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           &n= bsp;      =20 THE = ADVENTURES OF=20 TOM SAWYER

           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;       =20 BY

           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;   =20 MARK = TWAIN

           &n= bsp;        =20 (Samuel = Langhorne=20 Clemens)

 

 

 

 

           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;  =20 P R E F = A C E

 

MOST of the adventures recorded in = this book=20 really occurred; one or

two were experiences of my own, the = rest=20 those of boys who were

schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is = drawn from=20 life; Tom Sawyer also, but

not from an individual--he is a = combination=20 of the characteristics of

three boys whom I knew, and = therefore belongs=20 to the composite order of

architecture.

 

The odd superstitions touched upon = were all=20 prevalent among children

and slaves in the West at the = period of this=20 story--that is to say,

thirty or forty years ago.

 

Although my book is intended mainly = for the=20 entertainment of boys and

girls, I hope it will not be = shunned by men=20 and women on that account,

for part of my plan has been to try = to=20 pleasantly remind adults of what

they once were themselves, and of = how they=20 felt and thought and talked,

and what queer enterprises they = sometimes=20 engaged in.

 

           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;           =20 THE = AUTHOR.

 

HARTFORD, 1876.

 

 

 

           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp; =20 T O = M   S A W Y E R

 

 

CHAPTER I

 

"TOM!"

 

No answer.

 

"TOM!"

 

No answer.

 

"What's gone with that boy,  I wonder? You TOM!"

 

No answer.

 

The old lady pulled her spectacles = down and=20 looked over them about the

room; then she put them up and = looked out=20 under them. She seldom or

never looked THROUGH them for so = small a=20 thing as a boy; they were her

state pair, the pride of her heart, = and were=20 built for "style," not

service--she could have seen = through a pair=20 of stove-lids just as well.

She looked perplexed for a moment, = and then=20 said, not fiercely, but

still loud enough for the furniture = to=20 hear:

 

"Well, I lay if I get hold of you = I'll--"

 

She did not finish, for by this = time she was=20 bending down and punching

under the bed with the broom, and = so she=20 needed breath to punctuate the

punches with. She resurrected = nothing but the=20 cat.

 

"I never did see the beat of that = boy!"

 

She went to the open door and stood = in it and=20 looked out among the

tomato vines and "jimpson" weeds = that=20 constituted the garden. No Tom.

So she lifted up her voice at an = angle=20 calculated for distance and

shouted:

 

"Y-o-u-u TOM!"

 

There was a slight noise behind her = and she=20 turned just in time to

seize a small boy by the slack of = his=20 roundabout and arrest his flight.

 

"There! I might 'a' thought of that = closet.=20 What you been doing in

there?"

 

"Nothing."

 

"Nothing! Look at your hands. And = look at your=20 mouth. What IS that

truck?"

 

"I don't know, aunt."

 

"Well, I know. It's jam--that's what = it is.=20 Forty times I've said if

you didn't let that jam alone I'd = skin you.=20 Hand me that switch."

 

The switch hovered in the air--the = peril was=20 desperate--

 

"My! Look behind you, aunt!"

 

The old lady whirled round, and = snatched her=20 skirts out of danger. The

lad fled on the instant, scrambled = up the=20 high board-fence, and

disappeared over it.

 

His aunt Polly stood surprised a = moment, and=20 then broke into a gentle

laugh.

 

"Hang the boy, can't I never learn = anything?=20 Ain't he played me tricks

enough like that for me to be = looking out for=20 him by this time? But old

fools is the biggest fools there = is. Can't=20 learn an old dog new tricks,

as the saying is. But my goodness, = he never=20 plays them alike, two days,

and how is a body to know what's = coming? He=20 'pears to know just how

long he can torment me before I get = my dander=20 up, and he knows if he

can make out to put me off for a = minute or=20 make me laugh, it's all down

again and I can't hit him a lick. I = ain't=20 doing my duty by that boy,

and that's the Lord's truth, = goodness knows.=20 Spare the rod and spile

the child, as the Good Book says. = I'm a=20 laying up sin and suffering for

us both, I know. He's full of the = Old=20 Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my

own dead sister's boy, poor thing, = and I=20 ain't got the heart to lash

him, somehow. Every time I let him = off, my=20 conscience does hurt me so,

and every time I hit him my old = heart most=20 breaks. Well-a-well, man

that is born of woman is of few = days and full=20 of trouble, as the

Scripture says, and I reckon it's = so. He'll=20 play hookey this evening, *

and [* Southwestern for = "afternoon"] I'll=20 just be obleeged to make him

work, to-morrow, to punish him. = It's mighty=20 hard to make him work

Saturdays, when all the boys is = having=20 holiday, but he hates work more

than he hates anything else, and = I've GOT to=20 do some of my duty by him,

or I'll be the ruination of the = child."

 

Tom did play hookey, and he had a = very good=20 time. He got back home

barely in season to help Jim, the = small=20 colored boy, saw next-day's

wood and split the kindlings before = supper--at least he was there in

time to tell his adventures to Jim = while Jim=20 did three-fourths of the

work. Tom's younger brother (or = rather=20 half-brother) Sid was already

through with his part of the work = (picking up=20 chips), for he was a

quiet boy, and had no adventurous,=20 troublesome ways.

 

While Tom was eating his supper, = and stealing=20 sugar as opportunity

offered, Aunt Polly asked him = questions that=20 were full of guile, and

very deep--for she wanted to trap = him into=20 damaging revealments. Like

many other simple-hearted souls, it = was her=20 pet vanity to believe she

was endowed with a talent for dark = and=20 mysterious diplomacy, and she

loved to contemplate her most = transparent=20 devices as marvels of low

cunning. Said she:

 

"Tom, it was middling warm in = school, warn't=20 it?"

 

"Yes'm."

 

"Powerful warm, warn't it?"

 

"Yes'm."

 

"Didn't you want to go in = a-swimming, Tom?"

 

A bit of a scare shot through = Tom--a touch of=20 uncomfortable suspicion.

He searched Aunt Polly's face, but = it told=20 him nothing. So he said:

 

"No'm--well, not very much."

 

The old lady reached out her hand = and felt=20 Tom's shirt, and said:

 

"But you ain't too warm now, = though." And it=20 flattered her to reflect

that she had discovered that the = shirt was=20 dry without anybody knowing

that that was what she had in her = mind. But=20 in spite of her, Tom knew

where the wind lay, now. So he = forestalled=20 what might be the next move:

 

"Some of us pumped on our = heads--mine's damp=20 yet. See?"

 

Aunt Polly was vexed to think she = had=20 overlooked that bit of

circumstantial evidence, and missed = a trick.=20 Then she had a new

inspiration:

 

"Tom, you didn't have to undo your = shirt=20 collar where I sewed it, to

pump on your head, did you? = Unbutton your=20 jacket!"

 

The trouble vanished out of Tom's = face. He=20 opened his jacket. His

shirt collar was securely = sewed.

 

"Bother! Well, go 'long with you. = I'd made=20 sure you'd played hookey

and been a-swimming. But I forgive = ye, Tom. I=20 reckon you're a kind of a

singed cat, as the saying = is--better'n you=20 look. THIS time."

 

She was half sorry her sagacity had = miscarried, and half glad that Tom

had stumbled into obedient conduct = for=20 once.

 

But Sidney said:

 

"Well, now, if I didn't think you = sewed his=20 collar with white thread,

but it's black."

 

"Why, I did sew it with white! = Tom!"

 

But Tom did not wait for the rest. = As he went=20 out at the door he said:

 

"Siddy, I'll lick you for that."

 

In a safe place Tom examined two = large=20 needles which were thrust into

the lapels of his jacket, and had = thread=20 bound about them--one needle

carried white thread and the other = black. He=20 said:

 

"She'd never noticed if it hadn't = been for=20 Sid. Confound it! sometimes

she sews it with white, and = sometimes she=20 sews it with black. I wish to

geeminy she'd stick to one or = t'other--I=20 can't keep the run of 'em. But

I bet you I'll lam Sid for that. = I'll learn=20 him!"

 

He was not the Model Boy of the = village. He=20 knew the model boy very

well though--and loathed him.

 

Within two minutes, or even less, = he had=20 forgotten all his troubles.

Not because his troubles were one = whit less=20 heavy and bitter to him

than a man's are to a man, but = because a new=20 and powerful interest bore

them down and drove them out of his = mind for=20 the time--just as men's

misfortunes are forgotten in the = excitement=20 of new enterprises. This

new interest was a valued novelty = in=20 whistling, which he had just

acquired from a negro, and he was = suffering=20 to practise it undisturbed.

It consisted in a peculiar = bird-like turn, a=20 sort of liquid warble,

produced by touching the tongue to = the roof=20 of the mouth at short

intervals in the midst of the = music--the=20 reader probably remembers how

to do it, if he has ever been a = boy.=20 Diligence and attention soon gave

him the knack of it, and he strode = down the=20 street with his mouth full

of harmony and his soul full of = gratitude. He=20 felt much as an

astronomer feels who has discovered = a new=20 planet--no doubt, as far as

strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is = concerned, the advantage was with

the boy, not the astronomer.

 

The summer evenings were long. It = was not=20 dark, yet. Presently Tom

checked his whistle. A stranger was = before=20 him--a boy a shade larger

than himself. A new-comer of any = age or=20 either sex was an impressive

curiosity in the poor little shabby = village of=20 St. Petersburg. = This=20 boy

was well dressed, too--well dressed = on a=20 week-day. This was simply

astounding. His cap was a dainty = thing, his=20 close-buttoned blue cloth

roundabout was new and natty, and = so were his=20 pantaloons. He had shoes

on--and it was only Friday. He even = wore a=20 necktie, a bright bit of

ribbon. He had a citified air about = him that=20 ate into Tom's vitals. The

more Tom stared at the splendid = marvel, the=20 higher he turned up his

nose at his finery and the shabbier = and=20 shabbier his own outfit seemed

to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. = If one=20 moved, the other moved--but

only sidewise, in a circle; they = kept face to=20 face and eye to eye all

the time. Finally Tom said:

 

"I can lick you!"

