The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-03-11
A SPELLING MATCH.

ldtC tIC ulSulFtu SllltcI VI SllVtI ~, "NN
cncc were assembling by twos and threcs
Behind the green curtains which hlC tSc pia'
form dozen boys and as many girls stood bt
hind a table on which were placed the prize
for which they were abou, 10 compete IN I'M
great spelling match--an event which nat
convulscd DuXbury Corners to its center, haI
set the sewing circles in flutter, ana causeO
Webster's and Worcester dictionaries 10 taHt
temporary rank, with the young people o
the town, as the most cnthralling works II
the English language
The prizes were three in number. NO.
was of course that inevitable "Rogors group,
which, for unknown reasons, Is always Sc
lected as reward for champion spoilers in the
rural districts. No. 9 was THE Beauties Of
William Shakespeare" fat volume IN red
and gold binding. No. 3 consisted of "a
Thesaurus of English Words" in blue and
gold, gorgeous also, but, rs betitted the third
prize, less gorgeous than The Beauties OF
w. 81. 1t was upon the group" in gray
plaster that the eyes of the g,rls were mos
admirably fixed the boys liked the books a:
we'll.
"They'rc splcndid, all of them" remarked
little Carrie Powell. II do admire statues Sc
muchl'
"Pericctly spendid elegant magnificent!
echoed chorus.
NOHutl WHO III Sct tilt III ot hSnOo i'"i
sy Lee, in a half whisper.
"Oh, Ray, Of course. Hes taken two first
prizes already
"My father says it isn't fair that Ray Pei
ham should compete again, said John Stack
pole, in 4 surly tone. Hes the best spcIler
in this county one knows that And
now he ought 10 stand off and give somebody
else n chance
Hes real old, too-'mo nineteen" I'D
ded little boy of ten.
Johns right; it isn't fair. Ray oughtn't
to be in the match at al" cried two or three
others.
"Nonc Of us'll have the least chance if he
is" muttered Carrie,
"Oh, but do you know, think it il fair,
said Mary Alger. "Ray' the champion now
he holds the belt or course he must fight
everybody who tries against him. There s
always u chance IN spelling. Really good
spoilers are often tripped up by some easy lit,
tie word which you'd think they could spell
in a minute" Mary ended with sigh, for
this had been her own fate She wasa real.
ly good sPeller," and had twice just failed of
a prize.
She did not see Ray, who had entered as
she began to speak He had never particu.
larly noticed Mary Algcr before. She was
not pretty glrl, Judged by the DuIbury
standard, though an artist might have found
something to admire in the lines of her head
and throat, in the eXquisitcly fine pale skin
and deep set gray eyes. Neither was she u
favortc. Her reserve and shyness were Ia.
ken for pride, the depression OF knowing her.
self mlsjudged made her awkward and her
ordinary manner was cold and silent. She
seldom made SO long speech as on this oc.
casion. And the girls opened their eyes as
they listened. Ray was amazed also. He
was not stupid boy, and 1t dawned upon
him that IL was an impulse OF generous jus
tee in his behalf which had unlocked the
lips OF this usually tongueticd Mary, and her
face for the first time struck him rs pretty.
The other girls chartered on, but Mary had
said her say, and stood silently looking at the
plaster group. Ray saw that she admired 1t
Intensely, and half wisE crossed his mind
that she might win lt-only Il half one, for to
the successful success becomes indlspensa
BILE, and the desire to be first was very strong
upon the ambitious young fellow. Presently
an avalanche Of camp chairs, followed by a
procession of squeaking boots, announced the
arrival of the COMMITTEE of Reference THE
boys and girls ranged themselves in parallel
rows. Mr.. Ashe, the principal OF the acade.
my, appeared with a formidable MS. roll in
his hand. The curtain rose; the audience
|capped. Now, my young friends, beg
that you speak rs distinctly us possible" SAID
Mr.. Ashe With that lac consulted his roll
and gave out the first word, "hlppopotamus
and the strife commenced:
"Twcrc vain to tell what stecds gave DER.
As swept the fight
over the photographed plan; how an elderly
youth of sixty summers, with a preconceived
Theory rs to the word Indian" which he
rendered thus, I'M .u.n," was the first vic
tim, and tiny girl OF six the second; how
ianeu.ism' slew its thousands, "ph lebotomy''
its tens of thousands; how May Martin fell
victim to carries" and Augustus Brown
was borne of protesting that appellate m
had only one in 1t. Traps and pitfalls aboun.
ded. Slowly the ranks thinned; the van
qushed, finding what comfort they could in
numbers, lined the wings, applauding and
ljeering their late comrades. AT last Mary
Alger was left the only girl, opposed to three
boys, of whom Ray was one. Five minutes
tent seemed US though neither of the -four
would ever miss. The excitement became in
tense.
Ill lc-ggi.blc," spelled John Beach.
Wrong" said Mr.. Ashc; and John. crest
fallen, creakcd his way of the stage Each
of the three competitors now left was sure o
prize. The question was, which prize.
Mr.. Ashc had exhausted his roll, and pro
full of what sportsman would call crop
pers' Aha! Owen Brycrly trpped up. Tht
word "benzoin" proved too much for him
Only Ray and Mary were left. The audicnc,
held its breath at first then the other triumph
anlly suimounteI words which sounded ia
tally difficult to less Instructed ears.
1t Is at such crises ~ these that man y
nerves win the day. Out of the corner of hi
eye Ray saw the flush rise and deepen OF
Mays cheeks, and her fingers clasp and pncl
each other. She was getting iluStcrcd, IN an
other moment she would blundcr. Suddenl,
a generous impulse took possession OF him
She cared so very much for this plaster thing
Why not for once give in, and be content 4
come out second? |, all passed through hi
mind in flash. and his resolution WAS taken
"Pcn,ateuch," gave out Mr. AShe
To the unbnunded establishment of the AZ
dicncc Ray Pelham rose and and spelled III
word thus: "Pc.n-ta.y-t.u.k.c'
There was a roar OF laughter. IN who
every one Joined eXccDt the bcwildcrCl MuTN