The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-02-29
My First Cunning.

Dear old gun! Nobody could dave de.
vised II homelier engine, yet to me, enthusi-
| astic nine year older that was, it seemed the
most beautiful thing in the world. In Revo-
luiionary days one of my ancestors was a
"minutcman," and this was the weapon he
had raised against the enemy. Long after
ward, when it had gathered to itself centu-
rvs dust and cobwcbs, rescued it from its
hiding place in grandfather's garnet and was
happy. 1t took me whole day to remove
the rust and put it in shooting condition /;
this done, disclosed the secret of my "find"
to my chum and bosom friend, Billy johnson.
We tried the old flint lock and found that it
struck fire every time; now we must test its
qualities for field work. That night, when
our respected parents thought us in bed,
we were skipping over the fields to Concord
after ammunition. The first "gun shop" we
came TO was kept by grumpy old farmer,
who eyed us suspciously as VIC entered.
With fear and trembling | asked tor "half
a pound ofshot, and three ounces ofpowder'
the full capacity of my slender purse. 1t
was great relief to me when he moved to-
ward the scales to weigh out my order.
How mcrrly the shot ratified in the old tin
scoop, and how wickedly the powder glisten.
ed in the dim candle-light. When had ex-
| changed my handful of pennies for the two
| tightly in either hand, lfe's rapture was COM
plete. / think that Billy and Iran every step
of the way home. Before we said good
| night" at his gate we had decided to meet
there before daylight the next morning and
tramp over the hill to Hickory Bluff for a
squirrel hunt.
gained my room unchallenged, and was
| soon in bed dreaming confusedly offlint-locks,
ammunition and squirrels. Sunrise found us
| seated quietly among the hickories awaiting
our first victim. Suddenly monstrous gray
Chartered nervously near, and Billy, to whom
| had been accorded the honor of the first shot,
| raised the lock with an ominous click and a
moment later he pulled on his first squirrel
But Billy was doomed to disappointment
we had forgotten to load the gun. Here n
new difficulty confronted us what would be
| the,proper quantity ofamunition for charger
After prolonged discussion we decided to d-
vide our three ounces of powder and half a
pound of shot into four equal charges. The
gun was successfully loaded upon this princi-
pie and placed in my hands, Billy declaring
that he had really had the first compliment
tary shot. Magnanimous Rilly have often
wondered if your generosity was not par
TALLY prompted by prcmonition of the re-
sultY
In few minutes another chattering squir-
rel appeared on a neighboring stump l
aimed AT him carefully and pulled the
trigger. 1t is n miracle that l live to mar
rate what followed. Such noise there new
er win be again. Ofcourse the gun explo-
ded and flew into score of fragments,
hurting me several feet backward at the same
time. Fortunately for me the direction of
my transit was only clear for a short distance,
when was stopped by sudden contact with
a tree. When father arrived he pronounced
me blockhcad, at the same time vowing
that unmitigated chastsement should be Wis
tied upon me as soon rs l was in fit condition
for tlogging
The only part of the gun saved, and in
fact the only part could ever find was the
stock. l keep it yet as shattered souvenir
of my first days cunning.