The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-09-14

closed single coin. ''Albert has fist
choice" he declared. and with the
promptness of performed decisi}n.
Albert called out: .-.as~-
Louisa Larcom."
With an assumed reluctance toac-
cept the wholly expected honor the
blushiug Louisa tripped with deter
mined air to the front.
james Pritchard," was Polly's
equally prompt and emphatic second
choice, and the choosing went on with
an animation which tagged in propor-
ton as the best spoilers were exhausted,
and certain dumb sympathy for those
left to the last as kind of undesirable
rubbish managed to make itself felt
though unworded. Some of the middle
aged men had excused themselves and
remained sitting round the stove. spec
tators and critics of the performance.
The teacher took candle in one hand
and spelling book in the other and
gave OUT the words, beginning with
"baker." Any one missing sat down
until all were disabled.
At the end of half hour the teacher
invited Deacon Albright to relieve
him. The Deacon, after making a
polite but expectedly vain pretence OF
wishing to be excused, apologized:
MY way of pernouncin' may not be
quite up to what you've been used to
scholars with,signifeaatreeagnttasa
of the more cultivated style of the lay
student from Briggsville, shut I'll de
the best kin, an if you don't undei-
stand any word all you hat to duels
not to tackle it ontil you due, an dot
be any ways bashful beout havif it
give out agin."
In half an hour more the cuious
words which the Deacon had maaaged
to find secreted in old McGuffg had
thinned the ranks until but aisingle
speller remained on each side. Soon
one of these, in the eXcitemeJ OF the
contest, interiected a superhDus ''h''
into ''eXorbitant' and sank int shame
faced obscurity with the insant dis
covery of her mistake.
The second spell down after recess
was held more important than the first
in that the capacity of the contestants
had been somewhat tested and they
could be more evenly matched. Mr..
Joel Douglass, himself an ex-teacher.
''gave OUT for awhile, leaving the
teacher in charge the honor of the
closing. There was an evident tensity
of feeling as the contest deepened that
was not observable before recess. Each
speller endeavored to be careful and
self-possessed and to bring no avoid
able disaster upon his or her side.
Nearly half the spoilers were down
when Mr.. Douglass pleaded WEAKNESS
and turned the book over to Mr.. Frost.
"Breakfast'' was the word he gave
out next and it was "Big Bilr' Bru-
bakers turn.
"B-r-e-c-k, brek, fast, fast, break
fast" he sang out with the prompt CON
fidence of easy mastery. But befo1e
the word was all out of his mouth
pretty Ruth Turner, on the other si4e
snapped it up with a "b-r-e-a-k, bro G
f-e-a-s-t, fast, for breakfast" and q,
instantly Lucinda Sweet, standing next
to Bill, took it back from Ruth BY
spelling it correctly, amid an enthusi-
asm at the rapid and brilliant work
that could not be wholly depressed
Ruth sat down in confusion of mort.
fication which mantled her cheeks and
suffused her eyes at thought of her
foolish mistake, and the teacher pal,
liatingly suggested:
you see, Miss Ruth, it isn't break
ing ones feast, but breaking ones
tust.n
1t was noticed, however, that Bill
Brubaker had not sat down, as the
perception of his failure should have
led him to do. but remained stolidly
standing in spite of the efforts of those
around him to pull him down.
II didn't understand the word, no
how" he said, sullenly.
Didn't understand it!' the teacher
exclaimed. How could you help I'M
derstanding it? You knew what the
word meant. [ hope"
At this sally of Briggsville wit, there
was a general litter of derision from
the other side, which added to Bills
discontinue.
"You said 6reck, not brabe," he de-
clared, recklessly, IAN speltit as you
give it out. | reckon know how to
spell brake as well as any on EN-"
"You fairly missed the word" the
teacher said, decisively, and you must
take your seat like the rest, Mr.. Bru-
baker" Even the exceptional honor
implied in this deferential address did
not wholly appease Bill $ wounded van
ity.
iii take it if waunt tew. an not
otherwise" he muttered, Sinking dowr
with an ugly scowl on his face.
Big Bill was hardly a third-rate
speller at best, and usually was among
the first to go down, but his unprece-
denied good fortune at keeping on his
feet SO long had imbued him with 6
staggering confidence in his powers
and induced the vain hope of a possible
emergence as one of the champions o.