A SPELLING LESSON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 42, 17 October 1907, Page 37

A SPELLING LESSON

1 I am going to have a. spelling match to-night,' said Uncle John, r and I'll give a pair of skates to the boy that can spell man best.'" . The children turned and stared into one anothei^s eyes.

1 Spell man best, Uncle John 1 Why, there's only one way ! ' they cried. ' There are all sorts of ways,' replied Uncle John. ' I'll leave you to . think of it awhile ' ; and he buttoned up His coat and went away. • What Hoes he mean ? ' asked tfob. 'I think it's a joke,' said Harry thoughtfully ; - * and when Uncle John asks me, I'm going to say, why m-a-n, of course.' Time went slowly to the puzzled boys, for all their fun that day. It seemed as if that after-supper time, would never come ; but ft came at last, and uncle John came too, with a shiny skate-runner peeping out of his pockeTi. ' It's a conundrum, I know,' said Joe ;. and he leaned his head on his hand and settled down to think. Uncle John did not delay ; he sat down, and looked straight into Harry's eyes. ' ' Been a good boy to-day, Hal ? ' ' Yes— n-o,' said Harry, flushing. ' I did something Aunt Mary told me not to do, because Ned Barnes dared me to. I can't bear a boy to dare me. What has that got to do with spelling man ? \, He adided, half tohimself. But Uncle John had turned to Bob. 1 Had a good day, my boy ? ' ' Haven't had fun enough,' answered Bob stoutly. ' It's all Joe's fault, too. We boys wanted the pond to ourselves for one day, and we made up our minds • that when the girls came we'd clear them off ; but Joe, he ' ' I think this is Joe's to" tell,' interrupted Uncle John. ' How was it, boy ? ' ' Why,' said Joe, ' I thought the girls had as much right on the pond as tEe boys, so I spoke to one or two of the bigger boys, and they thought so, too, and we stopped it all. I thought it was mean to treat the girls that way.' There came a flash from Uncle John's pocket ; " the next minute the skates were on Joe's knees. ' The spelling match is ov.er,' said Uncle John, ' and Joe has won the prize.' Three Bewildered faces mutely questioned him. ' Boys,' he answered gravely, ' we've been spelling man— not in letters, but in acts. I told you there were different ways, and we've proved it here to-night. Think it over, boys, and see.' v