Modestly it gave the gauntlet and took,
Of friend and foe in bout in spelling book.
Often its sons and daughters bravely stood
In neighboring schools of the prairie white,
Defending their record envied and good,
And win or lose, put up a stubborn fight.
Altho they lost sometimes a spelling fray,
More often were bedecked with laurels gay.
It too had singers fine; they were replete;
Song was spontaneous as to glad bird: