The judge here paused a moment, the prisoner’s face fell, and there was a decided sensation throughout the room. Marcus continued:
“That you then be put to bed, and there remain for the space of four hours, or until six o’clock, when you shall be released. And the court appoints Mr. Preston an officer, to see that this sentence is faithfully carried out.”
So ended what was in after days memorable in the annals of the family as “the great April-fool case.” The sentence was fully carried out, the next Wednesday afternoon, with the exception that, as Ronald pledged his honor to put himself to bed, and remain there for four hours, Oscar allowed him to perform that office for himself. The “judge” happened to peep into his chamber, an hour or two after, and was not a little surprised to find his prisoner sleeping as soundly, and snoring as complacently, as if going to bed at two o’clock were a very pleasant arrangement!
CHAPTER XI.
SCHOLARS.
The preceptor of the academy, Mr. Upton, used to say a great deal to the scholars about the importance of good spelling, and was always sure to point out any sins against this virtue which he discovered in the various written exercises of the school. He said that even if a man was well educated in other respects, but deficient in this, his bad spelling would often cause him to be mistaken for an ignorant person. Occasionally, by way of enlivening the exercises of the school, and interesting the pupils in this important branch of study, Mr. Upton would allow them to have a “spelling match,” as it was called. Sometimes the contest was between the girls, arranged on one side of the room, and the boys on the other. A leader was appointed on each side, to give out the words to his or her regiment. A pretty hard lesson was selected, and the leaders, beginning at the heads of their respective bands, took turns in giving out the words. No waiting or hesitation was allowed, but if a scholar could not promptly spell the word given out, he had to return to his seat. The ranks were rapidly thinned out, and the band which retained the largest number, when the exercise closed, were the victors.
These contests became still more exciting, when, as it sometimes happened, the leaders were allowed to “choose sides.” Selecting by turns any one they pleased from the whole school, they picked out the best spellers first, and so kept on till all the scholars were enlisted on one side or the other.
Though these spelling matches were greatly enjoyed by the scholars, and were profitable to them, too, they were liable to some objections, and for this reason, probably, were not often indulged in. On one occasion, when Jessie was one of the leaders, she chose Abby Leonard on her side, when her list was only one-fourth full. She did this, to save Abby the mortification of being left to the last, as she would otherwise have been; for she was a notoriously bad speller, and somebody had said of her, with more truth than kindness, that she ought to count only half of one, in a spelling match. The struggle proved to be a pretty hard one, and after the two bands had been reduced down to the best spellers, they were so equally balanced that it was for a time doubtful whether either would be able to claim a victory over the other. At length, however, one of Jessie’s company missed a word, and the match was decided against them, as the time had come to dismiss the school. The next day, Jessie learned that under the excitement and disappointment of the moment, two or three of the scholars on her side had found much fault with her for choosing Abby instead of a good speller, whom she might have had, and thus gained the day. Thus, in doing an act of kindness to one, she had provoked censure from several of her associates. And, on reflection, she was led to doubt whether she did not deserve blame; for ability to spell, and not favor, was the principle on which the leaders were expected to make their choice.
At the next spelling match, the leaders thought of nothing but getting the best spellers, and Abby sank to her natural level. She was almost the last one called; and when her name was called, she turned a look of scorn upon the young man who conferred this tardy honor upon her, and refused to take her place. Mr. Upton whispered a few words to her, but evidently without changing her mind, for he told the scholars to go on without her. That was the last of “choosing sides” during that term. The preceptor said nothing about the affair, but this unhappy exhibition of temper probably led him to abandon an exercise that had been a favorite one with the scholars generally.
Jessie maintained a high rank as a scholar, although she labored under some disadvantages, no small portion of her time being occupied with her work at home, and her duties as assistant in the school-room. These disadvantages, however, were not so great as they seemed; for what she lost, on account of them, was made up to her in other ways. Those very obstacles to her success served as a spur, inciting her to effort, and leading her to appreciate better the advantages within her reach.