Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-07-07

loSY anu oIneT Sports IldL eVOkeu
uproarous laughter.
Meanwhile the young mothers
sought a quieter room and talked of
their babies, while the elder danes
remained in the kitchen to sympa-
thize and tell of their ailments and
discuss the efficacy of remedies.
When weary of play some oneS pro-
poses spelling school. In those
days, more than now, it was deemed
an accomplishment to spell. School
districts Wed with each other, and
young lads and lasses in early teens
learned all the words in Webster's
spelling book, and could spell them
in sing-song chant, thus: CON,
con, tam, tam, contain, i, contami,
ma, ma, contamina, t-i-o-n shun,
contamination" A young student
home from college was appointed to
give out the words. In the spirit
of merriment, Hunter John, who
was present and one of the most
popular men of the party twas called
on to stand up and spell. He was
not the man to shrinka or finch.
Spell knowledge, Hunter JOHN
said the teacher.
N-a-w-l-i-j, knowledge" said
Hunter John, with the air of one
perfectly sure of his ground. Roars
of laughter followed this essay at
photography. When it had subsidized
Hunter John merrily said. "Wa-al,
you can laugh till you bust yer wes-
cots and cossets, but if them letters
don't spell knowledge, what on arth
do they spell?"
Very far from right, Hunter
john" said the teacher, dogmat-
ically, and he gaveiaathe word to a
young miss of fifteen who spelled it
properly.
Hold on, now," 'said Hunter
John; lets argy that pint. I've
seen summers pictur of old Noah
Webster, or Daniel, sdon't zackly
recomember which, a-settin' with a
big book in his lap, n a stack O.
books lynn round his feet, n buttry
shelves ahind him chock full O.
books; SIGH folks has plenty O. time
to spell and put in all the letters
they are minter, n just waste let
ters, but we outdoor folks have to
carry our spellin book in our heads.
When we're goin' anywhere we cut
cross lots, n when we spell we cut
cross lots; we save time and leg
wear in takin' the shortest road; n
we save puzzlin' our brains by
spellin' the material way. We don't
want any mum letters in ourn; we
plain folks do our spellin' the short
est, easiest way, n that's common
sense; leastways, its all right for US
folks up in the mountains.
There was no resisting Hunter
John. All laughingly agreed that he
had perfect right to spell accord
Ing to his own system, and some
conceded that Hunter beat Web
ster all hollow in spelling"
After the spelling there was sing
ing in which all joined. Critics
might find fault, but there was
voice, volume, and no lack of ex-
preston, and all enjoyed it. The
laughter and merry din grew louder
as the company dispersed, many a
lad thinking the happiest part of the
pleasant evening was in seeing his
girl home"
1t was in this season of late au.
+umn, with russell leaves and frosty
nights. when the granaries are be.
Ing stored with the yellow corn and
pound sweets and winter gratis are
treasured away in dark cellars and
closets, giving forth their ambrosiaI
aroma, that Uncle Eben Ransom and
Ezra Hunter started out very early
one morning on a hunt for a bee
tree with its store of wild honey
They had rambled quite long way
through the heavily timbered wood
when they came upon the tree for
which they were in search. While
watching the bees hurrying to and