,,the ,,old-,,time ,,spelling ,,school ,,in ,,three ,,parts ,,part ,i--,,golden ,,valley ,,part ,,ii--,,the ,,contest ,,part ,,iii--,,musical ,,by ,,john ,g4 ,,ellenbecker ,,marysville1 ,,kansas ,h4 ,m4 ,l4 ,r4 ,,brodrick1 ,,printers ,,marysville1 ,,kansas #aibb ,copyrighted1 #aibb1 by ,,john ,g4 ,,ellenbecker ,marysville1 ,kansas ,dedication ,this little volume is respectfully inscribed to the schools of ,marshall ,county1 ,kansas--its patrons1 teachers and pupils--in humble acknowledgment of the great good these schools have done for our citizenship and our government4 ,preface ,this poem was not written to bring fame1 nor to waft a fortune2 for1 fame and fortune are but small incidents when compared with the higher things in life4 ,it was composed more for pleasure--the pleasure of meditating on1 and the commemorating of1 the splendid people who were among the many fine early settlers of this state2 and likewise to impart this joy to the readers who may peruse this little story of pioneer days4 ,then the old 8,spelling ,down0--once so common in schools and so brilliant for its academic value1 and keen social enjoyment--should be rescued from oblivion2 yea even revived4 ,if the sending forth of these simple stanzas should bear any fruit1 may some of these be the happy harvest4 --,the ,author4 ,sylvan ,heights1 ,marysville1 ,kansas ,dec4 #bd1 #aiba4 ,,the ,,old ,,time ,,spelling ,,school ,,part ,i ,,golden ,,valley ,o worthy friends1 at last we've met again2 ,i feel that we have met in days before2 ,and hope as gladly now as we did then1 ,to contemplate some things in days of yore2 ,in those days when our parents still were young1 ,and we in youth around the school house swung4 ,it won't take long--a fleet winged hour or two-- ,so1 let us raise the curtain of the past1 ,and bring again those good old days to view1 ,which are long fled in years that sped too fast2 ,let us together take a pleasant trip ,on mem'ry's wings for kind companionship4 ,in those good times of years long1 long ago ,were many hardships1 that we should forget2 ,but still1 among these troubles1 toils1 and woe1 ,were sunny spots that will delight us yet4 ,and one of those affected by this rule ,is the old time rollicking spelling school4 ,the young folks of today would scarcely guess ,their fathers and their mothers1 in those times1 ,could stand for hours the stern onslaught and stress ,of stubborn words1 in long contending lines-- ,arranged around the dingy school house wall ,to see who was the speller best of all4 ,the country school was then the favorite nook-- ,a kind of home spun university-- ,where old and young their worth in spelling book ,exhibited in a friendly rivalry4 ,and those of later times1 of course1 don't know ,what they without these sports sadly forego4 ,those spelling schools did more in their plain ways ,for all young folks1 than now is done for few1 ,in costly schools1 in these progressive days-- ,and they were common once4 ,west of the ,blue1 ,there were five districts that were wont to meet ,in contest in this most delightful feat4 ,blue ,valley and ,deer ,creek lay to the north2 ,each one a ready1 lusty vanquisher2 ,and smiling ,prairie ,gem lay to the south2 ,raemer ,creek on the west1 now ,herkimer2 ,and ,pleasant ,ridge1 my rural alma mater1 ,in midst of all1 and just a trifle greater4 ,when corn was husked and hard farm work was done1 ,the winter evenings long and restless grew2 ,then country folks would long for that blithe fun ,that they before from the quaint school house drew4 ,some teachers then with pupils did contrive ,to hold a spelling school among the five4 ,and these were founts of pleasure1 sparkling1 sweet1 ,to which the neighboring schools invited were4 ,the purpose was in spelling them to beat2 ,and therein lay the honors striven for4 ,for those events the spelling book was learned ,complete1 and bowls of midnight oil were burned4 ',twas wont for parents to pronounce at home ,words by the pages to their children then2 ,until ,mc,guffey's text by heart was known-- ,by the whole household1 even the hired men4 ,no wonder that we heard old settlers tell3 8,in those wise days people knew how to spell40 ,the district that would entertain the rest ,of schools1 gratis prepared a play program-- ,of songs and declamations1 the very best1 ,and dialogs in which much laughter ran4 ,herein1 no doubt1 young ,thespians took part ,who through hearty encore obtained their start4 ,those spelling bees6 ,o1 with