocery, Saturday
evening A young man, who, last win
ter, aided Mr.. Couch in the management
Of the North Center School, conducted
the class
The first word he gave out was Indian.
The first man said, "l-n in, d-i din
Indin."
The teacher shook his head. "Well, |
declare, | thot had il, said the speler
with keen disappointment; but he picked
up when the second man started, and
eyed him with considerable anxiety.
The next man, with desperate earnest
ness, said, I'm in, d-e indie, nm uu,
lndeun -
Then he sighed aud gszed anxiously
at the teacher, while an old party at the
end of the bench, who was watching the
ell )rts with derisive amusement, turned
the quid in his mouth, and said:
You amt in a rod ont; but 20 on
let's su more try"
The teacher told the second speller
that he also had failed, whereupon he
sighed again.
Then the third man took hold. he
squared himself upon his seat, and hold.
ing up one finger, ticked off the letters
with becoming solemnity as follows:
Il in, dd-d.a da, linda, in in-Iudaiu. <"
The old party on the end Of the bench.
who had been teetering on the precipice
OF laugh while this effort was being put
forth, snickered right out into a loud
guffaw at its conclusion.
We'll that's spell for you, l mus
say. And then be laughed again. The
speller said nothing, but grew very red
in the face when his failure was an
nounced, and cast baleful glance at the
old party, whose turn had now come.
and who said:
You people should keep away from
Oheo, you should And now I'll tackle
that little wore" and he SMILED all over
his face, while his eyes twinkled with
merliment, and looking sideways from
one to the other, he rapidly spelled
i in, E gin, lngin.
His smile deepened into broad grin
aS he watched the chagrin flush to The
countenance Of the other spellers who
had been misled all the time on a wrong
pronunciation of the word He was
grlnning with all his might when the
teacher said:
You amt got the right word.
"Wh-ah-ot2 and he bore down on the
brazen faced young man look cacula-
ted to freeze him to the bone.
Indian is the word There is no such
word as Ingin," said the teacher.
70 there isn't, hey (sarcasticalIy p
You know, oil course. You know ali
about 1t, you pimply-"
But my dear sir | -"
"Yon needn't apologize ia me, shout
ed the old party, stamping the floor wth
his cane. Who be you, anyway, put.
iing on your airs about me? could
twist your scrawly neck off Of you in two
minutes, you white livered puppy, you
But my dear sir, let me ex--'
lt isn't ingin, is it2 ground out the
old chap between his teeth It's some
thin else, | suppose. o, yes you know
OF course. Aud a nice one you are,
with you ediication. Why don't your
mother send back them apples she bor-
rowed a month ago2' aud he looked
around the store with triumphant glare
of sarcasm.
Bat just hear me-"
Hear youl VINO are you, anyway
What's your father; when's be drawed
sober breath, Id like to know? An
where's your smart brother Benz In
prsn some where, | II be bound. o.
know yer hull family like book. And
a wus lotthan they are cant be found 10
his ne'ghborhood, and you just put thai
IN your pipe and it, you egregious
ass. Talk to me about spellin;" and the
Old man, stamping his cane again,
/ stalked passionately out Of the store
The lesson was then postponed,