In eighties, while these schools were at their best, And pupils from all these refined homes were Bent on hard study, with good teachers blest, Some splendid spelling schools did then occur In each district one winter. It was then The last was held in Pleasant Ridge, a gem. The score was even; they must hold yet one; This was to tell for all the final fate. They all longed for this great event to come; The tenth of February was the date. We all had vowed, no matter what it took, We must not fail to know the spelling book. Three weeks of time we had yet to prepare; And the home school should furnish the program. Our teacher, Emma Kister, said, “With care, Pupils, we must arrange our work and plan, Or else the victory will not be ours; We have to entertain and fight four powers.” She named a council with her to advise; They placed the poorer spellers in the plays; The small ones gave “a piece” to memorize; And got the non-combatants of those days To play guitars and violins, and sing. This truly proved to be the very thing. We spelled down every Friday afternoon; And the last week we did that ev’ry day; Rehearsed the declamations ev’ry noon; And in the evening practiced ev’ry play. So when came on the tenth of February, We’d all in trim and all a-feeling merry. The other districts also plotted, planned; And studied early, late and overtime. If kerosene had not then been on hand They’d burned up all the pitchy knots of pine. And safe to say, they knew the word book well, And as they plainly showed, knew how to spell. It was the prettiest night I e’er did know: The full moon did its very, very best; The wains and sleighs came jingling o’er the snow; For no one wished to miss the great contest. Our frame school house was large, but ne’er before So many glad folks were upon its floor. Each school its spellers chose, and wrote each name On paper, of not more than twelve and ten, Nor less than twelve; and then enclosed the same Within a drawing box from which two men Then drew the names, and read one at a time, While persons took alternate sides in line. In final contest now each teacher stood And spelled with pupils of his or her school. Therefore, an outside person, as he should, Was asked to “give out” words; a time-old rule; For this was chosen Mr. William Knight, Elm Creek’s savant, who proved a prince that night. The quaint school house was decked for holiday; The old and young from far and near were there: All from Deer Creek; Blue Valley, far away; And sunny Prairie Gem, and Herkimer, fair. Here Golden Valley’s best ’d gathered at its heart, Intent for spelling tournament to start.