what rare delight1 ,for weeks ahead we them anticipated6 ,they were the magnets of those winter nights2 ,no storm or cold them e'er obliterated4 ,when those glad nights came1 countless faces beamed ,in country school houses where bright lights gleamed4 ,altho 'twas long ago1 still ,i recall ,the happy crowds within those temples wee2 ,and marvel how they could contain them all2 ,but they were all on hand1 and so were we4 ,in an old adage you know it is told3 8,many gentle sheep go in a small fold40 ,the old time songs were with much pleasure fraught1 ,when by gray-haired sires or sweet maidens sung2 ,the dialogs oft bursts of laughter brought1 ,as actors new their characters well flung4 ,and ne'er did foot lights play house ,booths enfire ,as wild applause did our young stars inspire4 ,no scroll of ,prairie ,gem would be complete ,that not of ,mrs4 ,jeffry's actors told2 ,or ,cottrell's pupils invincible and sweet1 ,that oft at bay contending lines did hold3 ,for ,golden ,valley1 where these districts lay1 ,well knew these folks could ably spell and play4 ,this part could boast of sturdy families2 ,yet modestly these bore their worthy lots3 ,stauffachers1 ,guises1 ,brennans1 ,babbisches1 ,murphys1 ,armstrongs1 ,yaussis1 ,jeffrys and ,otts2 ,pachas and ,trienens1 ,seematters and ,dow2 ,and others that ,i have forgotten now4 ,and ,herkimer should ever brightly shine ,for blithe savants3 ,carbott and ,mc,connaughey2 ,no school house feast could glow without their chime-- ,their choral gems and jocund roundelay4 ,and over many snowy miles we'd swing ,to hear these two declaim1 debate1 or sing4 ,its violin players were hard to beat3 ,whoe'er heard ,clark ,stewart play 8,the ,mocking ,bird0 ,at spelling schools1 they heard a heavenly treat3 ,to be enraptured was but to have heard4 ,here1 likewise1 too1 held voluptuous sway ,the ,schumacher dulcet stringed orchestra4 ,this district had its great families too3 ,the ,runkles1 ,schumachers and ,dorfeners2 ,niemanns1 ,emmerts1 ,kellers1 ,hickeys and ,true1 ,lyndes1 ,amelunxens1 ,koenekes1 ,raemers-- ,most1 pioneers who in the sixties came1 ,and helped the prairie's wild frontier to tame4 ,and ,deer ,creek6 fairest district of the dell6 ,if spelled with 8a0 instead of 8e0 no seer ,could have objected3 here did truly dwell ,a hundred pretty girls for ev'ry deer4 ,and all could laugh and spell and sing and play1 ,so that the coldest heart turned glad and gay4 ,among the worthy families were1 ,schmidlers1 ,and ,cockerills1 and ,watsons1 ,travelutes2 ,mc,kees and ,severns1 ,koppeses1 and ,winklers2 ,sedlaceks1 ,tatlocks1 ,websters1 ,keys and ,lutz-- ,and teachers great like ,shaner1 ,prichard1 ,barbour1 ,charley ,travelute and ,lizzie ,mohrbacher4 ,blue ,valley too1 still famous from its grange1 ,held many wizards of the spelling book2 ,and hence we always tho't it something strange ,if in such contests they no honors took3 ,the ,rogers1 ,cottrells1 ,fultons and ,blackmars1 ,had lasses that could spell to beat the stars4 ,in songs and plays they also were real good2 ,their literary parts were out of sight3 ,we ne'er went to their fettas but we stood ,chuckful of irrepressible delight4 ,and their forensic sons were known to fame2 ,their laurels sprang from many a wordy game4 ,the story of this vale would lose its sheen ,here to withhold the names these tales arouse2 ,as ,butler1 ,benson1 ,schultz1 ,mayhew and ,green1 ,herring1 ,mc,nulty1 ,spealman1 ,bull and ,howes3 ,and they all strove most earnestly1 at least1 ,to make the ,west twice as great as the ,east4 ,and ,pleasant ,ridge1 the heart of this quintette1 ,embowered in a vale that always gave ,a hearty welcome to the neighboring set1 ,likewise to worth and wisdom1 strong and brave-- ,modestly it gave the gauntlet and took1 ,of friend and foe in bout in spelling book4 ,often its sons and daughters bravely stood ,in neighboring schools of the prairie white1 ,defending their record envied and good1 ,and win or lose1 put up a stubborn fight4 ,altho they lost sometimes a spelling fray1 ,more often were bedecked with laurels gay4 ,it too had singers fine2 they were replete2 ,song was spontaneous as to glad bird3 ,their voices blended charmingly and sweet3 ',twas joy to hear them1 but grief when not heard4 ,the ,tarvins were singers2 like them no other2 ,mattie and ,sally1 ,lewis and their mother4 ,it also had school masters1 great and good1 ,whose memory the pupils will e'er bless2 ,who're wise and kind and childhood understood1 ,and worshipped for meekness and gentleness3 ,miss ,kister1 ,thomas ,randolph and ,john ,king1 ,frank ,paul1 ,pierce ,hickey and ,f4 ,d4 ,joslyn4 ,of all our teachers tho'1 ,gallaher was king3 ,he taught us how to carol1 like the birds2 ,his 8,ring1 ,then ,ring ,ye ,light ,fairy ,bells0 will ring ,in my ears long as ,i recall those words4 ,he was a singing master2 were there more ,in rural schools to-day1 the country o'er4 ,concerning disputants1 we had them too3 ,fair ,prairie ,gem might flaunt ,hiner and ,guise2 ,but these two ,haynes full well our ,websters knew-- ,george ,tarvin1 ,edwin ,neal--for1 surely twice1 ,the two won in debates to th' others once2 ,and ,golden ,valley's speakers shunned no chance4 ,we also had good spellers in this valley2 ,but our hope and strength depended on these three-- ,kind ,peter ,kerschen1 ,emma ,kister1 ,sally ,tarvin--these were our shining galaxy4 ,victory that by them could not be wrought1 ,we knew it had been very dearly bought4 ,some hardy families besides the ones ,named1 lived within this district's charming dells-- ,links1 ,koppeses1 ,parishes1 ,warringtons1 ,behrens1 ,ottos1 ,heisters1 ,talbots1 ,hunts1 ,hartwells-- ,and they all strove as ardent as they could ,to keep its name unsullied1 fair and good4 ,the people of these country districts1 five1 ,were pioneers who in the far years came4 ,it was their sterling worth that kept alive ,the steady progress on this cheerless plain1 ,and changed it from a bluestem coyote ward ,into the fields and gardens of the ,lord4 ,these people were no better and no worse ,than those of other rural communities ,of which ,god built many4 ,he knew their force ,in moving this world's plain activities2 ,and 'tho oft used as theme for jests and jokes ,they e'er have been1 still are1 the cream of folks4 ,some names of these1 no doubt1 ,i have forgot2 ,and hence1 they do not here within appear3 ,for time and toil the keenest mind will blot2 ,yet so1 for each left out1 ,i shed a tear4 ,those names1 ,i'm sure1 would help to grace these rhymes ,and garnish this fond tale of former times4 ,,part ,,ii ,,the ,,contest ,in eighties1 while these schools were at their best1 ,and pupils from all these refined homes were ,bent on hard study1 with good teachers blest1 ,some splendid spelling schools did then occur ,in each district one winter4 ,it was then ,the last was held in ,pleasant ,ridge1 a gem4 ,the score was even2 they must hold yet one2 ,this was to tell for all the final fate4 ,they all longed for this great event to come2 ,the tenth of ,february was the date4 ,we all had vowed1 no matter what it took1 ,we must not fail to know the spelling book4 ,three weeks of time we had yet to prepare2 ,and the home school should furnish the program4 ,our teacher1 ,emma ,kister1 said1 8,with care1 ,pupils1 we must arrange our work and plan1 ,or else the victory will not be ours2 ,we have to entertain and fight four powers40 ,she named a council with her to advise2 ,they placed the poorer spellers in the plays2 ,the small ones gave 8a piece0 to memorize2 ,and got the non-combatants of those days ,to play guitars and violins1 and sing4 ,this truly proved to be the very thing4 ,we spelled down every ,friday afternoon2 ,and the last week we did that ev'ry day2 ,rehearsed the declamations ev'ry noon2 ,and in the evening practiced ev'ry play4 ,so when came on the tenth of ,february1 ,we'd all in trim and all a-feeling merry4 ,the other districts also plotted1 planned2 ,and studied early1 late and overtime4 ,if kerosene had not then been on hand ,they'd burned up all the pitchy knots of pine4 ,and safe to say1 they knew the word book well1 ,and as they plainly showed1 knew how to spell4 ,it was the prettiest night ,i e'er did know3 ,the full moon did its very1 very best2 ,the wains and sleighs came jingling o'er the snow2 ,for no one wished to miss the great contest4 ,our frame school house was large1 but ne'er before ,so many glad folks were upon its floor4 ,each school its spellers chose1 and wrote each name ,on paper1 of not more than twelve and ten1 ,nor less than twelve2 and then enclosed the same ,within a drawing box from which two men ,then drew the names1 and read one at a time1 ,while persons took alternate sides in line4 ,in final contest now each teacher stood ,and spelled with pupils of his or her school4 ,therefore1 an outside person1 as he should1 ,was asked to 8give out0 words2 a time-old rule2 ,for this was chosen ,mr4 ,william ,knight1 ,elm ,creek's savant1 who proved a prince that night4 ,the quaint school house was decked for holiday2 ,the old and young from far and near were there3 ,all from ,deer ,creek2 ,blue ,valley1 far away2 ,and sunny ,prairie ,gem1 and ,herkimer1 fair4 ,here ,golden ,valley's best 'd gathered at its heart1 ,intent for spelling tournament to start4 ,when all was set1 this was an august sight3 ,each school its trusted spellers there had brought1 ,by study armed and trained in many a fight2 ,and with them came their friends who warmly sought ,to cheer them to the utmost in the game2 ,and win for their home schools still brighter fame4 ,blue ,valley's spellers came with ,mr4 ,gallaher2 ,john ,cottrell with his pupils resolute ,from ,prairie ,gem4 ,the lexicographers ,of ,deer ,creek came with ,charley ,travelute4 ,likewise ,mc,connaughey with his gay band ,of spellers from ,herkimer was on hand4 ,three generations mingled at these sports3 ,grandparents with their scions and grand babes ,coined facial sunshine for congenial hearts ,that these farm districts always owned and gave4 ,among the many grand folks 'mid this youth ,appeared ,grandpa and ,grandma ,travelute4 ,when lines were formed the spelling match began2 ,by guess of page1 the starting side was learned2 ,to fifty then as per adopted plan1 ,of ,mc,guffey's text the mediator turned3-- 8,dilemma60 ,charley ,travelute spelled right2 ,and ,mabel ,rogers next won 8stalactite40 ,then ,emma ,kister spelled 8discern10 and ,ben ,bull captured 8chemistry10 and next 8subvert0 ,to ,philip ,emmert fell2 while 8stratagem0 ,to ,allie ,jeffry went4 ,the word 8alert0 ,brought down a lad from ,pleasant ,ridge1 but ,fred ,cockerill left out the useless 8l0 instead4 ,next ,warren ,keller overcame 8precedence02 ,and ,eva ,blackmar right spelled 8boulevard02 ,john ,armstrong then scored perfect on 8allegiance02 ,a lass from ,deer ,creek found 8croquet0 too hard2 ,but ,francis ,benson then reduced the fracture2 ,and ,louis ,tarvin cleared on 8architecture40 ,the word 8spaceous0 was spelled by ,alfred ,talbot2 ,and next 8sophisticate0 by ,daisy ,bull4 8,stereotype0 was won by ,ella ,benson2 ,and ,edward ,winkler scored with 8merciful40 ,then ,sally ,tarvin right spelled 8separate02 ,and ,stella ,guise o'ercame 8emancipate40 ,now ,henry ,stauffacher cleared on 8redoubt02 ,and ,ira ,strickler nearly missed 8renown10 8,adroit0 some one from ,herkimer let out2 ,likewise a lad from ,prairie ,gem put down4 ,correctly then ,george ,emmert spelled this term2 ,and ,jake ,schmidler scored high on 8endosperm40 8,missile0 was sent to ,maggie ,butterfield2 ,while 8modesty0 was won by ,frank ,mc,kee2 ,james ,gallaher nearly lost out on 8congealed02 ,and ,minnie ,cottrell mastered 8chickadee02 ,now ,peter ,kerschen captured 8epiglottis02 ,and 8gratis0 was spelled by ,louisa ,koppes4 ,george ,watson next cleared on 8antagonize02 8,incarcerate0 fell to ,edward ,mc,kee2 ,a ,pleasant ,ridger lost on 8analyze0-- ,he stopped too soon2 he left off final 8e04 ,but ,andrew ,koppes then made the addition2 ,wesley ,sedlacek lettered right 8commission40 ,correctly ,polly ,key spelled 8gondolier02 ,john ,cottrell subjugated 8porcelain02 ,then ,monnie ,strickler right spelled 8brigadier02 ,and ,florence ,benson perfect got 8domain40 ,then ,ida ,kister took 8fragility02 ,and ,lena ,fulton won 8tranquility40 ,now ,walter ,cockerill won on 8guitar02 ,some lass from ,herkimer sad took her seat ,because from 8arrogance0 she dropped an 8r02 ,teresa ,schmidler made that word complete4 ,next ,gertrude ,talbot spelled the word 8musician10 ,and ,oscar ,severns1 ditto1 8statistician40 ,pierce ,hickey now scored perfect on 8sebaceous02 8,sapphire0 was won by ,agnes ,butterfield4 ,sam ,guise went down before the term 8cetaceous0-- ,some thought a-purpose to vacate the field4 ,then ,katie ,armstrong spelled the word correctly2 ,and ,edward ,keller barely got 8exactly40 ,now ,maggie ,ellenbecker got 8parquet20 ,and ,peter ,schumacher o'ercame 8coupon20 ,next ,bertha ,heister didn't miss 8roundelay20 ,nor ,robert ,cottrell lose the word 8chiffon40 ,but thus it was not with ye humble bard3 ,he found the word 8campaign0 a type too hard4 ,that word was mastered then by ,dora ,watson2 ,and ,rosa ,bull came through with 8masquerade40 8,frontier0 was vanquished next by ,charlie ,fulton2 ,while ,jennie ,rogers won on 8cavalcade40 ,next ,matthew ,schumacher o'ercame 8convene20 ,and ,charlie ,benson likewise 8tambourine40 ,next