Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-02-04
"Oh, bother!" exclaimed Bonnie,

iurtively looking around the room.
"T-h-i-e.f,' he spelled, and on
through the entire list, and then
noiselessly crept into bed,
Good luck to you, Bennie' called
Mrs. Norcross, merrily, the next
morning, as Bonnie, with happy
heart, took up his books, tightly
strapped together, and prepared to
leave the house.
THANK you, mother, he answered,
quietly. The next moment the door
closed and he was gone. Ted met
him block away. "Why, what's the
matter, old MANI" she exclaimed, Civ.
ing him friendly slap on the Shout
der. "Cheer up! You'll come in
ahead with flying colors this time.
There's no DIR. Downing in this case!'
Bonnie tried to smile, but his at
tempt was miserable failure.
"I've a good mind not to take it,"
lie said to himself, as his chum left
him to do an errand across the street.
"But then 1 must beat Dick Atkins;
and 1 can do it this time'
Just after the opening exercises Dr..
Conant entered the schoolroom, car
rying under his arm neatly done up
paper parcel.
All eyes turned to Bonnie and Dick.
Bennie's heart beat wildly, while to
its throbbing voice within seemed to
be keeping time with: "Can't-you
-spell-thief? Course you can; for
that's you. You can spell yourself,
can't you?'
Slowly DR.. Conant pronounced the
first word-how anxiously Bonnie was
listening for it!--"business."
"He's got another list" happily
thought Bonnie to himself. "Oh
good"
But no. The next word was "scoun.
drel,' and from that on the list was
exactly the same as the one Bonnie
had found and studied.
After he had written the fifth word,
he looked up from his paper. Ted
met his gaze with an assuring smile.
Bennie's face flushed. "What if he
knew" he thought.
When the test was over, with
sigh of relief, Bonnie folded his paper
and hurried from the room.
"How'd you make it?" asked the
boys, quickly, as they gathered
around him. "Wasn't it q sticker,
though"
"Was it?" answered Bonnie, eva
sively. 81 think, perhaps, I got most
of them right
At the close OF the afternoon session
DIR. Conant was to award the prize.
How slowly the hours seemed to pass!
At length, however, the exercises for
the day were over, and DIR. Conant
entered An air of expectancy filed
the room. Bennie's face paled
slightly
Spelling has become nearly lost
art among the boys and girls of the
present generation" began DIR. Con.
ant, "and I assure you it gives me
pleasurable surprise to find among the
N-grade boys of the Wallace High
School marked exception to this
condition. Nearly every boy in the
grade has done himself credit-some,
of course, more than others, and one
especially more than all the rest.
The boy referred to, who has splendid
ly conquered in the contest'-all eyes
were Immediately turned to Bonnie
and then to Dick-"is Bonnie Nor
cross. Will the young man, who did
not fail in single word, please come
forward?"
Bonnie arose, pale but resolute, and
walked out to the desk before which
DR.. Conant vas standing.
will you please tell me, sir, who
stands second in the contest?' asked
Bonnie, rs the doctor took the parcel
from the desk.
"Certainly, my boy. Let Inc see:
It's Dick Atkins"
"Then." said Bonnie, "to him be-
longs the prize" And, turning, he
faced the school, and confessed the
whole story of the lost paper.
AS he ceased speaking, not breath
was heard in the large assembly room.
Hastily wiping his eyes DIR. Conant
advanced end, gently placing his hand
on Bennie's shoulder, said tenderly:
MY boy. the skates, of course, be-
/ long to Dick Atkins; but, rs I said
before, repeat, and with the hearty
approval of every boy in the N-grade,
I'm certain You have splendidly con.
quered! - Northwestern Christian Adj