 

"I'd like to see you try it."

 

"Well, I can do it."

 

"No you can't, either."

 

"Yes I can."

 

"No you can't."

 

"I can."

 

"You can't."

 

"Can!"

 

"Can't!"

 

An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom = said:

 

"What's your name?"

 

"'Tisn't any of your business, = maybe."

 

"Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my = business."

 

"Well why don't you?"

 

"If you say much, I will."

 

"Much--much--MUCH. There now."

 

"Oh, you think you're mighty smart, = DON'T you?=20 I could lick you with

one hand tied behind me, if I = wanted to."

 

"Well why don't you DO it? You SAY = you can do=20 it."

 

"Well I WILL, if you fool with = me."

 

"Oh yes--I've seen whole families in = the same=20 fix."

 

"Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, = DON'T=20 you? Oh, what a hat!"

 

"You can lump that hat if you don't = like it. I=20 dare you to knock it

off--and anybody that'll take a = dare will=20 suck eggs."

 

"You're a liar!"

 

"You're another."

 

"You're a fighting liar and dasn't = take it=20 up."

 

"Aw--take a walk!"

 

"Say--if you give me much more of = your sass=20 I'll take and bounce a

rock off'n your head."

 

"Oh, of COURSE you will."

 

"Well I WILL."

 

"Well why don't you DO it then? What = do you=20 keep SAYING you will for?

Why don't you DO it? It's because = you're=20 afraid."

 

"I AIN'T afraid."

 

"You are."

 

"I ain't."

 

"You are."

 

Another pause, and more eying and = sidling=20 around each other. Presently

they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom = said:

 

"Get away from here!"

 

"Go away yourself!"

 

"I won't."

 

"I won't either."

 

So they stood, each with a foot = placed at an=20 angle as a brace, and

both shoving with might and main, = and=20 glowering at each other with

hate. But neither could get an = advantage.=20 After struggling till both

were hot and flushed, each relaxed = his strain=20 with watchful caution,

and Tom said:

 

"You're a coward and a pup. I'll = tell my big=20 brother on you, and he

can thrash you with his little = finger, and=20 I'll make him do it, too."

 

"What do I care for your big = brother? I've got=20 a brother that's bigger

than he is--and what's more, he can = throw him=20 over that fence, too."

[Both brothers were imaginary.]

 

"That's a lie."

 

"YOUR saying so don't make it = so."

 

Tom drew a line in the dust with = his big toe,=20 and said:

 

"I dare you to step over that, and = I'll lick=20 you till you can't stand

up. Anybody that'll take a dare = will steal=20 sheep."

 

The new boy stepped over promptly, = and=20 said:

 

"Now you said you'd do it, now let's = see you=20 do it."

 

"Don't you crowd me now; you better = look=20 out."

 

"Well, you SAID you'd do it--why = don't you do=20 it?"

 

"By jingo! for two cents I WILL do = it."

 

The new boy took two broad coppers = out of his=20 pocket and held them out

with derision. Tom struck them to = the ground.=20 In an instant both boys

were rolling and tumbling in the = dirt,=20 gripped together like cats; and

for the space of a minute they = tugged and=20 tore at each other's hair and

clothes, punched and scratched each = other's=20 nose, and covered

themselves with dust and glory. = Presently the=20 confusion took form, and

through the fog of battle Tom = appeared,=20 seated astride the new boy, and

pounding him with his fists. = "Holler 'nuff!"=20 said he.

 

The boy only struggled to free = himself. He=20 was crying--mainly from rage.

 

"Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding = went on.

 

At last the stranger got out a = smothered=20 "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up

and said:

 

"Now that'll learn you. Better look = out who=20 you're fooling with next

time."

 

The new boy went off brushing the = dust from=20 his clothes, sobbing,

snuffling, and occasionally looking = back and=20 shaking his head and

threatening what he would do to Tom = the "next=20 time he caught him out."

To which Tom responded with jeers, = and=20 started off in high feather, and

as soon as his back was turned the = new boy=20 snatched up a stone, threw

it and hit him between the = shoulders and then=20 turned tail and ran like

an antelope. Tom chased the traitor = home, and=20 thus found out where he

lived. He then held a position at = the gate=20 for some time, daring the

enemy to come outside, but the = enemy only=20 made faces at him through the

window and declined. At last the = enemy's=20 mother appeared, and called

Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, = and ordered=20 him away. So he went

away; but he said he "'lowed" to = "lay" for=20 that boy.

 

He got home pretty late that night, = and when=20 he climbed cautiously in

at the window, he uncovered an = ambuscade, in=20 the person of his aunt;

and when she saw the state his = clothes were=20 in her resolution to turn

his Saturday holiday into captivity = at hard=20 labor became adamantine in

its firmness.

 

 

CHAPTER II

 

SATURDAY morning was come, and all = the summer=20 world was bright and

fresh, and brimming with life. = There was a=20 song in every heart; and if

the heart was young the music = issued at the=20 lips. There was cheer in

every face and a spring in every = step. The=20 locust-trees were in bloom

and the fragrance of the blossoms = filled the=20 air. Cardiff=20 Hill, beyond

the village and above it, was green = with=20 vegetation and it lay just far

enough away to seem a Delectable = Land, dreamy, reposeful, and = inviting.

 

Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a = bucket of=20 whitewash and a long-

handled brush. He surveyed the = fence, and all=20 gladness left him and a

deep melancholy settled down upon = his spirit.=20 Thirty yards of board

fence nine feet high. Life to him = seemed=20 hollow, and existence but a

burden. Sighing, he dipped his = brush and=20 passed it along the topmost

plank; repeated the operation; did = it again;=20 compared the insignificant

whitewashed streak with the = far-reaching=20 continent of unwhitewashed

fence, and sat down on a tree-box=20 discouraged. Jim came skipping out at

the gate with a tin pail, and = singing=20 Buffalo Gals.=20 Bringing water from

the town pump had always been = hateful work in=20 Tom's eyes, before, but

now it did not strike him so. He = remembered=20 that there was company at

the pump. White, mulatto, and negro = boys and=20 girls were always there

waiting their turns, resting, = trading=20 playthings, quarrelling,

fighting, skylarking. And he = remembered that=20 although the pump was only

a hundred and fifty yards off, Jim = never got=20 back with a bucket of

water under an hour--and even then = somebody=20 generally had to go after

him. Tom said:

 

"Say, Jim, I'll fetch the water if = you'll=20 whitewash some."

 

Jim shook his head and said:

 

"Can't, Mars Tom. Ole missis, she = tole me I=20 got to go an' git dis

water an' not stop foolin' roun' = wid anybody.=20 She say she spec' Mars

Tom gwine to ax me to whitewash, = an' so she=20 tole me go 'long an' 'tend

to my own business--she 'lowed = SHE'D 'tend to=20 de whitewashin'."

 

"Oh, never you mind what she said, = Jim. That's=20 the way she always

talks. Gimme the bucket--I won't be = gone only=20 a a minute. SHE won't

ever know."

 

"Oh, I dasn't, Mars Tom. Ole missis = she'd take=20 an' tar de head off'n

me. 'Deed she would."

 

"SHE! She never licks = anybody--whacks 'em over=20 the head with her

thimble--and who cares for that, = I'd like to=20 know. She talks awful, but

talk don't hurt--anyways it don't = if she=20 don't cry. Jim, I'll give you

a marvel. I'll give you a white = alley!"

 

Jim began to waver.

 

"White alley, Jim! And it's a bully = taw."

 

"My! Dat's a mighty gay marvel, I = tell you!=20 But Mars Tom I's powerful

'fraid ole missis--"

 

"And besides, if you will I'll show = you my=20 sore toe."

 

Jim was only human--this attraction = was too=20 much for him. He put down

his pail, took the white alley, and = bent over=20 the toe with absorbing

interest while the bandage was = being unwound.=20 In another moment he was

flying down the street with his = pail and a=20 tingling rear, Tom was

whitewashing with vigor, and Aunt = Polly was=20 retiring from the field

with a slipper in her hand and = triumph in her=20 eye.

 

But Tom's energy did not last. He = began to=20 think of the fun he had

planned for this day, and his = sorrows=20 multiplied. Soon the free boys

would come tripping along on all = sorts of=20 delicious expeditions, and

they would make a world of fun of = him for=20 having to work--the very

thought of it burnt him like fire. = He got out=20 his worldly wealth and

examined it--bits of toys, marbles, = and=20 trash; enough to buy an

exchange of WORK, maybe, but not = half enough=20 to buy so much as half an

hour of pure freedom. So he = returned his=20 straitened means to his

pocket, and gave up the idea of = trying to buy=20 the boys. At this dark

and hopeless moment an inspiration = burst upon=20 him! Nothing less than a

great, magnificent inspiration.

 

He took up his brush and went = tranquilly to=20 work. Ben Rogers hove in

sight presently--the very boy, of = all boys,=20 whose ridicule he had been

dreading. Ben's gait was the=20 hop-skip-and-jump--proof enough that his

heart was light and his = anticipations high.=20 He was eating an apple, and

giving a long, melodious whoop, at = intervals,=20 followed by a deep-toned

ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, for = he was=20 personating a steamboat. As

he drew near, he slackened speed, = took the=20 middle of the street, leaned

far over to starboard and rounded = to=20 ponderously and with laborious

pomp and circumstance--for he was = personating=20 the Big Missouri, and

considered himself to be drawing = nine feet of=20 water. He was boat and

captain and engine-bells combined, = so he had=20 to imagine himself

standing on his own hurricane-deck = giving the=20 orders and executing them:

 

"Stop her, sir! Ting-a-ling-ling!" = The headway=20 ran almost out, and he

drew up slowly toward the = sidewalk.

 

"Ship up to back! Ting-a-ling-ling!" = His arms=20 straightened and

stiffened down his sides.

 

"Set her back on the stabboard!=20 Ting-a-ling-ling! Chow! ch-chow-wow!

Chow!" His right hand, meantime, = describing=20 stately circles--for it was

representing a forty-foot = wheel.

