The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-08-13
4 SPELLING MATCH.

Gu L Hmer D0bsOn's kitchen il
Ilckefed up and down on the b1oe
Drown raiters, and on the great dresser
"here the quaint wilIow-wnre dishes
were arranged, and where Mrs. Doh
son wonderful wealth of tin-ware was
arrayed IN shining ranks. A great far.
SI;'thered, shadc whaunted kitchen of
LHe old-fashioned type, with fireplace
@ u tIle oId-iashloned type, enc Of the
s generous provldent, open hearted kind
that rs passing away with the woods
IL helped TO devour,
we nave more economical arranpe-
ments coming in fashion. even in tba
old country-houses, now. but ther,. are
none so full of evening witcherv. So
care-beguiliDg and heartsome, as the
old wood fire. '--o
What elfish pranks it pInved that
nlght How it reddened old Farmer
DoDsons smoking cap, and shown on
ms good Wlfe's spectacles. and tinted
yoD nigh cheek-Eones and sleek. black
hair' as he eat IL the off corner bending
CDIuseiy over mis- book, utterly absorbed,
40 man might be who had so little
I liLle 70 explore the mysteries of Web.
e.eL' and who was to take part in the
spe ling match tonight.
JOB was Farmer D0bson'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
lke a blg mastiff, who might be danger
Gus, but under ordinary circumstances
could be safely teased and tormeuted TO
the top OF Our bent. A mist gathered
IN my eyes rs looked across the great
Kitchen to where he sat unconscious.
plcddlng away at his task. T thought
cI oHr GLIB and easily acquired leaTr=
ing, and OF poor Jobs hard struggle for
life, and pitied Job.
Yes, pitied him but yet, neverthe-
jess, as l saw him stopping so pre-
uhGIy by the light of that witching
III t,ueealess OF the shadow and shine
q the room, an imp of mischief-Der-
maps one of the pranksome elves ges.
Hcnlatlng IN the Chimney-cOrner- rot
DOS session of me. / arose softly and
EhdIng over to where he sat. spriDkled
the absorbed student with shower of
eau lie Cologne, and putting the vial
quickly IN my pocket, walked demurelv
bPck to my seat. The start Job gave
ahu the Hush on his face as he returned
to ms book, were comical. That Co
Iogne was Abilah PIummer's present
ana shouldn't have wasted it, perhaps,
ana perhaps Job didn't like Cologne.
lie shut the book presently, and sat
win ms shoulders stoOCsd and his
head dropping, looking into the fire.
Well, as have said, we were to bave
n spelling 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, beautiful set
of gold-and-blue poets, six dainty little
volumes that stood cleaning in the fire.
hight on the round table, in the place of
honor along with the great giIt-edge
family Bible.
The young people dropped in one bv
one, shaking of the snow as they came
IN. Tor there had been a light snow-sGll
tha6 evening, which made us all the
meruer. By-and-by the great kitchen
was hlied up, the ca ,dles were lit,
Farmer Dobson laid aside his pine. the
school master Strengthened ms neck tie
aud grabbed the big Webster before
him, and we all became propprlv i'm
pressed with the Importance of the occa-
sion, though there vas a general nudg-
ing OF elbows and a sly grimace as bic.
shy job Joined the class. But Job was
used to our merry-making, and took no
notice Of it.
Eound and round went the spelling
l'g words and little words, words with
treacherous c's and as lying in wait in
uncxpeot q places, and words without
S, and words with odd rs, and all the
deceIttul dictionary dreadfuIpess that
hes IN wait to trip up the unwary. And
one after another our champions were
spelled down, and Job actually stood his
ground against half q dozen we'll
schooled fellows. All his face was kin
died with eagerness, and the dull and
ploddlng look hRbitual to him had dis
appeared. The spelling was waking him
up. But there sat Abiiah Plummer.
who didn't JON IN the match-Abiiah
Plummer, the well.to do beau of the
village, 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 we're
being severely tried. The smelling
match was kindling hin to the centre
1T seemed.
"A lew more words were vet on the
hst, ana there lay the beautiful books
smllng and shining on us.
Beautiful - gave ont tba scbool-
master and Abiiah launched as Job cot
up to spell it. Job looked at Abiiab.
nd began, " B-e-u-" and there was a
eneral scream of laughter.
DArn 1t said Job between his
seeI9 what can fellow do with
1901 Ike that grinning at him ?" The
mastlu was shaking himself up. and I
trembled for Abiiah.
Order J" said he schooI-master
ana gave out the word again.
IL was my tum. l done know. as |
say what mp possessed me this even
ing, but L stood up and spelled the word
WIN ylm, Just as if l didn't care one.
JOB Tor Jobs defeat, and before knew
u the blue-and-gold prize was put into
my bands. Then 1 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. /
wanted to speak to Job, but there stood
Abijah in the doorway with my shawl in
his hands waiting to see me home, and l
onl " nodded to Job as he stood at the
gate with his lantern to show us the
pain. One after another the merry
party disappeared down the snowy road
were the last.
il see you down to the creek" said
JOB, humbly; Its a rouoh road TO-
night. And without another word he
stalked on ahead, his lantern cleaning
after him. e''--e
We did not say much either. Abiiab
and i, for we We're hounderinp tbro1ob
the soft, thick-falling snow, and some.
how it seemed awkward to be WAKING
in jobs lantern-light.
Presently we came down to the creek.
where every angle of rock and every
elbow of guaIled tree was flecked SOFTLY
with snow, and the creek, which had
crossed day or two before on my visit
to Farmer Dobson's, ran below, gray
aud far, an unfamiliar stream, with
downy, treacherOus banks shutting it
ln-a strange white fantasy. Over it
two stout planks, crossing few inches
apart, served as a bridge. They were
rounded and slipPery-looking tonight.
and one of them had a slight warn as
If westher-strained.
Abiiah stood a moment on the bank
surveying it.
cts dangerous crossing that" he
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