Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-20
A SPELLING-MATCH.

The lamps were just lighted in the
Town Hall, each tin reflector doing its
best to emulate the dignified glitter Of
silver. The audience were assembling by
twos and threes. Behind the green cur
tain which hid the platform a dozen boys
and as many girls stood beside table on
which were placed the prizes for which
they were about to compete in the great
spelling match-an event which had con-
yulsed Duxbury Corners to its center, had
set the sewing circles in iutter, and
caused Websters and Worcester's diction-
aries to take temporary rank with the
young people Of the town as the most
enthralling works in the English
language.
The prizes were three in number. No.
/ was of course that inevitable " Rogers
group which, for unknown reasons, is
always selected as reward for champion
spoilers in the rural districts No. was
THE Beauties of William Shakespeare, :"
a fatvolume in red and gold binding. No.
3 consisted of GA Thesaurus of English
Words, in blue and gold, gorgeous also,
but, as befitted third prize, less gorgeous
than The Beauties of w S." 1t was upon
the q group" in gay plaster that the eyes
of the girls were most admiringly fixed; the
boys liked the books as we'll.
They're splendid, all of them" re-
marked little Carrie Powell. q do ad-
mire statues so much"
q Perfectly splendid! elegant! magnifi-
cent?" echoed a chorus.
81 wonder who'll get the frst?" asked
Daisy Lee, in a half whisper.
ooh, Ray, of course. He's taken two
first prizes already"
My father says it isn't fair that Ray
Pelham should compete again" said John
Stackpole, in a surly tone. He's the
best speller in this county-every one
knows that. And now he ought to stand
off and give somebody else chance"
He's real old, too-'most nineteenr
added a little boy of ten
Johns right; it isn't fair. Ray
oughtnt to be in the match at ALL" cried
two or three others.
None Of us'll have the least chance if
he is" muttered Carrie.
ooh, but do you know, I think it as
fair" said Mary Alger. rays the
champion now; he holds the belt. Of
course he must fight everybody who tries
against him. There's always a chance in
spelling. Really good spoilers are often
tripped up by some easy little word which
you'd think they could spell in min
Ute" Mary ended with a sigh, for this
had been her own fate She was really
good speller'' and had twice Just failed of
prize.
She did not see Ray, who had entered
as she began to speak. He had never
particularly noticed Mary Alger before.
She was not pretty girl, judged by the
Guxbury standard, though an artist might
have found something to admire in the
lines other head and throat, in the exouis-
itely fine, pale skin and deep-set. gray
eyes. Neither was she a favorite. Her
reserve and shyness were taken for pride.
the depression of knowing herself mis-
Judged made her awkward, and her ordi-
nary manner was cold and silent She
SNAAAA AA0'NaS 81 AViiS q pSSCu DIS on Jl1S
occasion. And the girls opened their eyes
as they listened. Ray was amazed also,
He was not a stupid boy, and it dawned
upon him that it was an impulse of gener-
Gus justice IN his behalf which had un-
locked the lips of this usually tongue-tied
Mary, and her face for the first time
struck HIM as pretty.
The other girls chartered on, but Mary
had said her say, and stood silently look
ing at the plaster group. Ray saw that
she admired it intensely, and a half wish
crossed his mind that she might win it
only half one, for to the successful sue
cess becomes indispensable, and the de-
sire 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 Refer.
ence." The boys and girls ranged them
selves in parallel rows. Mr.. Ashe, Prin-
cIpal of the academy, appeared with a
formidable manuscript roll in his hand