 

"Let her go back on the labboard!=20 Ting-a-lingling! Chow-ch-chow-chow!"

The left hand began to describe = circles.

 

"Stop the stabboard! = Ting-a-ling-ling! Stop=20 the labboard! Come ahead

on the stabboard! Stop her! Let = your outside=20 turn over slow! Ting-a-

ling-ling! Chow-ow-ow! Get out that = head-line! LIVELY now! Come--out

with your spring-line--what're you = about=20 there! Take a turn round that

stump with the bight of it! Stand = by that=20 stage, now--let her go! Done

with the engines, sir! = Ting-a-ling-ling!=20 SH'T! S'H'T! SH'T!" (trying

the gauge-cocks).

 

Tom went on whitewashing--paid no = attention=20 to the steamboat. Ben

stared a moment and then said: = "Hi-YI! YOU'RE=20 up a stump, ain't you!"

 

No answer. Tom surveyed his last = touch with=20 the eye of an artist, then

he gave his brush another gentle = sweep and=20 surveyed the result, as

before. Ben ranged up alongside of = him. Tom's=20 mouth watered for the

apple, but he stuck to his work. = Ben=20 said:

 

"Hello, old chap, you got to work, = hey?"

 

Tom wheeled suddenly and said:

 

"Why, it's you, Ben! I warn't = noticing."

 

"Say--I'm going in a-swimming, I am. = Don't you=20 wish you could? But of

course you'd druther WORK--wouldn't = you?=20 Course you would!"

 

Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and = said:

 

"What do you call work?"

 

"Why, ain't THAT work?"

 

Tom resumed his whitewashing, and = answered=20 carelessly:

 

"Well, maybe it is, and maybe it = ain't. All I=20 know, is, it suits Tom

Sawyer."

 

"Oh come, now, you don't mean to let = on that=20 you LIKE it?"

 

The brush continued to move.

 

"Like it? Well, I don't see why I = oughtn't to=20 like it. Does a boy get

a chance to whitewash a fence every = day?"

 

That put the thing in a new light. = Ben=20 stopped nibbling his apple. Tom

swept his brush daintily back and=20 forth--stepped back to note the

effect--added a touch here and=20 there--criticised the effect again--Ben

watching every move and getting = more and more=20 interested, more and more

absorbed. Presently he said:

 

"Say, Tom, let ME whitewash a = little."

 

Tom considered, was about to = consent; but he=20 altered his mind:

 

"No--no--I reckon it wouldn't hardly = do, Ben.=20 You see, Aunt Polly's

awful particular about this = fence--right here=20 on the street, you know--

but if it was the back fence I = wouldn't mind=20 and SHE wouldn't. Yes,

she's awful particular about this = fence; it's=20 got to be done very

careful; I reckon there ain't one = boy in a=20 thousand, maybe two

thousand, that can do it the way = it's got to=20 be done."

 

"No--is that so? Oh come, now--lemme = just try.=20 Only just a little--I'd

let YOU, if you was me, Tom."

 

"Ben, I'd like to, honest injun; but = Aunt=20 Polly--well, Jim wanted to

do it, but she wouldn't let him; = Sid wanted=20 to do it, and she wouldn't

let Sid. Now don't you see how I'm = fixed? If=20 you was to tackle this

fence and anything was to happen to = it--"

 

"Oh, shucks, I'll be just as = careful. Now=20 lemme try. Say--I'll give

you the core of my apple."

 

"Well, here--No, Ben, now don't. I'm = afeard--"

 

"I'll give you ALL of it!"

 

Tom gave up the brush with = reluctance in his=20 face, but alacrity in his

heart. And while the late steamer = Big=20 Missouri=20 worked and sweated in

the sun, the retired artist sat on = a barrel=20 in the shade close by,

dangled his legs, munched his = apple, and=20 planned the slaughter of more

innocents. There was no lack of = material;=20 boys happened along every

little while; they came to jeer, = but remained=20 to whitewash. By the time

Ben was fagged out, Tom had traded = the next=20 chance to Billy Fisher for

a kite, in good repair; and when he = played=20 out, Johnny Miller bought in

for a dead rat and a string to = swing it=20 with--and so on, and so on,

hour after hour. And when the = middle of the=20 afternoon came, from being

a poor poverty-stricken boy in the = morning,=20 Tom was literally rolling

in wealth. He had besides the = things before=20 mentioned, twelve marbles,

part of a jews-harp, a piece of = blue=20 bottle-glass to look through, a

spool cannon, a key that wouldn't = unlock=20 anything, a fragment of chalk,

a glass stopper of a decanter, a = tin soldier,=20 a couple of tadpoles, six

fire-crackers, a kitten with only = one eye, a=20 brass doorknob, a dog-

collar--but no dog--the handle of a = knife,=20 four pieces of orange-peel,

and a dilapidated old window = sash.

 

He had had a nice, good, idle time = all the=20 while--plenty of company--

and the fence had three coats of = whitewash on=20 it! If he hadn't run out

of whitewash he would have = bankrupted every=20 boy in the village.

 

Tom said to himself that it was not = such a=20 hollow world, after all. He

had discovered a great law of human = action,=20 without knowing it--namely,

that in order to make a man or a = boy covet a=20 thing, it is only

necessary to make the thing = difficult to=20 attain. If he had been a great

and wise philosopher, like the = writer of this=20 book, he would now have

comprehended that Work consists of = whatever a=20 body is OBLIGED to do,

and that Play consists of whatever = a body is=20 not obliged to do. And

this would help him to understand = why=20 constructing artificial flowers

or performing on a tread-mill is = work, while=20 rolling ten-pins or

climbing Mont=20 Blanc is only amusement. There are wealthy gentlemen in

England who drive four-horse = passenger-coaches=20 twenty or thirty miles

on a daily line, in the summer, = because the=20 privilege costs them

considerable money; but if they = were offered=20 wages for the service,

that would turn it into work and = then they=20 would resign.

 

The boy mused awhile over the = substantial=20 change which had taken place

in his worldly circumstances, and = then wended=20 toward headquarters to

report.

 

 

CHAPTER III

 

TOM presented himself before Aunt = Polly, who=20 was sitting by an open

window in a pleasant rearward = apartment,=20 which was bedroom, breakfast-

room, dining-room, and library, = combined. The=20 balmy summer air, the

restful quiet, the odor of the = flowers, and=20 the drowsing murmur of the

bees had had their effect, and she = was=20 nodding over her knitting--for

she had no company but the cat, and = it was=20 asleep in her lap. Her

spectacles were propped up on her = gray head=20 for safety. She had thought

that of course Tom had deserted = long ago, and=20 she wondered at seeing

him place himself in her power = again in this=20 intrepid way. He said:

"Mayn't I go and play now, aunt?"

 

"What, a'ready? How much have you = done?"

 

"It's all done, aunt."

 

"Tom, don't lie to me--I can't bear = it."

 

"I ain't, aunt; it IS all done."

 

Aunt Polly placed small trust in = such=20 evidence. She went out to see

for herself; and she would have = been content=20 to find twenty per cent.

of Tom's statement true. When she = found the=20 entire fence whitewashed,

and not only whitewashed but = elaborately=20 coated and recoated, and even

a streak added to the ground, her=20 astonishment was almost unspeakable.

She said:

 

"Well, I never! There's no getting = round it,=20 you can work when you're

a mind to, Tom." And then she = diluted the=20 compliment by adding, "But

it's powerful seldom you're a mind = to, I'm=20 bound to say. Well, go 'long

and play; but mind you get back = some time in=20 a week, or I'll tan you."

 

She was so overcome by the splendor = of his=20 achievement that she took

him into the closet and selected a = choice=20 apple and delivered it to

him, along with an improving = lecture upon the=20 added value and flavor a

treat took to itself when it came = without sin=20 through virtuous effort.

And while she closed with a happy = Scriptural=20 flourish, he "hooked" a

doughnut.

 

Then he skipped out, and saw Sid = just=20 starting up the outside stairway

that led to the back rooms on the = second=20 floor. Clods were handy and

the air was full of them in a = twinkling. They=20 raged around Sid like a

hail-storm; and before Aunt Polly = could=20 collect her surprised faculties

and sally to the rescue, six or = seven clods=20 had taken personal effect,

and Tom was over the fence and = gone. There=20 was a gate, but as a general

thing he was too crowded for time = to make use=20 of it. His soul was at

peace, now that he had settled with = Sid for=20 calling attention to his

black thread and getting him into=20 trouble.

 

Tom skirted the block, and came = round into a=20 muddy alley that led by

the back of his aunt's cow-stable. = He=20 presently got safely beyond the

reach of capture and punishment, = and hastened=20 toward the public square

of the village, where two = "military"=20 companies of boys had met for

conflict, according to previous = appointment.=20 Tom was General of one of

these armies, Joe Harper (a bosom = friend)=20 General of the other. These

two great commanders did not = condescend to=20 fight in person--that being

better suited to the still smaller = fry--but=20 sat together on an eminence

and conducted the field operations = by orders=20 delivered through aides-de-

camp. Tom's army won a great = victory, after a=20 long and hard-fought

battle. Then the dead were counted, = prisoners=20 exchanged, the terms of

the next disagreement agreed upon, = and the=20 day for the necessary battle

appointed; after which the armies = fell into=20 line and marched away, and

Tom turned homeward alone.

 

As he was passing by the house = where Jeff=20 Thatcher lived, he saw a new

girl in the garden--a lovely little = blue-eyed=20 creature with yellow hair

plaited into two long-tails, white = summer=20 frock and embroidered

pantalettes. The fresh-crowned hero = fell=20 without firing a shot. A

certain Amy Lawrence vanished out = of his=20 heart and left not even a

memory of herself behind. He had = thought he=20 loved her to distraction;

he had regarded his passion as = adoration; and=20 behold it was only a poor

little evanescent partiality. He = had been=20 months winning her; she had

confessed hardly a week ago; he had = been the=20 happiest and the proudest

boy in the world only seven short = days, and=20 here in one instant of time

she had gone out of his heart like = a casual=20 stranger whose visit is

done.

