Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-13
a spelling N ntcli.

where Mrs. DObsons wonderful wealth OF
tin-ware was arrayed in shining ranks.
great far-cornered, shadow-haunted kitch-
en- of the old-fashioned type, with a fire.
place of the old-Gashioned type, one Of the
generous, provident. open hearted Kind
that is passing away with the woods 1t
helped TO devour.
We have more economical arrangements
coming in fashion, even in the old country
houses, now, but there are none so full of
evening witchery, so re-beguiling and
heartsome as the old wood fire.
What elfsh pranks it played that night
How ii 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, as he sat in the
off corner bending obtusely over his book,
utterly absorbed, as a man might he 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-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
mastin, who might be dangerous, but un-
der ordinary circumstances could he safely
leased and tormented TO the top Of our
| bent. mist gathered in my eyes as /
looked across the great kitchen to where
he sat unconscious, plodding away at his
task. l thought of our glib and easily ac-
| quired learning, and of poor jobs hard
struggle for life, and pitied Job.
Yes, piled him; but yet, nevertheless,
as l saw him STOPPING so profoundly by
! the light of that witching fire, needless OF
the shadow and shine of the room, an imp
| of mschel-perhaps one Of the prank
some elves gcstculating in the chimney
corner-got possession Of me. arose soft
| ly, aud gliding over to where he sat,
sprinkled the absorbed student with a
shower of cau-de-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, were comcal. That
| Cologne was Abijah Plummer's present,
and l shouldn't have wastel it perhaps,
and perhaps job didn't like Cologne. lie
shut the book presently, and sat with his
shoulder stopped and his head dropping,
look ing into the fire.
w ell, as l 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 10 give us a prize this
time, a beautiful set of gold-and blue po-
cts, six dainty little volumes that stood
cleaning in the fire-light on the round ta-
bic, in the place of honor along with the
| great gilt edged family Bible.
The young people dropped in one by one,
shaking oil the snow as they came in, for
here had been a light snowfall that eve
ming, which made us all the merrer. 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 Occa-
sion, though there was general nudging
of elbows and sly grimace as big, shy
Job joined the class. But job was used to
our merry making, and took no notice Of
| ii.
Round and round went the spelling-big
words and little words, words with treach-
erous es and as lying in wait in uneX-
pected places, and words with us and
words with odd rs, and all the deceiIiul
dictionary dreadfulness that lies in wait TO
trip up the unwary. And one after anoth-
er our champions were spelled down, and
Job actually stood his ground against half
dozen well-schooed fellows. All his
face was kindled with eaGerness, and tho
duh and ploddng look habitual to him had
disappeared. The spelling was waking
him up. But there sat Abijah Plummer,
who didn't join in the match-Abijah
Plummer, Tue well-to. do beau of the viii
lage, who had no need, mayhap, 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.
few more words were yet on the list,
and there lay the beautiful books smiling
and shining on us.
beautiful r. gave out the schOOlmaster ;
and Abijah laughed as Job got up to spell
it. Job looked at Abijah, and began,
"B-e-u-" and there was general scream
of laughter.
Darn itr' cried job between his teeth
"what can fellow do with fool like that
grinning at him?" the mastilf was shak-
ing himself up, and trembed for Abijah.
"Order T. said the school-master, and
gave out the word again.
1t was my turn. l 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 de-
feat, and before l knew it the bue-and-
gold prize was put in 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 goodnight l wanted
to speak TO Job, but there stood Abijah in
the doorway with my shawl in his hands,
waiting to see me heme, and only nodded
TO Job as he stood at the gate with his Ian
tern 10 show us the path. One after anoth-
er The merry party disappeared down the
snowy road and the winding lanes. Abi-
jah and l were the last.
"Tll see you down to the creek" said
Job humbly; "it's a rough road tonight"
And without another word &c stalked on
ahead his lantern cleaning after him.
We did not say much either, Abijah and
l, for we were noundering through the soft
thick falling snow, and somehow it seem
ed awkward TO be walking in jobs Ian
tern-light.
Presently we came down to the creek
where every angle orroek and every elbow
of gnarled tree was fiecked softly will
snow, aud the creek, which had crossed q
day or two before on my visit TO Farmer
Dobson's, ran below, gray and far, an un