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           Whenhegaveusourair-riflesAtticuswouldn’tteachustoshoot.UncleJackinstructedusintherudimentsthereof;hesaidAtticuswasn’tinterestedinguns.AtticussaidtoJemoneday,"I’dratheryoushotattincansinthebackyard,butIknowyou’llgoafterbirds.Shootallthebluejaysyouwant,ifyoucanhit‘em,butrememberit’sasintokillamockingbird."

           ThatwastheonlytimeIeverheardAtticussayitwasasintodosomething,andIaskedMissMaudieaboutit.

           "Yourfather’sright,"shesaid."Mockingbirdsdon’tdoonethingbutmakemusicforustoenjoy.Theydon’teatuppeople’sgardens,don’tnestincorncribs,theydon’tdoonethingbutsingtheirheartsoutforus.That’swhyit’sasintokillamockingbird."

           "MissMaudie,thisisanoldneighborhood,ain’tit?"

           "Beenherelongerthanthetown."

           "Nome,Imeanthefolksonourstreetareallold.Jemandme’stheonlychildrenaroundhere.Mrs.DuboseiscloseontoahundredandMissRachel’soldandsoareyouandAtticus."

           "Idon’tcallfiftyveryold,"saidMissMaudietartly."Notbeingwheeledaroundyet,amI?Neither’syourfather.ButImustsayProvidencewaskindenoughtoburndownthatoldmausoleumofmine,I’mtoooldtokeepitup—maybeyou’reright,JeanLouise,thisisasettledneighborhood.You’veneverbeenaroundyoungfolksmuch,haveyou?"

           "Yessum,atschool."

           "Imeanyounggrown-ups.You’relucky,youknow.YouandJemhavethebenefitofyourfather’sage.Ifyourfatherwasthirtyyou’dfindlifequitedifferent."