 

He worshipped this new angel with = furtive=20 eye, till he saw that she

had discovered him; then he = pretended he did=20 not know she was present,

and began to "show off" in all = sorts of=20 absurd boyish ways, in order to

win her admiration. He kept up this = grotesque=20 foolishness for some

time; but by-and-by, while he was = in the=20 midst of some dangerous

gymnastic performances, he glanced = aside and=20 saw that the little girl

was wending her way toward the = house. Tom=20 came up to the fence and

leaned on it, grieving, and hoping = she would=20 tarry yet awhile longer.

She halted a moment on the steps = and then=20 moved toward the door. Tom

heaved a great sigh as she put her = foot on=20 the threshold. But his face

lit up, right away, for she tossed = a pansy=20 over the fence a moment

before she disappeared.

 

The boy ran around and stopped = within a foot=20 or two of the flower, and

then shaded his eyes with his hand = and began=20 to look down street as if

he had discovered something of = interest going=20 on in that direction.

Presently he picked up a straw and = began=20 trying to balance it on his

nose, with his head tilted far = back; and as=20 he moved from side to side,

in his efforts, he edged nearer and = nearer=20 toward the pansy; finally

his bare foot rested upon it, his = pliant toes=20 closed upon it, and he

hopped away with the treasure and = disappeared=20 round the corner. But

only for a minute--only while he = could button=20 the flower inside his

jacket, next his heart--or next his = stomach,=20 possibly, for he was not

much posted in anatomy, and not=20 hypercritical, anyway.

 

He returned, now, and hung about = the fence=20 till nightfall, "showing

off," as before; but the girl never = exhibited=20 herself again, though Tom

comforted himself a little with the = hope that=20 she had been near some

window, meantime, and been aware of = his=20 attentions. Finally he strode

home reluctantly, with his poor = head full of=20 visions.

 

All through supper his spirits were = so high=20 that his aunt wondered

"what had got into the child." He = took a good=20 scolding about clodding

Sid, and did not seem to mind it in = the=20 least. He tried to steal sugar

under his aunt's very nose, and got = his=20 knuckles rapped for it. He said:

 

"Aunt, you don't whack Sid when he = takes=20 it."

 

"Well, Sid don't torment a body the = way you=20 do. You'd be always into

that sugar if I warn't watching = you."

 

Presently she stepped into the = kitchen, and=20 Sid, happy in his

immunity, reached for the = sugar-bowl--a sort=20 of glorying over Tom which

was wellnigh unbearable. But Sid's = fingers=20 slipped and the bowl dropped

and broke. Tom was in ecstasies. In = such=20 ecstasies that he even

controlled his tongue and was = silent. He said=20 to himself that he would

not speak a word, even when his = aunt came in,=20 but would sit perfectly

still till she asked who did the = mischief;=20 and then he would tell, and

there would be nothing so good in = the world=20 as to see that pet model

"catch it." He was so brimful of = exultation=20 that he could hardly hold

himself when the old lady came back = and stood=20 above the wreck

discharging lightnings of wrath = from over her=20 spectacles. He said to

himself, "Now it's coming!" And the = next=20 instant he was sprawling on

the floor! The potent palm was = uplifted to=20 strike again when Tom cried

out:

 

"Hold on, now, what 'er you belting = ME=20 for?--Sid broke it!"

 

Aunt Polly paused, perplexed, and = Tom looked=20 for healing pity. But

when she got her tongue again, she = only=20 said:

 

"Umf! Well, you didn't get a lick = amiss, I=20 reckon. You been into some

other audacious mischief when I = wasn't=20 around, like enough."

 

Then her conscience reproached her, = and she=20 yearned to say something

kind and loving; but she judged = that this=20 would be construed into a

confession that she had been in the = wrong,=20 and discipline forbade that.

So she kept silence, and went about = her=20 affairs with a troubled heart.

Tom sulked in a corner and exalted = his woes.=20 He knew that in her heart

his aunt was on her knees to him, = and he was=20 morosely gratified by the

consciousness of it. He would hang = out no=20 signals, he would take notice

of none. He knew that a yearning = glance fell=20 upon him, now and then,

through a film of tears, but he = refused=20 recognition of it. He pictured

himself lying sick unto death and = his aunt=20 bending over him beseeching

one little forgiving word, but he = would turn=20 his face to the wall, and

die with that word unsaid. Ah, how = would she=20 feel then? And he pictured

himself brought home from the = river, dead,=20 with his curls all wet, and

his sore heart at rest. How she = would throw=20 herself upon him, and how

her tears would fall like rain, and = her lips=20 pray God to give her back

her boy and she would never, never = abuse him=20 any more! But he would lie

there cold and white and make no = sign--a poor=20 little sufferer, whose

griefs were at an end. He so worked = upon his=20 feelings with the pathos

of these dreams, that he had to = keep=20 swallowing, he was so like to

choke; and his eyes swam in a blur = of water,=20 which overflowed when he

winked, and ran down and trickled = from the=20 end of his nose. And such a

luxury to him was this petting of = his=20 sorrows, that he could not bear

to have any worldly cheeriness or = any grating=20 delight intrude upon it;

it was too sacred for such contact; = and so,=20 presently, when his cousin

Mary danced in, all alive with the = joy of=20 seeing home again after an

age-long visit of one week to the = country, he=20 got up and moved in

clouds and darkness out at one door = as she=20 brought song and sunshine in

at the other.

 

He wandered far from the accustomed = haunts of=20 boys, and sought

desolate places that were in = harmony with his=20 spirit. A log raft in the

river invited him, and he seated = himself on=20 its outer edge and

contemplated the dreary vastness of = the=20 stream, wishing, the while,

that he could only be drowned, all = at once=20 and unconsciously, without

undergoing the uncomfortable = routine devised=20 by nature. Then he thought

of his flower. He got it out, = rumpled and=20 wilted, and it mightily

increased his dismal felicity. He = wondered if=20 she would pity him if she

knew? Would she cry, and wish that = she had a=20 right to put her arms

around his neck and comfort him? Or = would she=20 turn coldly away like all

the hollow world? This picture = brought such=20 an agony of pleasurable

suffering that he worked it over = and over=20 again in his mind and set it

up in new and varied lights, till = he wore it=20 threadbare. At last he

rose up sighing and departed in the = darkness.

 

About half-past nine or ten o'clock = he came=20 along the deserted street

to where the Adored Unknown lived; = he paused=20 a moment; no sound fell

upon his listening ear; a candle = was casting=20 a dull glow upon the

curtain of a second-story window. = Was the=20 sacred presence there? He

climbed the fence, threaded his = stealthy way=20 through the plants, till

he stood under that window; he = looked up at=20 it long, and with emotion;

then he laid him down on the ground = under it,=20 disposing himself upon

his back, with his hands clasped = upon his=20 breast and holding his poor

wilted flower. And thus he would = die--out in=20 the cold world, with no

shelter over his homeless head, no = friendly=20 hand to wipe the death-

damps from his brow, no loving face = to bend=20 pityingly over him when the

great agony came. And thus SHE = would see him=20 when she looked out upon

the glad morning, and oh! would she = drop one=20 little tear upon his poor,

lifeless form, would she heave one = little=20 sigh to see a bright young

life so rudely blighted, so = untimely cut=20 down?

 

The window went up, a = maid-servant's=20 discordant voice profaned the

holy calm, and a deluge of water = drenched the=20 prone martyr's remains!

 

The strangling hero sprang up with = a=20 relieving snort. There was a whiz

as of a missile in the air, mingled = with the=20 murmur of a curse, a sound

as of shivering glass followed, and = a small,=20 vague form went over the

fence and shot away in the = gloom.

 

Not long after, as Tom, all = undressed for=20 bed, was surveying his

drenched garments by the light of a = tallow=20 dip, Sid woke up; but if he

had any dim idea of making any = "references to=20 allusions," he thought

better of it and held his peace, = for there=20 was danger in Tom's eye.

 

Tom turned in without the added = vexation of=20 prayers, and Sid made

mental note of the omission.

 

 

CHAPTER IV

 

THE sun rose upon a tranquil world, = and=20 beamed down upon the peaceful

village like a benediction. = Breakfast over,=20 Aunt Polly had family

worship: it began with a prayer = built from=20 the ground up of solid

courses of Scriptural quotations, = welded=20 together with a thin mortar of

originality; and from the summit of = this she=20 delivered a grim chapter

of the Mosaic Law, as from = Sinai.

 

Then Tom girded up his loins, so to = speak,=20 and went to work to "get

his verses." Sid had learned his = lesson days=20 before. Tom bent all his

energies to the memorizing of five = verses,=20 and he chose part of the

Sermon on the Mount, because he = could find no=20 verses that were shorter.

At the end of half an hour Tom had = a vague=20 general idea of his lesson,

but no more, for his mind was = traversing the=20 whole field of human

thought, and his hands were busy = with=20 distracting recreations. Mary

took his book to hear him recite, = and he=20 tried to find his way through

the fog:

 

"Blessed are the--a--a--"

 

"Poor"--

 

"Yes--poor; blessed are the = poor--a--a--"

 

"In spirit--"

 

"In spirit; blessed are the poor in = spirit,=20 for they--they--"

 

"THEIRS--"

 

"For THEIRS. Blessed are the poor in = spirit,=20 for theirs is the kingdom

of heaven. Blessed are they that = mourn, for=20 they--they--"

 

"Sh--"

 

"For they--a--"

 

"S, H, A--"

 

"For they S, H--Oh, I don't know = what it=20 is!"

 

"SHALL!"

 

"Oh, SHALL! for they shall--for they = shall--a--a--shall mourn--a--a--

blessed are they that shall--they=20 that--a--they that shall mourn, for

they shall--a--shall WHAT? Why = don't you tell=20 me, Mary?--what do you

want to be so mean for?"

 

"Oh, Tom, you poor thick-headed = thing, I'm not=20 teasing you. I wouldn't

do that. You must go and learn it = again.=20 Don't you be discouraged, Tom,

you'll manage it--and if you do, = I'll give=20 you something ever so nice.

There, now, that's a good boy."

