The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-07-14
A FORTUNATE FOURTH.

FORTUNATE FOURTH.
Aunt Melinda's Target Shooting and
What Came of 1t.
"Old Scratch is at it ag'in," said
Aunt Melinda, looking toward the
garden, where the family hen was in
dustriously scratching, as usual. 'lts
good thing we han't no Vegetables
CROWN. fur old Scratch would have
'em up in less'n no time. This ere
soil don't grow nothin' but gold and
silver. Howsomever, wouldn't mind
havln' a good crop O. that" and with
a Sign Aunt Melinda set down her iron
and took a hot one off the stove.
"Waal, no." answered Uncle Jona-
than. taking his pipe from his mouth;
"a good crop O gold and silver would
be powerful convenient to hev, an here
in Colorado no more'n we ought to
expect"
You'd want it ter come up coins, "
said Aunt Melinda, with a whitening
glance. ''You wouldn't take pick
and dig if you knew sartin sure you'd
strike it rich. Why don't you go up
the mountain prospective"
"Melindy," said Uncle jonathan,
solemuly. '.you forgit my wooden
leg"
| "Fiddlesticksr' replied Aunt Me-
linda, Il don't want you to take Oft
your leg an dig with it. You're well
enough to walk to town fof tobacco
every time you can git the money out
O. me to buy it. Here l stand washin'
an ironin' to earn money to keep us
alive, and mebbe up there on the
mountain yonder is gold mine jest
| waitin fur the first man that has grit
enough to dig down fur it. Hain't you
ashamed of yourself Jonathan Schrim!''
III start out airly in the mornin', "
answered Uncle Jonathan, meekly.
kin 60 with youp" asked Jim,
eagerly.
Jim was perehed up on q barrel,
with a long bingham apron tied around
his neck He was peeling potatoes for
dinner. and swinging his feet to and
fro.
"Yoa can 20 II your aunt can spare
you," answered Uncle Jonathan. 81
reckon won't go fur"
II reckon you won't" remarked
Aunt Melinda, significantly
I'D rather dig gold than peel pota-
toes" began Jim, discontentedly.
"Peelin' potatoes is girls work.
well, you're all the girl I've got.
so | have to make use o. YOU" replied
Aunt Melinda. II can: do every
thing" with q glance at poor Uncle
Jonathan.
when I've done the potatoes. kin
90 ont and plays" questioned Jim.
"Yes, said his aunt, "when you've
peeled the potatoes and pared the ap.
| pies and brought ia some wood and sci
the table for dinner"
| Jimmy crickets!'' thought Jim,
"tain't no fun to play bein' girl"
| Old Scratch was already at work and
throwing the dirt in every direction
when Jim came out in the garden the
next morning at seven O'Clock. Hel
owner put his hands in his pockets anG
watched her admiringly.
| "She's the best hen in the hui
camp" he was thinking, when bang
bang! went something right at his feet
/ "Hullo, Jim!'' called out boy or
the other side of the fence. "Wha
arc you jumpin' furp Didn't you know
twas the Fourth of July?"
| $50 it ISL said Jim. II clean for
got. Gin me some O. your crackers. ;
! Jim Schrim," called Aunt Melinda
"come right in here and wash thess
Dishes"
i And Jim went reluctantly into The
house.
"It's the Fourth O. july" he ex
claimed, as he entered the door.
| Uncle Jonathan nearly dropped his
pipe in surprise.
II declare to goodness" he began,
''if here l wasn't startin' out to work
on national holiday. I'd forgot all
about its bein' the Fourth. The people
in this ere country don't care nuthin
fur Sundays an holidays"
"Kin hev some crackersp" begged
Jim, who had tied on his gingham
apron and was industriously using 8
dish-towel.
ASK your aunt" suggested Uncle
Jonathan. "She used ter be noted full
bein' SO patriotic.
II hain't got no money to spend or
them kind O. crackers" said Aun,
Melinda, grimly.
''Never mind" whispered Uncle
Jonathan to Jim, with wink. "I'I
let you fire off my pistol"
So, when Jim had finished the dish.
es and swept up the kitchen, he fol.
lowed his uncle out in the garden and
they nailed a board on tree for q
mark. 1t was fortunate that they had
plenty of cartridges, for neither were
very good shots, and the balls wen,
flying many yards from the target.
Finally. Aunt Melinda came to the
door of the cabin and condescended to
, make remarks on their skill
81 could do better than that myself,
Jonathan Schrim," she declared.
Come on them" said Uncle iona.
than. --.
So Aunt Melinda took the pisto
firmly in her right hand and pointed il
straight at the target