came 8adobe40 ,o how this word mowed them6 ,it first o'erpowered ,frederick ,stauffacher2 ,then ,nicholas ,koppes2 and ,johnie ,brennan2 ,ernie ,rockwell2 and ,caspar ,stauffacher4 ,then ,mamie ,hartwell spelled the fiend aright2 ,and ,webster's ,frank scored on 8theodolite40 ,clear ,arthur ,cottrell steered with 8bagatelle02 ,sam ,parish too with the word 8government02 ,then ,edith ,talbot won 8perennial02 ,and ,blanche ,mc,farland got 8inhabitant40 ,now ,anna ,ellenbecker caught 8conceal02 ,likewise ,mark ,spealman triumphed o'er 8appeal40 ,next ,tina ,raemer captured 8immigrate02 8,identify0 was spelled by ,anna ,key4 ,nicholas ,kerschen won with 8arbitrate02 ,and ,william ,raemer scored on 8legatee40 8,ensign0 was won by ,willard ,travelute2 ,and ,emma ,hunt came home with 8parachute40 ,next ,philip ,raemer failed on 8troubadour10 ,but ,maggie ,thompson mended his mistake4 ,then ,sophie ,feil spelled the word 8amateur10 ,altho it made her just a trifle shake4 ,but she was not alone in this distress2 ,for many others trembled more or less4 ,now ,sophie ,stauffacher spelled 8agriculture02 ,and ,william ,cottrell scored on 8volunteer40 ,then 8parliament0 was won by ,bertha ,raemer2 ,frank ,bachoritch survived on 8commandeer40 ,by ,mary ,brennan was spelled 8minimum02 ,and ,henry ,kister got 8geranium40 ,then ,charlie ,feil went down on 8cataclysm03 ,he put into the word too many 8y's02 ,sophie ,sedlacek spelled it4 8,feudalism10 ,by ,katie ,stauffacher4 ,but 8systematize0 ,quick1 ,niemann's ,fred and ,raemer's ,george set free1 ,while ,lottie ,hunt scored high as referee4 ,william ,mc,nulty now missed 8privilege02 ,ditto some speller sweet from ,prairie ,gem2 ,likewise a lass who lived in ,pleasant ,ridge2 ,but ,nellie ,armstrong wrought correctly then4 ,now ,abbie ,koppes spelled aright 8profound02 ,the spelling contest then had made one round4 ,the order perfect was2 no sound was heard ,except the mediator's staccato calls2 ,and spelling of that fitful little word ,by the contestants lined along the walls4 ,each district had still standing in the line ,enough to hold out in this bout some time4 ,the contest now began the second round4 ,yet more and more int'resting waxed the game4 ,the spelling grew distinct as clarion sound2 ,and breathless the spectators viewed the same4 ,a plucky lad or lass some times would fall1 ,hit by some fatal word as 8minnie0 ball4 ,each district reinvoiced its spellers there2 ,and weighed again their chance of winning out4 ,folks drank in every sound to see if fair2 ,and as theirs scored1 just ached to give a shout ,for joy2 not so when one of their clan fell3 ,a sad regret upon their mien would tell4 ,when forty minutes more had raged combat1 ,sadly depleted had become those lines3 ,many an able speller wounded sat ,by the word-missiles from ,mc,guffey's mines4 ,blue ,valley1 ,prairie ,gem and ,herkimer ,had not a hero left as skirmisher4 ,from ,pleasant ,ridge but three survived the storm ,thus far3 lone ,peter ,kerschen on the west2 ,while ,emma ,kister1 meek and slender form1 ,and pretty ,sally ,tarvin1 still our best1 ,with ,charley ,travelute stood on the east-- ,opponents' sole survivor1 scared the least4 ,for twenty minutes more1 the battle raged2 ,the words were spelled hot from pronouncer's lips2 ,each standing speller stern defiance waged2 ,for keen tense nerves did obviate all slips4 ,over one hundred words were given out ,free from a single mishap or a rout4 ,the mediator then sought harder words2 ,and while he searched the audience relaxed2 ,respired more easily1 a trifle stirred3 ,that intense hour had them severely taxed4 ,yet1 those two districts whose race was not done ,maintained a sphinx composure1 every one4 ,since but four stood1 they now spelled in rotation4 ,first ,charley ,travelute got 8surreptitious02 ,and ,emma ,kister spelled 8transfiguration40 ,to ,sally ,tarvin went the word 8officious02 ,next ,peter ,kerschen overcame 8horehound02 ,and in this fashion then the words went round4 8,topaz02 8priory02 8orgy02 8orphanage02 8,inflammable02--every one was won4 8,surtout02 8gyration02 8muscatel02 8assuage02 ,and 8legendary02 8lout02--were spelled each one4 8,escutcheon02 8frenzy02 8intercede02 8lasso02 ,and likewise 8sentimental01 8domino40 ,some fifty words were rapidly pronounced2 ,no ripple in the spelling could be made2 ,the spellers with determination pounced ,upon the words that at their door were laid4 ,a sore fatigue showed in the speaker's