 

"All right! What is it, Mary, tell = me what it=20 is."

 

"Never you mind, Tom. You know if I = say it's=20 nice, it is nice."

 

"You bet you that's so, Mary. All = right, I'll=20 tackle it again."

 

And he did "tackle it again"--and = under the=20 double pressure of

curiosity and prospective gain he = did it with=20 such spirit that he

accomplished a shining success. = Mary gave him=20 a brand-new "Barlow"

knife worth twelve and a half = cents; and the=20 convulsion of delight that

swept his system shook him to his=20 foundations. True, the knife would

not cut anything, but it was a = "sure-enough"=20 Barlow, and there was

inconceivable grandeur in = that--though where=20 the Western boys ever got

the idea that such a weapon could = possibly be=20 counterfeited to its

injury is an imposing mystery and = will always=20 remain so, perhaps. Tom

contrived to scarify the cupboard = with it,=20 and was arranging to begin

on the bureau, when he was called = off to=20 dress for Sunday-school.

 

Mary gave him a tin basin of water = and a=20 piece of soap, and he went

outside the door and set the basin = on a=20 little bench there; then he

dipped the soap in the water and = laid it=20 down; turned up his sleeves;

poured out the water on the ground, = gently,=20 and then entered the

kitchen and began to wipe his face = diligently=20 on the towel behind the

door. But Mary removed the towel = and=20 said:

 

"Now ain't you ashamed, Tom. You = mustn't be so=20 bad. Water won't hurt

you."

 

Tom was a trifle disconcerted. The = basin was=20 refilled, and this time

he stood over it a little while, = gathering=20 resolution; took in a big

breath and began. When he entered = the kitchen=20 presently, with both eyes

shut and groping for the towel with = his=20 hands, an honorable testimony

of suds and water was dripping from = his face.=20 But when he emerged from

the towel, he was not yet = satisfactory, for=20 the clean territory stopped

short at his chin and his jaws, = like a mask;=20 below and beyond this line

there was a dark expanse of = unirrigated soil=20 that spread downward in

front and backward around his neck. = Mary took=20 him in hand, and when she

was done with him he was a man and = a brother,=20 without distinction of

color, and his saturated hair was = neatly=20 brushed, and its short curls

wrought into a dainty and = symmetrical general=20 effect. [He privately

smoothed out the curls, with labor = and=20 difficulty, and plastered his

hair close down to his head; for he = held=20 curls to be effeminate, and

his own filled his life with = bitterness.]=20 Then Mary got out a suit of

his clothing that had been used = only on=20 Sundays during two years--they

were simply called his "other = clothes"--and=20 so by that we know the

size of his wardrobe. The girl "put = him to=20 rights" after he had dressed

himself; she buttoned his neat = roundabout up=20 to his chin, turned his

vast shirt collar down over his = shoulders,=20 brushed him off and crowned

him with his speckled straw hat. He = now=20 looked exceedingly improved and

uncomfortable. He was fully as = uncomfortable=20 as he looked; for there

was a restraint about whole clothes = and=20 cleanliness that galled him. He

hoped that Mary would forget his = shoes, but=20 the hope was blighted; she

coated them thoroughly with tallow, = as was=20 the custom, and brought them

out. He lost his temper and said he = was=20 always being made to do

everything he didn't want to do. = But Mary=20 said, persuasively:

 

"Please, Tom--that's a good boy."

 

So he got into the shoes snarling. = Mary was=20 soon ready, and the three

children set out for = Sunday-school--a place=20 that Tom hated with his

whole heart; but Sid and Mary were = fond of=20 it.

 

Sabbath-school hours were from nine = to=20 half-past ten; and then church

service. Two of the children always = remained=20 for the sermon

voluntarily, and the other always = remained=20 too--for stronger reasons.

The church's high-backed, = uncushioned pews=20 would seat about three

hundred persons; the edifice was = but a small,=20 plain affair, with a sort

of pine board tree-box on top of it = for a=20 steeple. At the door Tom

dropped back a step and accosted a=20 Sunday-dressed comrade:

 

"Say, Billy, got a yaller = ticket?"

 

"Yes."

 

"What'll you take for her?"

 

"What'll you give?"

 

"Piece of lickrish and a = fish-hook."

 

"Less see 'em."

 

Tom exhibited. They were = satisfactory, and=20 the property changed hands.

Then Tom traded a couple of white = alleys for=20 three red tickets, and

some small trifle or other for a = couple of=20 blue ones. He waylaid other

boys as they came, and went on = buying tickets=20 of various colors ten or

fifteen minutes longer. He entered = the=20 church, now, with a swarm of

clean and noisy boys and girls, = proceeded to=20 his seat and started a

quarrel with the first boy that = came handy.=20 The teacher, a grave,

elderly man, interfered; then = turned his back=20 a moment and Tom pulled a

boy's hair in the next bench, and = was=20 absorbed in his book when the boy

turned around; stuck a pin in = another boy,=20 presently, in order to hear

him say "Ouch!" and got a new = reprimand from=20 his teacher. Tom's whole

class were of a pattern--restless, = noisy, and=20 troublesome. When they

came to recite their lessons, not = one of them=20 knew his verses

perfectly, but had to be prompted = all along.=20 However, they worried

through, and each got his = reward--in small=20 blue tickets, each with a

passage of Scripture on it; each = blue ticket=20 was pay for two verses of

the recitation. Ten blue tickets = equalled a=20 red one, and could be

exchanged for it; ten red tickets = equalled a=20 yellow one; for ten yellow

tickets the superintendent gave a = very=20 plainly bound Bible (worth forty

cents in those easy times) to the = pupil. How=20 many of my readers would

have the industry and application = to memorize=20 two thousand verses, even

for a Dore Bible? And yet Mary had = acquired=20 two Bibles in this way--it

was the patient work of two = years--and a boy=20 of German parentage had

won four or five. He once recited = three=20 thousand verses without

stopping; but the strain upon his = mental=20 faculties was too great, and

he was little better than an idiot = from that=20 day forth--a grievous

misfortune for the school, for on = great=20 occasions, before company, the

superintendent (as Tom expressed = it) had=20 always made this boy come out

and "spread himself." Only the = older pupils=20 managed to keep their

tickets and stick to their tedious = work long=20 enough to get a Bible, and

so the delivery of one of these = prizes was a=20 rare and noteworthy

circumstance; the successful pupil = was so=20 great and conspicuous for

that day that on the spot every = scholar's=20 heart was fired with a fresh

ambition that often lasted a couple = of weeks.=20 It is possible that Tom's

mental stomach had never really = hungered for=20 one of those prizes, but

unquestionably his entire being had = for many=20 a day longed for the glory

and the eclat that came with = it.

 

In due course the superintendent = stood up in=20 front of the pulpit, with

a closed hymn-book in his hand and = his=20 forefinger inserted between its

leaves, and commanded attention. = When a=20 Sunday-school superintendent

makes his customary little speech, = a=20 hymn-book in the hand is as

necessary as is the inevitable = sheet of music=20 in the hand of a singer

who stands forward on the platform = and sings=20 a solo at a concert--

though why, is a mystery: for = neither the=20 hymn-book nor the sheet of

music is ever referred to by the = sufferer.=20 This superintendent was a

slim creature of thirty-five, with = a sandy=20 goatee and short sandy hair;

he wore a stiff standing-collar = whose upper=20 edge almost reached his

ears and whose sharp points curved = forward=20 abreast the corners of his

mouth--a fence that compelled a = straight=20 lookout ahead, and a turning

of the whole body when a side view = was=20 required; his chin was propped

on a spreading cravat which was as = broad and=20 as long as a bank-note,

and had fringed ends; his boot toes = were=20 turned sharply up, in the

fashion of the day, like = sleigh-runners--an=20 effect patiently and

laboriously produced by the young = men by=20 sitting with their toes

pressed against a wall for hours = together.=20 Mr. Walters was very earnest

of mien, and very sincere and = honest at=20 heart; and he held sacred

things and places in such = reverence, and so=20 separated them from worldly

matters, that unconsciously to = himself his=20 Sunday-school voice had

acquired a peculiar intonation = which was=20 wholly absent on week-days. He

began after this fashion:

 

"Now, children, I want you all to = sit up just=20 as straight and pretty

as you can and give me all your = attention for=20 a minute or two. There--

that is it. That is the way good = little boys=20 and girls should do. I see

one little girl who is looking out = of the=20 window--I am afraid she

thinks I am out there = somewhere--perhaps up=20 in one of the trees making

a speech to the little birds. = [Applausive=20 titter.] I want to tell you

how good it makes me feel to see so = many=20 bright, clean little faces

assembled in a place like this, = learning to=20 do right and be good." And

so forth and so on. It is not = necessary to=20 set down the rest of the

oration. It was of a pattern which = does not=20 vary, and so it is familiar

to us all.

 

The latter third of the speech was = marred by=20 the resumption of fights

and other recreations among certain = of the=20 bad boys, and by fidgetings

and whisperings that extended far = and wide,=20 washing even to the bases

of isolated and incorruptible rocks = like Sid=20 and Mary. But now every

sound ceased suddenly, with the = subsidence of=20 Mr. Walters' voice, and

the conclusion of the speech was = received=20 with a burst of silent

gratitude.

 

A good part of the whispering had = been=20 occasioned by an event which

was more or less rare--the entrance = of=20 visitors: lawyer Thatcher,

accompanied by a very feeble and = aged man; a=20 fine, portly, middle-aged

gentleman with iron-gray hair; and = a=20 dignified lady who was doubtless

the latter's wife. The lady was = leading a=20 child. Tom had been restless

and full of chafings and repinings; = conscience-smitten, too--he could

not meet Amy Lawrence's eye, he = could not=20 brook her loving gaze. But

when he saw this small new-comer = his soul was=20 all ablaze with bliss in

a moment. The next moment he was = "showing=20 off" with all his might--

cuffing boys, pulling hair, making = faces--in=20 a word, using every art

that seemed likely to fascinate a = girl and=20 win her applause. His

exaltation had but one alloy--the = memory of=20 his humiliation in this

angel's garden--and that record in = sand was=20 fast washing out, under

the waves of happiness that were = sweeping=20 over it now.

