Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-07-29
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
A LUCKY FOURTH,
Aunt Msiinda's Target shooting and
What Came oft.

Aunt holluueb eue
what Came oft.
"Old Scratch Is at It ag'in," said
Aunt Melinda, looking toward tho
garden, whore the family hon was In
dustriously scratching, as usual. "lts
q 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. Howsomcvcr, wouldn't mind
havin' n good crop o that" and with
. sigh Aunt Melinda set down her iron
and took hot one off the stove.
"wsal. 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 1t ter come up coins,"
said Aunt Melinda, with a witbering
glance. "You wouldn't take pick
and dig II you knew sartin sure you'd
strike it rich. Why don't you 90 up
the mountain prospecting"
"Mclindy,' said Uncle Jonathan,
aolemnly, you forgit my wooden
leg"
"Fiddlesticks" replied Aunt Me
linda, 81 don't want you to take oil
your leg an dig with it. You're well
enough to walk to town for tobacco
every time you can git the money out
O. me to buy it. Here 1 stand washin'
on ironin' to earn money to keep Us
alive. and mebbe up there on the
mountain yondcr is gold mine jest
waitin' fur the first man that has grit
enough to dig down fur it. Hain't you
ashamed ofyourself Jonathan Schrim!"
"rll start out airly in the mornin'. !"
answered Uncle Jonathan, meekly.
"Kin / 30 with youa" asked Jim.
eagerly.
Jim was perched up on a barrel,
with long gingham apron tied around
his neck. He was peeling potatoes for
dinner, and swinging his feet to and
fro.
"You can go II your aunt can spare
you." answered Uncle Jonathan. 81
reckon ! won't 20 fur"
al 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,
40 have to make use o. you," replied
Aunt Melinda. III can't do every
thing" with glance at poor Uncle
Jonathan.
"Whcn I've done the potatoes, kin !
20 out and playp" questioned Jim.
"Yes." said his aunt, "when you've
peeled the potatoes and pared the APP
Piles and brought in some wood and set
the table for dinner"
"Jiminy crickets" thought Jim.
"'tain't no fun to play bein' a girl"
Old Scratch was already ut work and
throwing the dirt in every direction
when Jim came out in the garden the
next morning at seven o'clock. Her
owner put his hands in his pockets and
watched her admiringly.
"Shc's the best hen in the hull
camp" he was thinking, when bang!
bang! went something right at his feet.
"Hullo, Jim!' called out boy on
the other side of tho fence. "What
are you jumpin' furp Didn't you know
twas the Fourth of Julyp"
$50 il isv' said Jim. "I clean for
got. Gin me some o. your crackers" "
"Jim Schrim," called Aunt Melinda,
"comc right in here and wash these
dishes"
And Jim went reluctantly into the
house.
"It's the Fourth O. july" ho ex-
claimed, as he entered the door.
Uncle Jonathan nearly dropped his
pipe in surprise.
81 declare to goodness!" he began,
"if here wasn't startin' out to work
on a 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 hcv some crackersP" begged
Jim, who had tied on his gingham
apron and was industriously using Il
dish.9wel.
"Ask your aunt" suggested Uncle
Jonathan. "She used tor be noted ful
bein so patriotic"
81 hain't got no money to spend on
them kind o. crackers" said Aunt
Melinda, grimly.
"Nover mind" whispered Uncle
Jonathan to Jim, with o wink. "fl
lot you fire of 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 q board on tree for
mark. 1t was fortunate that they had
plenty Of cartridges, for neither were
very good shots, and the balls went
flying many yards from tho target
Finally, Aunt Melinda came to th'
door Of tho cabin and condescended u