tongue1 ,as doggedly still forth the words he flung4 ,at length he paused1 as if he plainly saw1 ,there'd be no end2 they would hold out till dawn4 ,he asked3 8,shall we now call this bout a draw80 ,a hundred voices roared1 8go on60 8go on60 ,so1 turning many pages farther then1 ,the spelling contest forward moved again4 ,how these words stung6 8,medallion02 8juvenile02 8,apparent02 8bivouac02 and 8laboratory02 8,indelible02 8rescission02 8whip-poor-will02 ,and 8negligible40 ,such terms carried glory ,alike to those who spelled as well as to those ,who misspelled2 for1 to both an honor rose4 ,o1 how oblivious were those old time boys6 ,one could have heard a pin drop anywhere4 ,no doubt some hearts anticipated joys2 ,while some the pangs of sad regret did share4 ,and some were musing rather fervently ',twixt hopes and fears of drear uncertainty4 ,mysterious mind6 ,oh why this painful hush8 ,the long hoped battle's on--in high white heat2 ,each has won one2 now they hope yet to crush2 ,a minute small may tell the tale--who beat8 ,and with that honor lustering some school1 ,some one stands idolized and beautiful4 8,icicle0 then was spelled by ,peter ,kerschen2 ,with 8judgment0 ,charley ,travelute got thru2 ,next ,emma ,kister won the word 8emersion02 ,and ,sally ,tarvin likewise 8kangaroo40 ,ah6 ,kerschen dropped 8s0 from 8isosceles40 ,yet ,travelute repaired the flaw with ease4 ,this finished the west side4 ,but on they went-- 8,domestic02 8criticism02 8cavalier02 8,harang02 8vicinity02 8ingredient02 ,alas6 ,miss ,kister lost on 8,belvedere40 ,miss ,tarvin quickly spelled the word aright2 ,so only two were standing in the fight4 ,so anxious was the crowd to see who won1 ,they thought it half revealed when she sat down2 ,and from the concourse rose a subdued moan ,in expectation of that lucky one4 ,yet 'twas in vain2 none knew2 and none could tell2 ,these two were trained and tried2 they both could spell4 ,breathless the crowd looked for the coming dawn-- ,the coming dawn of victory and defeat4 ,their faces some concealed2 and some looked wan2 ,some even rose unconscious to their feet4 ,and in the rear the packed-in throng did strain2 ,stood on tip-toe to better view the game4 ,outside 'twas winter1 and the snow lay deep2 ,the frost with icy style was tracing scenes ,upon the window panes in spite of heat ,that rolled beyond the huge stove's screens4 ,but still no cold was felt2 forgot the clime2 ,perhaps some mused that it was summertime4 ,but these two spellers stood unmoved and calm2 ,they knew their mission1 and that kept above ,all else4 ,their friends1 who wistfully looked on1 ,looked them their ardent hopes and prayers and love4 ,this confidence was not reposed amiss3 ,for no mentality as worth as this4 ,o rude ordeal1 betwixt two such minds6 ,two bright young folks in rosy morn of life3 ,sweet girlhood that mild womanhood entwines2 ,and manhood young trained for the world's hard strife2 ,it seemed a prank of fate1 deep1 strained1 and hard1 ,but yet it must go on to its reward4 ,there was no moment lost2 the hard words flew ,from the pronouncer's tongue like league base balls2 ,and as if veteran scholars1 so spelled two1 ,still at their post of duty 'long the walls4 ,they were the brilliant stars1 and high did rise ,in the fond gaze of all admiring eyes4 ,full thirty words went forth in steady run2 ,and each the audience thought would be the last4 ,but each was caught by speller as if in fun2 ,or charmed by magic for this august task4 ,the oldest there had ne'er such contest heard ,wherein so little boot a stubborn word4 ,,part ,,iii ,,musical ,after recess the musical began ,of music1 readings1 dialogs and songs1 ,making a long diversified program4 ,miss ,kister read each number for the throng's ,delight1 who harked attentive1 laughed and cheered1 ,so they ofttimes with progress interfered4 ,a dozen tiny tots their 8pieces0 spoke2 ,five dialogs were played with rafts of fun2 ,two damsels readings gave that nearly broke ,the backs of all1 the laughter spared no one4 ,deer ,creek and ,pleasant ,ridge schools blithely sang ,four songs2 they were cheered back till building rang4 ,an overgrown lad1 quite a bit dismayed1 8,sockery and the ,speckled ,hen0 declaimed4 ,they encored him so loud he waxed afraid1 ,and ran away as if he were ashamed4 ,altho to him such repertoire was new1 ,but few adults as well as he could do4 ,a blue eyed lass from ,prairie ,gem--she played ,on the spinnet and sang a pretty song2 ,while on a banjo a ,blue ,valley maid ,wrought music sweet to guide her lay along4 ,two blackened ,deer ,creek swains1 for old and young1 8,oh ,don't ,you ,hear ,dem ,bells0 like minstrels sung4 ,two violinists played selections fleet-- ,sweet hornpipes1 ,money ,musk and ,devil's ,dream4 ,this music went alike to souls and feet ,of all1 until a frontier frolic did seem ,to be in progress on a puncheon floor4 ,they lavished them with a double encore4 ,there were two singers more on hand that night ,who won the hearts and the esteem of all2 ,and this tale would not be complete nor right ,if names and parts we did not here recall4 ',tho cruel time for many years has shed ,the snows of age upon each noble head4 ,one ,charley ,bartlow was then young and gay1 ,kind hearted1 cheerful1 nice to old and young2 ,his voice and heart were tuned up night and day2 ,and to this crowd most willingly was sung4 ,many the quaint and jolly songs he knew2 ,he loved to sing2 folks loved to hear him too4 8,susanna0 first he sang for them that night2 ,the way they listened told that it was sweet2 ,he sang with all his soul and all his might1 ,and they rewarded him for his rare treat2 ,they cheered him back2 and he responded then ,with one1 his favorite lay--this old time gem3-- 8,,when ,i ,,was ,,single0 ,i4 ,when a young chap ,i was jolly and gay2 ,not a lark was as merry as ,i2 ,i whistled and sang both night and day2 ,and the hours in pleasure swung by4 ,no parties or dances for miles around ,but what ,i attended with glee2 ,and wherever ,i frolicked the girls me found ,and chatted and flirted with me4 ,chorus4 ,but ,i was still single then6 ,o that ,i were single again6 ,for when ,i was single ,with the world ,i could mingle3 ,o that ,i were single again6 ,,ii4 ,of no cares ,i knew and the days passed fair1 ,and the nights like a laugh and a song2 ,toil left me no pain and cash scarce1 ne'er4 ,as ,i moved in the young gay throng4 ,i never had trouble to find a miss ,to accompany me to the ball2 ,my greatest concern always lay in this2 ,that ,i could not wait on them all4 ,chorus3 ,but ,i was1 etc4 ,,iii4 ,but one time a lass at a ball ,i met ,who gave me an ache in my heart4 ,i took her to church and made her my pet1 ,and out on life's journey did start4 ,we have been married now for years one score2 ,i must work from morning till night2 ,six babes come to meet me at our door1 ,and our living puts me to fright4 ,chorus4 ,o that ,i were single again6 ,o how ,i should whistle then6 ,for when ,i was single ,the money did gingle4 ,o that ,i were single again6 ,,iv4 ,but now my pockets are empty and bare2 ,and the girls never smile at me2 ,my poor heart is overburdened with care2 ,and the world yields a pitiless fee4 ,so boys meditate on my sad plight2 ,don't tie up your gay hearts too soon1 ,do treat the girls with respect and delight2 ,but just let them giggle and spoon4 ,chorus3 ,o that ,i were1 etc4 ,this sure delighted them4 ,how they did cheer6 ,the sentiment was light2 the tune was gay4 ,such airy ditties people like to hear1 ,and with such happy veins are borne away4 ',twas ever so2 the human heart1 'tho staid1 ,bends willingly to levity thus made4 ,the other singer was ,james ,carbott1 who ,a way had all his own2 and when he sang1 ,his hearers to him like a magnet drew2 ,their fancy tickled and their laughter rang1 ,until they were enraptured thru and thru2 ,the more he sang the more this feeling grew4 ,he was the opera star in this young crowd1 ,well seasoned as a wielder of the birch2 ,by neither class nor audience was cowed3 ,he had the gift of song a hundred worth4 ,he sentimental songs could ably sing2 ,but at comics was an operatic king4 ,that night his old time energy was there2 ,he threw his heart and soul into the song4 ,when e'er his name was mentioned anywhere1 ,a gust of high hopes overtook the throng1 ,because he had been heard ofttimes before1 ,and he had always pleased them--even more4 ,his hearers always reaped a fond delight2 ,such thrills as e'er a noble singer brings2 ,he had the power to set their souls aright2 ,and on the heights of ecstacy take wings-- ,those gifts of voice and heart that others beam ,with floods of mirth while yet itself serene4 ,the program of the evening neared its close1 ,when some admirer called out ,carbott's name2 ,a dozen called it then4 ,he slowly rose ,and said1 8,the hour's late2 time we're going home10 ,but leave1 they'd not1 without from him a song2 ,they called and