 

The visitors were given the highest = seat of=20 honor, and as soon as Mr.

Walters' speech was finished, he = introduced=20 them to the school. The

middle-aged man turned out to be a = prodigious=20 personage--no less a one

than the county judge--altogether = the most=20 august creation these

children had ever looked upon--and = they=20 wondered what kind of material

he was made of--and they half = wanted to hear=20 him roar, and were half

afraid he might, too. He was from = Constantinople, twelve miles away--so

he had travelled, and seen the = world--these=20 very eyes had looked upon

the county court-house--which was = said to=20 have a tin roof. The awe

which these reflections inspired = was attested=20 by the impressive silence

and the ranks of staring eyes. This = was the=20 great Judge Thatcher,

brother of their own lawyer. Jeff = Thatcher=20 immediately went forward, to

be familiar with the great man and = be envied=20 by the school. It would

have been music to his soul to hear = the=20 whisperings:

 

"Look at him, Jim! He's a going up = there.=20 Say--look! he's a going to

shake hands with him--he IS shaking = hands=20 with him! By jings, don't you

wish you was Jeff?"

 

Mr. Walters fell to "showing off," = with all=20 sorts of official

bustlings and activities, giving = orders,=20 delivering judgments,

discharging directions here, there, = everywhere that he could find a

target. The librarian "showed = off"--running=20 hither and thither with his

arms full of books and making a = deal of the=20 splutter and fuss that

insect authority delights in. The = young lady=20 teachers "showed off"--

bending sweetly over pupils that = were lately=20 being boxed, lifting

pretty warning fingers at bad = little boys and=20 patting good ones

lovingly. The young gentlemen = teachers=20 "showed off" with small

scoldings and other little displays = of=20 authority and fine attention to

discipline--and most of the = teachers, of both=20 sexes, found business up

at the library, by the pulpit; and = it was=20 business that frequently had

to be done over again two or three = times=20 (with much seeming vexation).

The little girls "showed off" in = various=20 ways, and the little boys

"showed off" with such diligence = that the air=20 was thick with paper wads

and the murmur of scufflings. And = above it=20 all the great man sat and

beamed a majestic judicial smile = upon all the=20 house, and warmed himself

in the sun of his own grandeur--for = he was=20 "showing off," too.

 

There was only one thing wanting to = make Mr.=20 Walters' ecstasy

complete, and that was a chance to = deliver a=20 Bible-prize and exhibit a

prodigy. Several pupils had a few = yellow=20 tickets, but none had enough--

he had been around among the star = pupils=20 inquiring. He would have given

worlds, now, to have that German = lad back=20 again with a sound mind.

 

And now at this moment, when hope = was dead,=20 Tom Sawyer came forward

with nine yellow tickets, nine red = tickets,=20 and ten blue ones, and

demanded a Bible. This was a = thunderbolt out=20 of a clear sky. Walters

was not expecting an application = from this=20 source for the next ten

years. But there was no getting = around=20 it--here were the certified

checks, and they were good for = their face.=20 Tom was therefore elevated

to a place with the Judge and the = other=20 elect, and the great news was

announced from headquarters. It was = the most=20 stunning surprise of the

decade, and so profound was the = sensation=20 that it lifted the new hero

up to the judicial one's altitude, = and the=20 school had two marvels to

gaze upon in place of one. The boys = were all=20 eaten up with envy--but

those that suffered the bitterest = pangs were=20 those who perceived too

late that they themselves had = contributed to=20 this hated splendor by

trading tickets to Tom for the = wealth he had=20 amassed in selling

whitewashing privileges. These = despised=20 themselves, as being the dupes

of a wily fraud, a guileful snake = in the=20 grass.

 

The prize was delivered to Tom with = as much=20 effusion as the

superintendent could pump up under = the=20 circumstances; but it lacked

somewhat of the true gush, for the = poor=20 fellow's instinct taught him

that there was a mystery here that = could not=20 well bear the light,

perhaps; it was simply preposterous = that this=20 boy had warehoused two

thousand sheaves of Scriptural = wisdom on his=20 premises--a dozen would

strain his capacity, without a = doubt.

 

Amy Lawrence was proud and glad, = and she=20 tried to make Tom see it in

her face--but he wouldn't look. She = wondered;=20 then she was just a grain

troubled; next a dim suspicion came = and=20 went--came again; she watched;

a furtive glance told her = worlds--and then=20 her heart broke, and she was

jealous, and angry, and the tears = came and=20 she hated everybody. Tom

most of all (she thought).

 

Tom was introduced to the Judge; = but his=20 tongue was tied, his breath

would hardly come, his heart = quaked--partly=20 because of the awful

greatness of the man, but mainly = because he=20 was her parent. He would

have liked to fall down and worship = him, if=20 it were in the dark. The

Judge put his hand on Tom's head = and called=20 him a fine little man, and

asked him what his name was. The = boy=20 stammered, gasped, and got it out:

 

"Tom."

 

"Oh, no, not Tom--it is--"

 

"Thomas."

 

"Ah, that's it. I thought there was = more to=20 it, maybe. That's very

well. But you've another one I = daresay, and=20 you'll tell it to me, won't

you?"

 

"Tell the gentleman your other name, = Thomas,"=20 said Walters, "and say

sir. You mustn't forget your = manners."

 

"Thomas Sawyer--sir."

 

"That's it! That's a good boy. Fine = boy. Fine,=20 manly little fellow.

Two thousand verses is a great = many--very,=20 very great many. And you

never can be sorry for the trouble = you took=20 to learn them; for

knowledge is worth more than = anything there=20 is in the world; it's what

makes great men and good men; = you'll be a=20 great man and a good man

yourself, some day, Thomas, and = then you'll=20 look back and say, It's all

owing to the precious Sunday-school = privileges of my boyhood--it's all

owing to my dear teachers that = taught me to=20 learn--it's all owing to

the good superintendent, who = encouraged me,=20 and watched over me, and

gave me a beautiful Bible--a = splendid elegant=20 Bible--to keep and have

it all for my own, always--it's all = owing to=20 right bringing up! That is

what you will say, Thomas--and you = wouldn't=20 take any money for those

two thousand verses--no indeed you = wouldn't.=20 And now you wouldn't mind

telling me and this lady some of = the things=20 you've learned--no, I know

you wouldn't--for we are proud of = little boys=20 that learn. Now, no

doubt you know the names of all the = twelve=20 disciples. Won't you tell us

the names of the first two that = were=20 appointed?"

 

Tom was tugging at a button-hole = and looking=20 sheepish. He blushed,

now, and his eyes fell. Mr. = Walters' heart=20 sank within him. He said to

himself, it is not possible that = the boy can=20 answer the simplest

question--why DID the Judge ask = him? Yet he=20 felt obliged to speak up

and say:

 

"Answer the gentleman, Thomas--don't = be=20 afraid."

 

Tom still hung fire.

 

"Now I know you'll tell me," said = the lady.=20 "The names of the first

two disciples were--"

 

"DAVID AND GOLIAH!"

 

Let us draw the curtain of charity = over the=20 rest of the scene.

 

 

CHAPTER V

 

ABOUT half-past ten the cracked = bell of the=20 small church began to

ring, and presently the people = began to=20 gather for the morning sermon.

The Sunday-school children = distributed=20 themselves about the house and

occupied pews with their parents, = so as to be=20 under supervision. Aunt

Polly came, and Tom and Sid and = Mary sat with=20 her--Tom being placed

next the aisle, in order that he = might be as=20 far away from the open

window and the seductive outside = summer=20 scenes as possible. The crowd

filed up the aisles: the aged and = needy=20 postmaster, who had seen better

days; the mayor and his wife--for = they had a=20 mayor there, among other

unnecessaries; the justice of the = peace; the=20 widow Douglass, fair,

smart, and forty, a generous, = good-hearted=20 soul and well-to-do, her

hill mansion the only palace in the = town, and=20 the most hospitable and

much the most lavish in the matter = of=20 festivities that St.=20 Petersburg

could boast; the bent and venerable = Major and=20 Mrs. Ward; lawyer

Riverson, the new notable from a = distance;=20 next the belle of the

village, followed by a troop of = lawn-clad and=20 ribbon-decked young heart-

breakers; then all the young clerks = in town=20 in a body--for they had

stood in the vestibule sucking = their=20 cane-heads, a circling wall of

oiled and simpering admirers, till = the last=20 girl had run their gantlet;

and last of all came the Model Boy, = Willie=20 Mufferson, taking as heedful

care of his mother as if she were = cut glass.=20 He always brought his

mother to church, and was the pride = of all=20 the matrons. The boys all

hated him, he was so good. And = besides, he=20 had been "thrown up to them"

so much. His white handkerchief was = hanging=20 out of his pocket behind,

as usual on Sundays--accidentally. = Tom had no=20 handkerchief, and he

looked upon boys who had as = snobs.

 

The congregation being fully = assembled, now,=20 the bell rang once more,

to warn laggards and stragglers, = and then a=20 solemn hush fell upon the

church which was only broken by the = tittering=20 and whispering of the

choir in the gallery. The choir = always=20 tittered and whispered all

through service. There was once a = church=20 choir that was not ill-bred,

but I have forgotten where it was, = now. It=20 was a great many years ago,

and I can scarcely remember = anything about=20 it, but I think it was in

some foreign country.

 

The minister gave out the hymn, and = read it=20 through with a relish, in

a peculiar style which was much = admired in=20 that part of the country.

His voice began on a medium key and = climbed=20 steadily up till it reached

a certain point, where it bore with = strong=20 emphasis upon the topmost

word and then plunged down as if = from a=20 spring-board:

 

  Shall I be car-ri-ed toe the skies, = on=20 flow'ry BEDS of ease,

 

  Whilst others fight to win the = prize, and=20 sail thro' BLOODY seas?

