in Chapter ten enough to kill a mockingbirds Jem and Scout can't understand why people are so critical of Atticus for defending Tom who's nice to everyone he meets Scout assesses the peculiarities of her father noting that he's old nearly 50 and doesn't hunt smoked fish or play poker like the other dads of Makem even so the Robinson trial has made Atticus a focus of the town's gossip Scout starts thinking about the air rifles they got for Christmas she recalls that Uncle Jack taught her and Jem to shoot but Atticus reminded them that To Kill a Mockingbird is a sin Miss Maudie explains that mocking birds do nothing but make music for people to enjoy which is why it's a sin to kill them from there the conversation turns back to Atticus Miss Maudie who grew up with Atticus starts listing things he's good at playing checkers playing the juice harp and making someone's will so airtight no one can meddle but Scout is unimpressed shortly afterward Jem and Scout spotted neighborhood dog named Tim Johnson stumbling down the street with a strange look on its face Scout and Jem go home to tell Calpurnia she tells Atticus about the dog who understands the dog must be rabid Atticus arrives with sheriff Tate who aims his gun at the dog Tate says that if he misses the shot will go straight into the Radley house instead he gives the gun to Atticus who takes aim and killed the dog with a single bullet as Atticus and sheriff Tate leave Scout and Jem here miss Monty call him one shot Finch she later tells Jem and Scout that among Atticus's other attributes he was the most accurate shot in Maycomb County Scout and Jem are startled to find people critical of Atticus this changes their perspective Atticus is not only their father but a human being he plays different roles outside the family perhaps it's the anger and criticism that causes Scout to wish she was more like other fathers after Scout and Jem learn about Atticus is passed from Miss Maudie they see him as more human scout still struggles to see how her father's hobbies of reading and checkers are anything but boring however after seeing Atticus killed a rabid dog with one shot she begins to wonder whether there's more to him than meets the eye Atticus explains that shooting a gun well is not something to be proud of and should only be used when necessary the fact that sheriff Tate trusted Atticus with his gun demonstrates the high esteem some townspeople have for him Jem and Scout learn a valuable lesson in the importance of humility you