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           Thevarmintshadaleantimeofit,fortheEwellsgavethedumpathoroughgleaningeveryday,andthefruitsoftheirindustry(thosethatwerenoteaten)madetheplotofgroundaroundthecabinlookliketheplayhouseofaninsanechild:whatpassedforafencewasbitsoftree-limbs,broomsticksandtoolshafts,alltippedwithrustyhammer-heads,snaggle-toothedrakeheads,shovels,axesandgrubbinghoes,heldonwithpiecesofbarbedwire.EnclosedbythisbarricadewasadirtyyardcontainingtheremainsofaModel-TFord(onblocks),adiscardeddentist’schair,anancienticebox,pluslesseritems:oldshoes,worn-outtableradios,pictureframes,andfruitjars,underwhichscrawnyorangechickenspeckedhopefully.

           Onecorneroftheyard,though,bewilderedMaycomb.Againstthefence,inaline,weresixchipped-enamelslopjarsholdingbrilliantredgeraniums,caredforastenderlyasiftheybelongedtoMissMaudieAtkinson,hadMissMaudiedeignedtopermitageraniumonherpremises.PeoplesaidtheywereMayellaEwell’s.

           Nobodywasquitesurehowmanychildrenwereontheplace.Somepeoplesaidsix,otherssaidnine;therewerealwaysseveraldirty-facedonesatthewindowswhenanyonepassedby.NobodyhadoccasiontopassbyexceptatChristmas,whenthechurchesdeliveredbaskets,andwhenthemayorofMaycombaskedustopleasehelpthegarbagecollectorbydumpingourowntreesandtrash.

           AtticustookuswithhimlastChristmaswhenhecompliedwiththemayor’srequest.