 

He was regarded as a wonderful = reader. At=20 church "sociables" he was

always called upon to read poetry; = and when=20 he was through, the ladies

would lift up their hands and let = them fall=20 helplessly in their laps,

and "wall" their eyes, and shake = their heads,=20 as much as to say, "Words

cannot express it; it is too = beautiful, TOO=20 beautiful for this mortal

earth."

 

After the hymn had been sung, the = Rev. Mr.=20 Sprague turned himself into

a bulletin-board, and read off = "notices" of=20 meetings and societies and

things till it seemed that the list = would=20 stretch out to the crack of

doom--a queer custom which is still = kept up=20 in America, even in cities,

away here in this age of abundant = newspapers.=20 Often, the less there is

to justify a traditional custom, = the harder=20 it is to get rid of it.

 

And now the minister prayed. A = good, generous=20 prayer it was, and went

into details: it pleaded for the = church, and=20 the little children of the

church; for the other churches of = the=20 village; for the village itself;

for the county; for the State; for = the State=20 officers; for the United

States; for the churches of the = United=20 States; for Congress; for the

President; for the officers of the=20 Government; for poor sailors, tossed

by stormy seas; for the oppressed = millions=20 groaning under the heel of

European monarchies and Oriental = despotisms;=20 for such as have the light

and the good tidings, and yet have = not eyes=20 to see nor ears to hear

withal; for the heathen in the far = islands of=20 the sea; and closed with

a supplication that the words he = was about to=20 speak might find grace

and favor, and be as seed sown in = fertile=20 ground, yielding in time a

grateful harvest of good. Amen.

 

There was a rustling of dresses, = and the=20 standing congregation sat

down. The boy whose history this = book relates=20 did not enjoy the prayer,

he only endured it--if he even did = that much.=20 He was restive all

through it; he kept tally of the = details of=20 the prayer, unconsciously--

for he was not listening, but he = knew the=20 ground of old, and the

clergyman's regular route over = it--and when a=20 little trifle of new

matter was interlarded, his ear = detected it=20 and his whole nature

resented it; he considered = additions unfair,=20 and scoundrelly. In the

midst of the prayer a fly had lit = on the back=20 of the pew in front of

him and tortured his spirit by = calmly rubbing=20 its hands together,

embracing its head with its arms, = and=20 polishing it so vigorously that

it seemed to almost part company = with the=20 body, and the slender thread

of a neck was exposed to view; = scraping its=20 wings with its hind legs

and smoothing them to its body as = if they had=20 been coat-tails; going

through its whole toilet as = tranquilly as if=20 it knew it was perfectly

safe. As indeed it was; for as = sorely as=20 Tom's hands itched to grab for

it they did not dare--he believed = his soul=20 would be instantly destroyed

if he did such a thing while the = prayer was=20 going on. But with the

closing sentence his hand began to = curve and=20 steal forward; and the

instant the "Amen" was out the fly = was a=20 prisoner of war. His aunt

detected the act and made him let = it go.

 

The minister gave out his text and = droned=20 along monotonously through

an argument that was so prosy that = many a=20 head by and by began to nod--

and yet it was an argument that = dealt in=20 limitless fire and brimstone

and thinned the predestined elect = down to a=20 company so small as to be

hardly worth the saving. Tom = counted the=20 pages of the sermon; after

church he always knew how many = pages there=20 had been, but he seldom knew

anything else about the discourse. = However,=20 this time he was really

interested for a little while. The = minister=20 made a grand and moving

picture of the assembling together = of the=20 world's hosts at the

millennium when the lion and the = lamb should=20 lie down together and a

little child should lead them. But = the=20 pathos, the lesson, the moral of

the great spectacle were lost upon = the boy;=20 he only thought of the

conspicuousness of the principal = character=20 before the on-looking

nations; his face lit with the = thought, and=20 he said to himself that he

wished he could be that child, if = it was a=20 tame lion.

 

Now he lapsed into suffering again, = as the=20 dry argument was resumed.

Presently he bethought him of a = treasure he=20 had and got it out. It was

a large black beetle with = formidable jaws--a=20 "pinchbug," he called it.

It was in a percussion-cap box. The = first=20 thing the beetle did was to

take him by the finger. A natural = fillip=20 followed, the beetle went

floundering into the aisle and lit = on its=20 back, and the hurt finger

went into the boy's mouth. The = beetle lay=20 there working its helpless

legs, unable to turn over. Tom eyed = it, and=20 longed for it; but it was

safe out of his reach. Other people = uninterested in the sermon found

relief in the beetle, and they eyed = it too.=20 Presently a vagrant poodle

dog came idling along, sad at = heart, lazy=20 with the summer softness and

the quiet, weary of captivity, = sighing for=20 change. He spied the beetle;

the drooping tail lifted and = wagged. He=20 surveyed the prize; walked

around it; smelt at it from a safe = distance;=20 walked around it again;

grew bolder, and took a closer = smell; then=20 lifted his lip and made a

gingerly snatch at it, just missing = it; made=20 another, and another;

began to enjoy the diversion; = subsided to his=20 stomach with the beetle

between his paws, and continued his = experiments; grew weary at last,

and then indifferent and = absent-minded. His=20 head nodded, and little by

little his chin descended and = touched the=20 enemy, who seized it. There

was a sharp yelp, a flirt of the = poodle's=20 head, and the beetle fell a

couple of yards away, and lit on = its back=20 once more. The neighboring

spectators shook with a gentle = inward joy,=20 several faces went behind

fans and handkerchiefs, and Tom was = entirely=20 happy. The dog looked

foolish, and probably felt so; but = there was=20 resentment in his heart,

too, and a craving for revenge. So = he went to=20 the beetle and began a

wary attack on it again; jumping at = it from=20 every point of a circle,

lighting with his fore-paws within = an inch of=20 the creature, making even

closer snatches at it with his = teeth, and=20 jerking his head till his

ears flapped again. But he grew = tired once=20 more, after a while; tried

to amuse himself with a fly but = found no=20 relief; followed an ant

around, with his nose close to the = floor, and=20 quickly wearied of that;

yawned, sighed, forgot the beetle = entirely,=20 and sat down on it. Then

there was a wild yelp of agony and = the poodle=20 went sailing up the

aisle; the yelps continued, and so = did the=20 dog; he crossed the house in

front of the altar; he flew down = the other=20 aisle; he crossed before the

doors; he clamored up the = home-stretch; his=20 anguish grew with his

progress, till presently he was but = a woolly=20 comet moving in its orbit

with the gleam and the speed of = light. At=20 last the frantic sufferer

sheered from its course, and sprang = into its=20 master's lap; he flung it

out of the window, and the voice of = distress=20 quickly thinned away and

died in the distance.

 

By this time the whole church was = red-faced=20 and suffocating with

suppressed laughter, and the sermon = had come=20 to a dead standstill. The

discourse was resumed presently, = but it went=20 lame and halting, all

possibility of impressiveness being = at an=20 end; for even the gravest

sentiments were constantly being = received=20 with a smothered burst of

unholy mirth, under cover of some = remote=20 pew-back, as if the poor

parson had said a rarely facetious = thing. It=20 was a genuine relief to

the whole congregation when the = ordeal was=20 over and the benediction

pronounced.

 

Tom Sawyer went home quite = cheerful, thinking=20 to himself that there

was some satisfaction about divine = service=20 when there was a bit of

variety in it. He had but one = marring=20 thought; he was willing that the

dog should play with his pinchbug, = but he did=20 not think it was upright

in him to carry it off.

 

 

CHAPTER VI

 

MONDAY morning found Tom Sawyer = miserable.=20 Monday morning always found

him so--because it began another = week's slow=20 suffering in school. He

generally began that day with = wishing he had=20 had no intervening

holiday, it made the going into = captivity and=20 fetters again so much

more odious.

 

Tom lay thinking. Presently it = occurred to=20 him that he wished he was

sick; then he could stay home from = school.=20 Here was a vague

possibility. He canvassed his = system. No=20 ailment was found, and he

investigated again. This time he = thought he=20 could detect colicky

symptoms, and he began to encourage = them with=20 considerable hope. But

they soon grew feeble, and = presently died=20 wholly away. He reflected

further. Suddenly he discovered = something.=20 One of his upper front teeth

was loose. This was lucky; he was = about to=20 begin to groan, as a

"starter," as he called it, when it = occurred=20 to him that if he came

into court with that argument, his = aunt would=20 pull it out, and that

would hurt. So he thought he would = hold the=20 tooth in reserve for the

present, and seek further. Nothing = offered=20 for some little time, and

then he remembered hearing the = doctor tell=20 about a certain thing that

laid up a patient for two or three = weeks and=20 threatened to make him

lose a finger. So the boy eagerly = drew his=20 sore toe from under the

sheet and held it up for = inspection. But now=20 he did not know the

necessary symptoms. However, it = seemed well=20 worth while to chance it,

so he fell to groaning with = considerable=20 spirit.

 

But Sid slept on unconscious.

 

Tom groaned louder, and fancied = that he began=20 to feel pain in the toe.

 

No result from Sid.

 

Tom was panting with his exertions = by this=20 time. He took a rest and

then swelled himself up and fetched = a=20 succession of admirable groans.

 

Sid snored on.

 

Tom was aggravated. He said, "Sid, = Sid!" and=20 shook him. This course

worked well, and Tom began to groan = again.=20 Sid yawned, stretched, then

brought himself up on his elbow = with a snort,=20 and began to stare at

Tom. Tom went on groaning. Sid = said:

 

"Tom! Say, Tom!" [No response.] = "Here, Tom!=20 TOM! What is the matter,

Tom?" And he shook him and looked = in his face=20 anxiously.

 

Tom moaned out:

 

"Oh, don't, Sid. Don't joggle = me."

 

"Why, what's the matter, Tom? I must = call=20 auntie."

 

"No--never mind. It'll be over by = and by,=20 maybe. Don't call anybody."

 

"But I must! DON'T groan so, Tom, = it's awful.=20 How long you been this

way?"

 

"Hours. Ouch! Oh, don't stir so, = Sid, you'll=20 kill me."

 

"Tom, why didn't you wake me sooner? = Oh, Tom,=20 DON'T! It makes my

flesh crawl to hear you. Tom, what = is the=20 matter?"

