The Southern herald., 1886-08-07
DUB BOYS AND GIRLS.
A LUCKY FOURTH.
Aunt MelInda's Target Shooting and
What Came oft.


Aunt MelInda's Target Shooting and
What Game oft.
"Old Scratch is at It ag'in,'' said
Aunt Melinda, looking toward the
garden, where the family hen was In
dustriously scratching, as usual. tits
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 HowsomeEer, Iwouldn't mind
havin' good crop o that, !" and with.
q sigh Aunt Melinda set down her iron
and took a hot one off the stove.
"Waal, nc" answered Uncle JOna-
than, taking his pipe from his mouth:
.'Agood crop O gold and silver would
be powerful convenient to hey, 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 a pick
and dig if you knew sartin sure you'd
stSike it rich. Why don't you 60 up
the mountain prospectln'P"
"Melindy," said Uncle Johathan,
AOlemnly, "you forgit my wooden
leg" 9ea19 a
"Fiddlesticksll' replied Aunt Me-
linda, Il don't want you to take off
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 stand washin'
an ironin' to earn money to keep us
alive, and mebbe up there on the
mountain yonder is q gold mine jest
waitin' fur the first man that has grit
enough to dig down fur it. Hain't you
ashamed ofyourself Jonathan SchDim!"
'T'll start out airly inthe mornin',"
answered Uncle Jonathan, meelly.
''Kin I 60 with youp" 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 il your aunt can spare
you," answered Uncle Jonathan. II
reckon / WON'T 20 fur.''
II reckon you WON'T remarked
Aunt Melinda, significantly.
"Pd rather dig gold than peel pota-
toes,'' began Jim, discontentedly.
"Peelin' potatoes is girls work.
"Well, you're all the girl I've got.
90 | have to make use o you," replied
Aunt Melinda. II can't do every
thing" with glance at poor Uncle
Jonathan.
"When I've done the potatoes, kin l
60 out and playP" questioned Jim.
''Yes," said his aunt 'when you've
peeled the potatoes and pared the ap-
Piles and brought in some wood and set
the table for dinner" " it
"Jiminy cricketsl' thought Jim,
"'tain't no fun to play bein' girl" g
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. Her
owner put his hands in his pockets and
watched her admiringly.
"She's the best hen in the hull
camp" he was thinking, when bangl
bang! went something right at hisfeet.
"Hullo, Jim!'' called out q boy on
the other side of the fence. ''What
are you jumpin' furP Didn't you know
twas the Fourth of JulyP"
$50 it isl'' said Jim. 81 clean for
got. Gim' me some O. your crackers. ;"
"Jim Schrim," called Aunt Melinda,
'come right in here and wash these
dishes" HAai faiasata
And Jim went reluctantly into the
house. 81
'1t's the Fourth O. july" he ex-
claimed, as he entered the door.
Uncle Jonathan nearly dropped his
pipe in surprise. 5l50s
II declare to goodnessl" he began,
'ff here wasn't startin' Quito 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 hev some crackersp" begged
Jim, who had tied on his gingham
apron and was industriously using a
dish-towel.
"Ask your aunt" suggested Uncle
Jonathan. "She used ter be noted fur
bein' SO patriotic "a
Il hain't got no money to spend on
them kind O. crackers" said Aunt
Melinda, grimly.
"Never mind" whispered Uncle
Jonathan to Jim, with a wink. "Pll
lot 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 board on tree for a
mark. 1t was fortunate that they had
plenty Of cartridges. for neither were
very good shots, and che balls went
flying many yards from the target
Finally. Amt Melinda cama tn the