The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-03-02
A SPELLING MATCH.

The lamps were just lighted in the
town hall, each tin reflector doing its
best to emulate the dignifed glitter of
silver. The audience were assembling
by twos and threes. Behind the green
curtain which hid the platform, dozen
boys and as many girls stood beside a
table on which were placed the prizes
Tor which they were about to compete
III the great spelling match-an event
which had convulsed Duxbury Corners
TO its center, had set the sewing circles
in futter, and caused Websters and
Worcester's dictionaries to take tempo
rary 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, the inevitable Rogers
group" which, for unknown reasons, is
always selected as reward for champion
spoilers in the rural districts. No. 2 was
The Beauties of William Shakespeare, a
tat volume in red and gold binding.
No. consisted of A Thesaurus of Eng
lish Words in blue and gold, gorgeous
also, but, as befitted a third prize, less
gorgeous than The Beauties of w. S.
1t was upon the GROUP" in gray plas-
ter that the eyes of the girls were most
admiringly fixed; the boys liked the
books as well.
They're splendid, all of them" re-
marked little Carrie Powell. 81 do adj
mire statues so muchl"
Perfectly splendid! elegant. mag
nihcentl" echoed chorus.
:" wonder who'll get the frst?" said
Daisy Lee in half whisper
"Oh, 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 tore. "He's
the best speller in this c0untry-every
one knows that And now he ought to
stand off and give somebody else a
chance"
He's real old, too-most nineteen!"
added a little boy of ten
"John's right; it isn't fair. Raw
oughtn't 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, l think it is
fair" said Mary Alger. rays the
champion now; he holds the belt. OF
course, he must fight every boy who tries
against him. There's always chance in
spelling. Really good spoilers are often
tripped up by some easy little word
which you'd think they could spell in a
minute" Mary ended with a sigh, for
this had been her own fate. She was a
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
Duxbury standard, though an artist
might have found something to admire
IN the lines of her head and throat; in
the exquisitely fine pale skin and deep
set grey eyes Neither was she a favor
lite. Her reserve and shyness were taken
for pride, the depression of knowing her
self misludged made her awkward, and
her ordinary manner was cold and ST.
lent She seldom made so long speech
as on this occasion And the girls
opened their eyes as they listened. Raw
was amazed also. He was not a stupid
boy, and it dawned upon him that it
was an impulse of generous Justice in
his behalf which had unlocked 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 half wish
crossed his mind that she might win it
only a half one, for to the successful
success becomes indispensable, and the
desire to be first was very strong upon
the ambitious young fellow. Presently
an avalanche of camp-chairs, followed
by procession of squeaking boots, an
nounced the arrival of the COMMITTEE
Of Reference" The boys and girls
ranged themselves in parallel rows. Mr..
Ashe, principal of the academy, ap-
peared with a formidable Ms. roll in his
hand. The curtain rose; the audience
clapped. Now, my young friends. 7
beg that you will speak as distinctly as
possible, said Mr.. Ashe. With that
he consulted his roll, gave out his first
word hippopotamus,' and the strife
commenced.
Twere vain to tell what steeds gave Ger,
As swept the fight
over the photographed plain: how
an elderly youth of some sixty summers
with preconceived idea as to the word
Indian, which he rendered thus, " In
jun" and a tiny girl of six the second .
how aneurism" slew its thousands: how
May Martin fell victim to "caries, !"
and Augustus Brown was borne off pro-
testing that "appellation had but one
IN it. Traps and pitfalls abounded.
Slowly the ranks thinned; the van
quished, finding what comfort they could
In numbers, lined the wings, applauding
and Jeering their comrades. At last
Mary Alger was left the only girl, OPP
posed to three boys, of whom Ray was
one. Five minutes, tent seemed as
though neither one of the four would
ever miss. The excitement became in
tense.
" I[li-g-g-i-b-le," spelled John Beach.
I" Wrong" said Mr.. Ashe; and John,
crestfallen, creaked his way off the stage.
Each of the three competitors now left