Jessie by Walter Aimwell — Read

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.