Убить пересмешника

           "Jem,it’shot!"

           "Noitain’t,it’ssocolditburns.Nowdon’teatit,Scout,you’rewastingit.Letitcomedown."

           "ButIwanttowalkinit."

           "Iknowwhat,wecangowalkoveratMissMaudie’s."

           Jemhoppedacrossthefrontyard.Ifollowedinhistracks.WhenwewereonthesidewalkinfrontofMissMaudie’s,Mr.Averyaccostedus.Hehadapinkfaceandabigstomachbelowhisbelt.

           "Seewhatyou’vedone?"hesaid."Hasn’tsnowedinMaycombsinceAppomattox.It’sbadchildrenlikeyoumakestheseasonschange."

           IwonderedifMr.Averyknewhowhopefullywehadwatchedlastsummerforhimtorepeathisperformance,andreflectedthatifthiswasourreward,therewassomethingtosayforsin.IdidnotwonderwhereMr.Averygatheredhismeteorologicalstatistics:theycamestraightfromtheRosettaStone.

           "JemFinch,youJemFinch!"

           "MissMaudie’scallin’you,Jem."

           "Youallstayinthemiddleoftheyard.There’ssomethriftburiedunderthesnowneartheporch.Don’tsteponit!"

           "Yessum!"calledJem."It’sbeautiful,ain’tit,MissMaudie?"

           "Beautifulmyhindfoot!Ifitfreezestonightit’llcarryoffallmyazaleas!"