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Show A Spelling Bee. I "1 am going to have a spelling bee tonight," soid j Fnele John, "and I'll give a pair of skates for the I boy that -an spell 'man' best." j The children turned and stared into "no an-i an-i 'other's eyes. "Spell man best. Fnele John.' Why, there's only one way!" they all cried. "There are ail sorts of wayr.," replied I. nolo J"hn. "Fli leave you to think of it awhile."' and he buttoned up his coat and went away. "What does ho mean ;" asked Hob. "I think it" a joke," said Harry, thoughl fully, "and when Fnele John asks mo. Fm going to sav. why, m-a-n. of course." "It's a conundrum, I know." said Joe, and he loaned his head on his hand and settled down to think. Time went slowly to tin- puzzled hoys, for all their run that day. It seemed a if that after-Mip-); time Mould never come but it came at last, and Fnele John came, too. with a shiny skate-runner peeping out of his coat pocket. Fnele John did not delay; ho sat down and looked straight into Harry's eyes. "Preen a good hoy today, Half" "Yes n-o." said Harry, flushing. "I did something some-thing Aunt Mary told me not to do. because Xed I James dared me to. I can't: bear a boy to dare iw. What's that got to do with spelling man?" he added, add-ed, half to himself. Put Fnele John had turned to Iob. "Had a pood day, my boyf "Haven't had fun enough." answered Bob, stoutly. stout-ly. "It's all Joe's fault, too. We boys wanted the pond to ourselves for one day. and we made up our minds when the girls came we'll clear them oif. j Put Joe, h "' "I think this is Joe's to tell.' interrupted Fnele John. "How was it, boy' i "Whv." mi id Joe, "I thought the girls had as j much right on the pond as the boys, so I spoke .to : one or two of the bigger boys, and they thought so, j too, and we stopped it all. I thought it was mean to treat the girls that way.' There came a flash from Uncle John's pocket; the next minute the skates were on Joe's knees. "The spelling match is over," said Uncle John, "and Joe has won the prize." Three bewildered faces mutely questioned him. "Boys," he answered gravely, "we've been spelling spell-ing man, not in letters, but in acts. I told you there were different ways, and we've proved it here, tonight. Think it over, boys, and see," |