The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1901-10-18
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
THE OLD BLUE-BACK SPELLER.

THE OLD BLUE-BACK SPELLER.
I Thought it was out OF print, l had
not seen one for so long, writes an
"Old Lady" in the Cumberland Con-
gregationalist. Indeed, l thought no
respectable publishing house would
dare issue this nightmare Of the mod
ern pedagogue. But l found upon its
back that 1t claimed to be sold by 'all
the principal booksellers" That made
me blush, for l had Inquired vainly Of
many booksellers for copy. Howev
er, this is not the worst thing the old
blue cack ever done for me. remem.
Der to have "staid in" three successive
days because the old blue back and ]
differed as to the number OF BIS in
rabbit. l persisted In putting one,
and the blue back just as doggedly put
two. This is no small offense to the
boy who goes TO school, not to spell
rabbit. but to play 'cat" and 'town
ball. s-..,
l have also charged against the old
blue hack certain boxing at the
hands Of Miss Spitflre. 1t was the
last word OF the lesson, and it was be.
fore we had reached the stage Of
spelling by heart"
One of Miss Spitfre's requirements
was to pronounce each syllable. The
word was incomprehensibility. Thus
spelled to the tune Of "Old Hun.
dred," In in, Com com, lncom, pre-
pre-, incompre. hen hen, Incompetent,
ST. 81. incomprehensi bill bill, incom.
prehcnsibil, !, incomprehensibili, t.y
ty, incomprehensibility, which word
exactly described the state of my
brain an hour after Miss Spitfre had
done with me.
But there are many pleasant mem.
cries twined about old blue back, for
1t seems to me now that it was my sole
textbook for about ten years. 1t marks
certain great triumphant periods in
my life, not the least Of which was my
first day at school armed with nice
new blue back thumb paper" "sowed
to the upper end as kind Of breast
works against the Onslaughts of my
thumb. l should hate to say how
many blue backs crumbled before my
thumb before / had even begun to
make an intellectual conquest Of its
contents. Who that was educated in
the reign OF the old blue back will not
remember the day he got to Baker?
Then to banquet. Then to botany,
Then to horseback. The wonder grew!
But if the teacher was orthodox, and
Miss Spitflre was, she turned you back
here. lie who would master the pages
OF old blue back beyond horseback
must have IA good start. lie mnst take
a "ru1ning go." What u great day it
was when. having been placed again
at the f,n,t Of the hill Of knowledge,
you had slowly and with measured
tread climbed back to horseback.
Then you went u banislment.
The jubilee Was when you got to
the pictures. Was the history Of
Bunker hill more glorious? You ran
all the way home to tell it. Who can
forget some OF the sentences of the old
blue back? 3 Let Us open its pages and
take 4 few SLICES Of knowledge. On
the Raser Jay ~ we find this sage OBJ
"Good boysand girls will act well y
Turn a page and you will find excel
lent theology . '"The holy Bible is the
book OF God"
The old blue back is honest to the
core. 1Uhnl l.YlJ5'
ITO fllch is to steal. We must not
fllch." To purloin is TO steal" "Ney-
er equiyocate or prevaricate, but tell
the plain trutlhp t5f|
1t takes first rank as book on TEN.
perancelT hStrone drink will debase IA
h n,an." There has never been a mo-
meif, + sinceI read that sentence that
| did not belisveit. u ssy!i laj- |
zone hundred cents are worth a
dollar" a t.1iog which few people
know. 5'nSqiu
"slx boys can se;opa long bench. 4"
True, provided they t,ays no pins,
"'The preacher is TO preach the gos.
pel." Not al untiniely Lrehrark even
now. :nOfIF u1iUI
''Can e9boy CRY and not shed tear 81"
He can " be wants tDdnake demoh1
stration 10 get Qie flogging to cease. n
THE Vambier wishes I'll gct money
without earning levi SHAVE heard no
better arRument auai INST gambling.
"rhe soul 's immortal; IL will never
die" The profoundly thinking has
never gotten peyondttss. w 4,
THE sting OiIthe wasp is very pain.
ful." 1knsw that already. .Hll M
but -letsps pow ttprn TO the 'plc-
tures.hoikG yQias llaya been charmed
with whiy preceded inl Slse IbOty.t, aud
you have, ypxa win tbel Mfniedp here.
There xs4 seSspu A. Taught
WIN lQeAnaMo aiieS WboIc1n, 16axet