The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-05-29
From the Virginia City Enterprise.
The Boss Speller of the Bonanza.

Since the late Citizens Spelling Match" al
the Third Ward School-house, all classes seem
more or less to have spelling " on the brain
Officer Higbee informs us that ON Monday even
ing, just after dark, hearing what appeared to be
rather an animated conversation In the neigbbOr-
hood of Lonkey & Smiths lumber yard, he stole
gently to the spot whence came the sounds. He
was somewhat surprised at first at seeing but one
man doing all Of the talking. This man, as well
as he could see in the dusk, was a tall, gaunt,
middle-aged parsonage. He was SO much inter
ested in the business in hand that he did not OBJ
serve the officer, though he had moved to within
less than ten PAGES of him.
Theman who presented the appearance of a wood
chopper or a l~umberman, had taken off his tattered
felt hat and decorously placed it on a small pile of
lumber which stood in front of him and answered
for a desk.
"Now," said be, addressing some person whom
he imagined to be ~preeent-probaDly Professor
clint" now, Gideon, spell saw-mill for me-
"Al right, Perfesser, with pleasure, sir
S-a-w-r, sawr, mill, mill, s%awrmil."
Fright, my boy! Go up head. Now, Gideon,
here is an easy oue-Railroad."
"R-a-le, rale, Rode, railroad. How that?'
fright again. Why, really, you are going to
spell everybody down at this rate, Gideon"
me, oh, I'm a speller from Bitter Creek! Now
give me a hard one"
"Nuff sed. Now look out, Gid, this is a rip
per. Bonuy-clawber."
"Ha! L suspected as much! Stand out of
the way, now! B-a-u-g-h, baugh, n-a-u-g-h,
naugh, cl-a-u-g-b, claw, Der, ber-bOnny-claw-
Der"
"Why, Gideon, you done it the first lick, and
didn't even stop to spit on your hands! You sur
prise me, Gideon, with your eddication. Who
would think 1t to see you in them close, and goin'
about rough as you do ?"
"Oh, don't forget my airly Wabash eddica-
ton, sir. I've had many's the tussle with bonny-
clawber IL my infancy and before I'D arrived at
tho wears of discretion as Won MIGHT saw -
Now, Gideon, spell Aaron"
"Ah, sir, excuse my smiling; but l can't help
it. I'll just knock that off thusly Big \, lit
tie a, ron, Aaron"
81 am sure that you are right, Gideon, about
the big A, and the little a, but about the ron,
I'm not so sure without a book"
"You amt? Well, I'll just bet you the chop
pin of ten cords of wood that ron, is right"
Il won't take it. Now, here's something for
you. Spell and pronounce cofee-pot without
sayin' teapot"
"No YOU don't! Can't come that on me! 1
took that in on the banks of the Wabash, along
with my bonny-clawber, and my big a, little a,
ron, rom
"Well, now, Gid, brace yourself, my boy, I'm
goin' to roll a shorter down the skids, squar at
you
"Let,r rip, Pcrfesser! I'm on hand with 10Y
canthook I'll stop'r."
"Well, Gid, spell-Korrai hydrate."
"Why, that's a medikel propersition -
II know; but it's a good English word, for all
that. Do you give it up?"
Give it up! Did | ever give anything up!
No; here goes-K-o-r-r-a-l, koral, h-I-d-r-a-t-e,
hydrate."
'"By the holy poker. Gid, you've done it.
Why, saw me all up to slabs, Gid, if you ANT
the boss speller of the big bonanza. You shall 90
home with the purtiest gal in the house this very
night, Gideon I'm proud Of yer!"
Just here the officer forgot himself and coughed,
when Gideon caught up his hat and scooted be-
hind a big pile of lumber. School was out.