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: Their voices blended charmingly and sweet: ’Twas joy to hear them, but grief when not heard. The Tarvins were singers; like them no other; Mattie and Sally, Lewis and their mother. It also had school masters, great and good, Whose memory the pupils will e’er bless; Who’re wise and kind and childhood understood, And worshipped for meekness and gentleness: Miss Kister, Thomas Randolph and John King, Frank Paul, Pierce Hickey and F. D. Joslyn. Of all our teachers tho’, Gallaher was king: He taught us how to carol, like the birds; His “Ring, Then Ring Ye Light Fairy Bells” will ring In my ears long as I recall those words. He was a singing master; were there more In rural schools to-day, the country o’er. Concerning disputants, we had them too: Fair Prairie Gem might flaunt Hiner and Guise; But these two Haynes full well our Websters knew-- George Tarvin, Edwin Neal--for, surely twice, The two won in debates to th’ others once; And Golden Valley’s speakers shunned no chance. We also had good spellers in this valley; But our hope and strength depended on these three-- Kind Peter Kerschen, Emma Kister, Sally Tarvin--these were our shining galaxy. Victory that by them could not be wrought, We knew it had been very dearly bought. Some hardy families besides the ones Named, lived within this district’s charming dells-- Links, Koppeses, Parishes, Warringtons, Behrens, Ottos, Heisters, Talbots, Hunts, Hartwells-- And they all strove as ardent as they could To keep its name unsullied, fair and good. The people of these country districts, five, Were pioneers who in the far years came. It was their sterling worth that kept alive The steady progress on this cheerless plain, And changed it from a bluestem coyote ward Into the fields and gardens of the Lord. These people were no better and no worse Than those of other rural communities Of which God built many. He knew their force In moving this world’s plain activities; And ’tho oft used as theme for jests and jokes They e’er have been, still are, the cream of folks. Some names of these, no doubt, I have forgot; And hence, they do not here within appear: For time and toil the keenest mind will blot; Yet so, for each left out, I shed a tear. Those names, I’m sure, would help to grace these rhymes And garnish this fond tale of former times. PART II THE CONTEST