cheered2 and cheered and called along4 8,just one10 he said1 and took his chair ahead4 ,he hummed awhile as if him to imbue ,upon the melody2 then out he led ,to carol1 8,in the ,valley of the ,blue40 ,he sang as sings a sorrow sweetened heart1 ,which made from some eyes silent tear drops start3-- 8,,in ,,the ,,valley ,,of ,,the ,,blue40 ,i4 ,in the bonnie ,big ,blue valley ,where earliest flowers blow1 ,there ,i settled with sweet ,hallie ,in the springtime long ago4 ,and the bright sun in its journey ,around the globe never shone ,on a happier wedded couple ,than dwelt in this new home4 ,chorus4 ,she was happy as the blue birds ,and as playful as the rills2 ,and as pretty as the blue bells ,that swayed upon the hills-- ,when we settled in the prairie ,in the valley of the ,blue1-- ,i and my darling ,hallie ,in the spring of ',sixty-two4 ,,ii4 ,there we sang and toiled together ,from rosy morn till night1 ,in the clear and cloudy weather ,with a rapturous delight4 ,and altho our hut was humble ,our hearts were glad and warm1 ,and the promise of a fortune ,lay in sight in our farm4 ,chorus3 ,she was happy1 etc4 ,,iii4 ,the good oxen broke the prairie1 ,in the sod we hoed the corn2 ,sunny summer waved its streamers1 ,golden autumn filled its horn4 ,and with this crop so plenty ,and the help of silvery wheat1 ,we contrived to pay the mortgage1 ,and the other wants defeat4 ,chorus3 ,she was happy1 etc4 ,,iv4 ,but one ,august came the fever1 ,and it scourged the ,valley's length2 ,all of us did ache and shiver1 ,while it sapped our joy and strength4 ,and before the autumn leaves fell ,with their russet1 red and gold1 ,those verdant sods of ,deer ,creek ,my dear ,hallie's form did hold4 ,chorus3 ,she was happy1 etc4 ,v4 ,in this land still rise my labors1 ,and ,i'm sure its hard to beat2 ,just as brothers are my neighbors1 ,big-hearted1 kind and sweet2 ,but ne'er can ,i cease weeping1 ,thinking of glad young days2 ,and the heart that long is sleeping ,where the ,deer ,creek grasses wave4 ,chorus3 ,she was happy1 etc4 ,when he had finished1 they cheered him and cheered2 ,he shook his head to this immense encore2 ,they would not stop2 they simply whooped and cheered3 ,they loved his sentimental songs1 but wore ,a longing to laugh thru a jolly lay2 ,and must hear one before they'd go away4 ,so he arose and forward went again2 ,he mused awhile2 he knew not what to sing4 ,then lo6 ,his face lit with a mental flame2 ,he found one that to them much joy would bring2 ,then with a jolly mien and mirth for all ,he sang that rollicking lay1 8,lanigan's ,ball40 ,this had the psychological effect3 ,the whole house went roaring rollicking glad4 ,it was a fitting state of mind for that ,august assembly1 strained1 tired1 and sad4 ,the happy hearts turned to their homeward way1 ,to long remember this eventful day4 ,the moon still shone far over hills and plains2 ,you still could hear the fainter jingling bells ,of the glad sleighs1 and snow songs of the wains2 ,and chatter of the squads in tell-tale dells4 ,and from the north1 sung by ,james ,gallaher's band1 ,the old school song waked all the snowy land4 ,with 8,then ring1 then ring1 ye light fairy bells2 ,let sweet happy voices chime with the dances1 ,when the midnight army advances0 ,as this one did1 8forth from the shady dells40 ,and when those sounds died on the night air cool1 ,just past was that last ,old ,time ,spelling ,school4 ,some of those people are now ag'd and gray2 ,their scions' children have in schools their place4 ,some of those folks have long since moved away2 ,and people have forgotten their kind face4 ,but more of them now sleep beneath the flowers1 ,in that sweet bed that will in time be ours4 ,some heard the angel's call 'mid youth and hope2 ,while others traveled half way up life's way4 ,some1 while descending on the farther slope2 ,others met life's fate when their locks were gray4 ,but such is life--a glint of sunshine made2 ,a moment's smile amid an endless shade4 ,and now the thread is run2 this rhyme must end2 ,the curtain raised we must again let fall1 ',tho sad regret this close to hearts may send4 ,such is the fate of man's tasks1 each and all4 ,but hoping that this tale delighted you1 ,i bid you1 patient friends1 a kind adieu4 ,,transcriber',s ,,notes3 ,obvious typographical errors have been corrected4 ,inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained from the original4 ,alternate or archaic spelling has been retained from the original4