CHAPTER XIII
ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED
The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches. On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday’s words were invariably a surprise.
One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
“It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen—Annabel, spell that word!” So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
“Ackumen.”
“Sorry I haven’t time to pass it on just now, but I’ll reserve that honor. As I was saying, the heads had best keep their wits wide-awake, for I’m going to choose the words from a highly scientific and instructive volume to-day. It is called “How to Feed Children,” and in this you will observe that I have a double object in view: to teach you which words, as well as the sort of food, to be digested. Wholesome instruction, my dears; and now to work, every woman Jill of you.”
At ten-thirty all were again assembled in the big room, and a lively choosing of sides ensued. It was not by any means invariably the older girls who could spell best, for often some of the younger ones led them a fine race.