Part 15 (2/2)

”Samuel! come into the floor.”

Samuel knew that his letter was discovered then, and he hesitated.

”Samuel! come into the floor I say,” exclaimed the teacher again, in a tone that was truly emphatic.

Samuel started, and took his place in the floor.

”Now turn round,” said the teacher, ”and face the school.”

Samuel did as he was commanded, not knowing what was coming.

”Now spell Alpheus,” said the teacher.

Some of the scholars who had read the letter began to laugh, as they now saw the design of the teacher. Samuel had his eyes open by this time, and saw what was coming. He hesitated and hung down his head.

”Be quick, sir. You shall have a chance now to exhibit your spelling acquisitions.”

Samuel dared not refuse longer, so he began,

”A-l-al-f-e-fe-u-s-us.”

”p.r.o.nounce it, sir.”

”Alfeus.”

The scholars laughed heartily, and the teacher joined them, and for three minutes the school-room fairly rung with shouts.

”Now spell Coombs,” said the teacher.

”K-double o-m-s, kooms.”

Again there was a roar of laughter in the room, which the teacher did not wish to suppress.

”Spell knife now; you are so brilliant that the scholars would like to hear more.”

”N-i-f-e.”

The scholars laughed again in good earnest, and the teacher added, ”That is not the way to spell a very sharp knife.”

”Spell bargain.”

”B-a-r-bar-g-i-n-gin, bargin.”

”Such a kind of a bargain, I suppose, as a poor scholar makes, when he wastes time enough in one winter to make him a good speller,” continued the teacher. When the laughter had ceased, he put out another word.

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