Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-08-11
SPeopendyke as a Sportsman.
AN EXHIBITION OF Ills SKILL WITH AN
IMPROVED BREECH-LoADER,

Say, my DEAR said Mr., Spoop-
endyke, as he drew gun from the
case and eyed it critically, 4 want
you to wake me up early in the
morning. I'm going shooting
Isn't that too sweetp calculated
Mrs. Spoopendyke. 'I'll wear my
new dress and my Saratoga waves.
Where do we go2'
'I'm going down on the island,
and you'll probably go as far as
the front door, granted Mr.. Spoop-
endyke. Women don't 20 shoot
ing. It's only meu. All you've
got to do is wake me up sand get
breakfast. When | come home
we II have some BIRDS
Won't that be niceg' cllimed
Mrs. Spoopendyke. Can you catch
birds with that thing!' and Mrs.
Spoopendyke huttcrcd around the
improved breech>loading shot gun,
firmly impressed with the idea that
it was some kind of a trap.
81 can kill EN- with this explains
ed Mr.. Spoopendyke. This gun
my dear; it isn't nest with three
speckled eggs in it, nor is it a barn
with a hole in the roof. You stick
the cartridge in here and pull this
finger piece, and down comes your
bird every time
We'll. isn't that the greatest
thing! | suppose if you don't want
partridge you can stick a duck or
a turkey in that end, too, or fish
Or a lobster, and bring it down just
as quick
~ es, or you can stick house or
a cornfield, or a dodgasted female
idirt in there, too, if you want TOP
snorted Mr.. Spoopendyke. Who
said anything about partridge?
It's cartridge that goes in theren
.Oh' calculated Mrs. spoopen-
dyke, rather cresttallen. i see
now. Where does the bird go?'
He goes to night school, if he
hasn't got any more sense than you
have" snorted Mr. Spoopendyke.
'Look here, now, and I'll show you
how it works, and Mr. Spoopendy Ike
whose ideas Of gun We're as vague
as those of his wire, inserted the
cartridge half way in the muzzle
end, and cautiously cooked the
weapon,
And when the bird sees that, he
comes and pecks at it! Isn't that
the funniest! and Mrs. Spoopendyke
clapped her hands in the enjoy
ment OF her discovery. Then
you put out your hand and catch
hiln!'
You've struck lt!' bowled Mr..
Spoopendyke, who had the ham
mer on the half cock, and was
vainly pulling at the trigger to get
it down. That's the idea. All
you need is four feathers and a gas
bill to be a martingale! With your
notions, you only want new stock
and steam trip hammer to be a
needle gnn! DON'T you know the
dod gastcd thing has 90 off befol G
yon get bird! You shoot the
birds; you don't wait for them to
shoot you!'
'At home, we usod to always
chop their heads off with All ak,
| faltered Mrs. Spoopendyke.
so would ], if l was going after
measly old hens retorted Mr..
Spoopendyke, who had managed
to nncock the contrivancc. 'bu1
when [ go for yellow birds and
sparrows l go like a sportsman
While Pm waiting for a Bird con
timed Mr.. Spoopendyke, adjusting
the cartridge at the breech, 4 pu
the load in here for safety. And
when I see a flock I aim ant
fire.
Bang! went the gun, knocking
the tail feathers out an eight da,
clock ard blowing a foot furrow i'll
the wall perforatlng the close
door ard ulmlna'lng in Mr.. Spoop
endyke's plug hat.
Goodness gracious!' squeakec
Mrs. spoopendyke. oh, my!'
Mr.. Spoopendyke gathered him
self up and contemplated the dam
age.
Why couldn't ye keep still!' Ii
', shricked. wv hat'd ye want to dis
turb my aim for and make me le
it off! Think l can hold back
charge of powder aud q pound G
: shot while measly woman Is scar
ing 1t through gun barrell'
Jf that had been a bird, ho'
c nicely You would have shot ii
e suggested Mrs. Spoopendyke, SCOTT
Il ingly, slf you should ever aim
= a bird, you'd catch him sure!'
y 'Oh! you know what I conld d
= With your information about gur
o merry you only need wad in 80,
mouth and kick like a mule to
mountain howitzer! If l h:
&c your intelligence on sporting sui
1T jects, I'd hire out for a SHOT tov
" ort nou,t yor, Lnoy vou'va spoi