The Arizona sentinel., 1886-07-17
A FORTUNATE FOURTH.
Aunt Melinda's Target Shooting an
 What Came of It.

AunG meIln01'8 SnOOGInk anu
 What Came of It.
 "Old Scratch is at it ag'in," said Aunt Melinda, looking toward the garden, where the family hen was in- dustriously scratching, as usual. '1t's good thing we han't no vegitable, growth, fur old Scratch would have lem up in less'n no time. This 'ere soil don't grow nothin' but gold and silver. Howsomever, wouldn't mind havln' good crop O that, and with a sign Aunt Melinda set down her iron and took 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 a pick and dig if you knew sartin sure you'd strike it rich. Why don't you go up the mountain prospectin'?'
 "Melindy," said Uncle Jonathan, solemnly, 'you forgit my wooden leg"
 ''Fiddlesticksr replied Aunt Me linda, II don't want you to take of your leg an dig with it. You're we'll enough to walk to town for tobacco every time you can git the money out O me to buy it. Here I stand washin' an ironin' to earn money to keep us alivO, and raobbo up t1.vIU on tAe- mountain yonder 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"
 '.Ill start out airly in the mornin'," :" answered Uncle Jonathan, meekly.
 "Kin I go with youP" asked Jim, eagerly.
 Jim was perched up on 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 if your aunt can spare you," answered Uncle Jonathan. '1 reckon I won't 20 fur. ,"
 ''I reckon you won't" remarked Aunt Melinda, significantly.
 '.Fd rather dig gold than peel pota- toes," began Jim, discontentediy. .'Peelin' potatoes is girls work"
 "Well, you're all the girl I've got so I have to make use O you," replied Aunt Melinda. ''I can't do every thing" with glance at poor Uncle Jonathan.
 "When I've done the potatoes kin I go out and play?" questioned Jim.
 ''Yes," said his aunt, "when you've peeled the potatoes and pared the ap- ples and brought in some wood and set the table for dinner"
 "Jiminy 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. 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 bang! bang! went something right at his feet.
 '.Hullo, Jimr' called out boy on the other side of the fence. "What are you jumpin' fur? Didn't you know twas the Fourth of July?"
 ''So it isl" said Jim. 'I clean for got. Gim' me some O your crackers. "
 ''Jim Schrim," called Aunt Melinda, ''come right in here and wash these dishes.
 And Jim went reluctantly into the house.
 Its the Fourth O July" he ex- claimed, as he entered the door.
 Uncle Jonathan nearly dropped his pipe in surprise.
 '1 declare to goodnessw he began, 'if here 1 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 l hev some crackers?" 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 fur bein' so patriotic.
 '.I hain't got no money to spend on them kind O crackers" said Aunt Melinda, grimly.
 Never mind," whispered Uncle Jonathan to Jim, with wink. '.Tll let 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 board on tree for mark. It was fortunate that they had plenty of cartridges, for neither were very good shots, and the balls went flying many yards from the target.
 Finally, Aunt Melinda came to the door of the cabin and cOndescended to make remarks on their skill.
 '1 could do better than that myself, Jonathan Schrim," she declared.
 "Come on thenr' said Uncle Jona- than.
 So Aunt Melinda took the pistol firmly in her right hand and pointed it straight at the target