The Old-Time Spelling School; In Three Parts

PART II THE CONTEST

John G. Ellenbecker

In eighties, while these schools were at their best,

And pupils from all these refined homes were

Bent on hard study, with good teachers blest,

Some splendid spelling schools did then occur

In each district one winter. It was then

The last was held in Pleasant Ridge, a gem.

The score was even; they must hold yet one;

This was to tell for all the final fate.

They all longed for this great event to come;

The tenth of February was the date.

We all had vowed, no matter what it took,

We must not fail to know the spelling book.

Three weeks of time we had yet to prepare;

And the home school should furnish the program.

Our teacher, Emma Kister, said, “With care,

Pupils, we must arrange our work and plan,

Or else the victory will not be ours;

We have to entertain and fight four powers.”

She named a council with her to advise;

They placed the poorer spellers in the plays;

The small ones gave “a piece” to memorize;

And got the non-combatants of those days

To play guitars and violins, and sing.

This truly proved to be the very thing.

We spelled down every Friday afternoon;

And the last week we did that ev’ry day;

Rehearsed the declamations ev’ry noon;

And in the evening practiced ev’ry play.

So when came on the tenth of February,

We’d all in trim and all a-feeling merry.

The other districts also plotted, planned;

And studied early, late and overtime.

If kerosene had not then been on hand

They’d burned up all the pitchy knots of pine.

And safe to say, they knew the word book well,

And as they plainly showed, knew how to spell.

It was the prettiest night I e’er did know:

The full moon did its very, very best;

The wains and sleighs came jingling o’er the snow;

For no one wished to miss the great contest.

Our frame school house was large, but ne’er before

So many glad folks were upon its floor.

Each school its spellers chose, and wrote each name

On paper, of not more than twelve and ten,

Nor less than twelve; and then enclosed the same

Within a drawing box from which two men

Then drew the names, and read one at a time,

While persons took alternate sides in line.

In final contest now each teacher stood

And spelled with pupils of his or her school.

Therefore, an outside person, as he should,

Was asked to “give out” words; a time-old rule;

For this was chosen Mr. William Knight,

Elm Creek’s savant, who proved a prince that night.

The quaint school house was decked for holiday;

The old and young from far and near were there:

All from Deer Creek; Blue Valley, far away;

And sunny Prairie Gem, and Herkimer, fair.

Here Golden Valley’s best ’d gathered at its heart,

Intent for spelling tournament to start.

When all was set, this was an august sight:

Each school its trusted spellers there had brought,

By study armed and trained in many a fight;

And with them came their friends who warmly sought

To cheer them to the utmost in the game;

And win for their home schools still brighter fame.

Blue Valley’s spellers came with Mr. Gallaher;

John Cottrell with his pupils resolute

From Prairie Gem. The lexicographers

Of Deer Creek came with Charley Travelute.

Likewise McConnaughey with his gay band

Of spellers from Herkimer was on hand.

Three generations mingled at these sports:

Grandparents with their scions and grand babes

Coined facial sunshine for congenial hearts

That these farm districts always owned and gave.

Among the many grand folks ’mid this youth

Appeared Grandpa and Grandma Travelute.

When lines were formed the spelling match began;

By guess of page, the starting side was learned;

To fifty then as per adopted plan,

Of McGuffey’s text the mediator turned:—

“Dilemma!” Charley Travelute spelled right;

And Mabel Rogers next won “stalactite.”

Then Emma Kister spelled “discern,” and Ben

Bull captured “chemistry,” and next “subvert”

To Philip Emmert fell; while “stratagem”

To Allie Jeffry went. The word “alert”

Brought down a lad from Pleasant Ridge, but Fred

Cockerill left out the useless “l” instead.

Next Warren Keller overcame “precedence”;

And Eva Blackmar right spelled “boulevard”;

John Armstrong then scored perfect on “allegiance”;

A lass from Deer Creek found “croquet” too hard;

But Francis Benson then reduced the fracture;

And Louis Tarvin cleared on “architecture.”

The word “spaceous” was spelled by Alfred Talbot;

And next “sophisticate” by Daisy Bull.

“Stereotype” was won by Ella Benson;

And Edward Winkler scored with “merciful.”

Then Sally Tarvin right spelled “separate”;

And Stella Guise o’ercame “emancipate.”

Now Henry Stauffacher cleared on “redoubt”;

And Ira Strickler nearly missed “renown,”

“Adroit” some one from Herkimer let out;

Likewise a lad from Prairie Gem put down.

Correctly then George Emmert spelled this term;

And Jake Schmidler scored high on “endosperm.”

“Missile” was sent to Maggie Butterfield;

While “modesty” was won by Frank McKee;

James Gallaher nearly lost out on “congealed”;

And Minnie Cottrell mastered “chickadee”;

Now Peter Kerschen captured “epiglottis”;

And “gratis” was spelled by Louisa Koppes.

George Watson next cleared on “antagonize”;

“Incarcerate” fell to Edward McKee;

A Pleasant Ridger lost on “analyze”—

He stopped too soon; he left off final “e”.

But Andrew Koppes then made the addition;

Wesley Sedlacek lettered right “commission.”

Correctly Polly Key spelled “gondolier”;

John Cottrell subjugated “porcelain”;

Then Monnie Strickler right spelled “brigadier”;

And Florence Benson perfect got “domain.”

Then Ida Kister took “fragility”;

And Lena Fulton w

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