 

"I forgive you everything, Sid. = [Groan.]=20 Everything you've ever done

to me. When I'm gone--"

 

"Oh, Tom, you ain't dying, are you? = Don't,=20 Tom--oh, don't. Maybe--"

 

"I forgive everybody, Sid. [Groan.] = Tell 'em=20 so, Sid. And Sid, you

give my window-sash and my cat with = one eye=20 to that new girl that's

come to town, and tell her--"

 

But Sid had snatched his clothes = and gone.=20 Tom was suffering in

reality, now, so handsomely was his = imagination working, and so his

groans had gathered quite a genuine = tone.

 

Sid flew down-stairs and said:

 

"Oh, Aunt Polly, come! Tom's = dying!"

 

"Dying!"

 

"Yes'm. Don't wait--come quick!"

 

"Rubbage! I don't believe it!"

 

But she fled up-stairs, = nevertheless, with=20 Sid and Mary at her heels.

And her face grew white, too, and = her lip=20 trembled. When she reached

the bedside she gasped out:

 

"You, Tom! Tom, what's the matter = with=20 you?"

 

"Oh, auntie, I'm--"

 

"What's the matter with you--what is = the=20 matter with you, child?"

 

"Oh, auntie, my sore toe's = mortified!"

 

The old lady sank down into a chair = and=20 laughed a little, then cried a

little, then did both together. = This restored=20 her and she said:

 

"Tom, what a turn you did give me. = Now you=20 shut up that nonsense and

climb out of this."

 

The groans ceased and the pain = vanished from=20 the toe. The boy felt a

little foolish, and he said:

 

"Aunt Polly, it SEEMED mortified, = and it hurt=20 so I never minded my

tooth at all."

 

"Your tooth, indeed! What's the = matter with=20 your tooth?"

 

"One of them's loose, and it aches = perfectly=20 awful."

 

"There, there, now, don't begin that = groaning=20 again. Open your mouth.

Well--your tooth IS loose, but = you're not=20 going to die about that.

Mary, get me a silk thread, and a = chunk of=20 fire out of the kitchen."

 

Tom said:

 

"Oh, please, auntie, don't pull it = out. It=20 don't hurt any more. I wish

I may never stir if it does. Please = don't,=20 auntie. I don't want to stay

home from school."

 

"Oh, you don't, don't you? So all = this row was=20 because you thought

you'd get to stay home from school = and go=20 a-fishing? Tom, Tom, I love

you so, and you seem to try every = way you can=20 to break my old heart

with your outrageousness." By this = time the=20 dental instruments were

ready. The old lady made one end of = the silk=20 thread fast to Tom's tooth

with a loop and tied the other to = the=20 bedpost. Then she seized the

chunk of fire and suddenly thrust = it almost=20 into the boy's face. The

tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, = now.

 

But all trials bring their = compensations. As=20 Tom wended to school

after breakfast, he was the envy of = every boy=20 he met because the gap in

his upper row of teeth enabled him = to=20 expectorate in a new and

admirable way. He gathered quite a = following=20 of lads interested in the

exhibition; and one that had cut = his finger=20 and had been a centre of

fascination and homage up to this = time, now=20 found himself suddenly

without an adherent, and shorn of = his glory.=20 His heart was heavy, and

he said with a disdain which he did = not feel=20 that it wasn't anything to

spit like Tom Sawyer; but another = boy said,=20 "Sour grapes!" and he

wandered away a dismantled = hero.

 

Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile = pariah of=20 the village, Huckleberry

Finn, son of the town drunkard. = Huckleberry=20 was cordially hated and

dreaded by all the mothers of the = town,=20 because he was idle and lawless

and vulgar and bad--and because all = their=20 children admired him so, and

delighted in his forbidden society, = and=20 wished they dared to be like

him. Tom was like the rest of the = respectable=20 boys, in that he envied

Huckleberry his gaudy outcast = condition, and=20 was under strict orders

not to play with him. So he played = with him=20 every time he got a chance.

Huckleberry was always dressed in = the=20 cast-off clothes of full-grown

men, and they were in perennial = bloom and=20 fluttering with rags. His hat

was a vast ruin with a wide = crescent lopped=20 out of its brim; his coat,

when he wore one, hung nearly to = his heels=20 and had the rearward buttons

far down the back; but one = suspender=20 supported his trousers; the seat

of the trousers bagged low and = contained=20 nothing, the fringed legs

dragged in the dirt when not rolled = up.

 

Huckleberry came and went, at his = own free=20 will. He slept on doorsteps

in fine weather and in empty = hogsheads in=20 wet; he did not have to go to

school or to church, or call any = being master=20 or obey anybody; he could

go fishing or swimming when and = where he=20 chose, and stay as long as it

suited him; nobody forbade him to = fight; he=20 could sit up as late as he

pleased; he was always the first = boy that=20 went barefoot in the spring

and the last to resume leather in = the fall;=20 he never had to wash, nor

put on clean clothes; he could = swear=20 wonderfully. In a word, everything

that goes to make life precious = that boy had.=20 So thought every

harassed, hampered, respectable boy = in St.=20 Petersburg.

 

Tom hailed the romantic = outcast:

 

"Hello, Huckleberry!"

 

"Hello yourself, and see how you = like it."

 

"What's that you got?"

 

"Dead cat."

 

"Lemme see him, Huck. My, he's = pretty stiff.=20 Where'd you get him ?"

 

"Bought him off'n a boy."

 

"What did you give?"

 

"I give a blue ticket and a bladder = that I got=20 at the slaughter-house."

 

"Where'd you get the blue = ticket?"

 

"Bought it off'n Ben Rogers two = weeks ago for=20 a hoop-stick."

 

"Say--what is dead cats good for, = Huck?"

 

"Good for? Cure warts with."

 

"No! Is that so? I know something = that's=20 better."

 

"I bet you don't. What is it?"

 

"Why, spunk-water."

 

"Spunk-water! I wouldn't give a dern = for=20 spunk-water."

 

"You wouldn't, wouldn't you? D'you = ever try=20 it?"

 

"No, I hain't. But Bob Tanner = did."

 

"Who told you so!"

 

"Why, he told Jeff Thatcher, and = Jeff told=20 Johnny Baker, and Johnny

told Jim Hollis, and Jim told Ben = Rogers, and=20 Ben told a nigger, and

the nigger told me. There now!"

 

"Well, what of it? They'll all lie. = Leastways=20 all but the nigger. I

don't know HIM. But I never see a = nigger that=20 WOULDN'T lie. Shucks! Now

you tell me how Bob Tanner done it, = Huck."

 

"Why, he took and dipped his hand in = a rotten=20 stump where the rain-

water was."

 

"In the daytime?"

 

"Certainly."

 

"With his face to the stump?"

 

"Yes. Least I reckon so."

 

"Did he say anything?"

 

"I don't reckon he did. I don't = know."

 

"Aha! Talk about trying to cure = warts with=20 spunk-water such a blame

fool way as that! Why, that ain't = a-going to=20 do any good. You got to go

all by yourself, to the middle of = the woods,=20 where you know there's a

spunk-water stump, and just as it's = midnight=20 you back up against the

stump and jam your hand in and = say:

 

  'Barley-corn, barley-corn, = injun-meal=20 shorts,

   Spunk-water, spunk-water, swaller = these=20 warts,'

 

and then walk away quick, eleven = steps, with=20 your eyes shut, and then

turn around three times and walk = home without=20 speaking to anybody.

Because if you speak the charm's = busted."

 

"Well, that sounds like a good way; = but that=20 ain't the way Bob Tanner

done."

 

"No, sir, you can bet he didn't, = becuz he's=20 the wartiest boy in this

town; and he wouldn't have a wart = on him if=20 he'd knowed how to work

spunk-water. I've took off = thousands of warts=20 off of my hands that way,

Huck. I play with frogs so much = that I've=20 always got considerable many

warts. Sometimes I take 'em off = with a=20 bean."

 

"Yes, bean's good. I've done = that."

 

"Have you? What's your way?"

 

"You take and split the bean, and = cut the wart=20 so as to get some

blood, and then you put the blood = on one=20 piece of the bean and take and

dig a hole and bury it 'bout = midnight at the=20 crossroads in the dark of

the moon, and then you burn up the = rest of=20 the bean. You see that piece

that's got the blood on it will = keep drawing=20 and drawing, trying to

fetch the other piece to it, and so = that=20 helps the blood to draw the

wart, and pretty soon off she = comes."

 

"Yes, that's it, Huck--that's it; = though when=20 you're burying it if you

say 'Down bean; off wart; come no = more to=20 bother me!' it's better.

That's the way Joe Harper does, and = he's been=20 nearly to Coonville and

most everywheres. But say--how do = you cure=20 'em with dead cats?"

 

"Why, you take your cat and go and = get in the=20 graveyard 'long about

midnight when somebody that was = wicked has=20 been buried; and when it's

midnight a devil will come, or = maybe two or=20 three, but you can't see

'em, you can only hear something = like the=20 wind, or maybe hear 'em talk;

and when they're taking that feller = away, you=20 heave your cat after 'em

and say, 'Devil follow corpse, cat = follow=20 devil, warts follow cat, I'm

done with ye!' That'll fetch ANY = wart."

 

"Sounds right. D'you ever try it, = Huck?"

 

"No, but old Mother Hopkins told = me."

 

"Well, I reckon it's so, then. Becuz = they say=20 she's a witch."

 

"Say! Why, Tom, I KNOW she is. She = witched=20 pap. Pap says so his own

self. He come along one day, and he = see she=20 was a-witching him, so he

took up a rock, and if she hadn't = dodged,=20 he'd a got her. Well, that

very night he rolled off'n a shed = wher' he=20 was a layin drunk, and broke

his arm."

 

"Why, that's awful. How did he know = she was=20 a-witching him?"

 

"Lord, pap can tell, easy. Pap says = when they=20 keep looking at you

right stiddy, they're a-witching = you.=20 Specially if they mumble. Becuz

when they mumble they're saying the = Lord's=20 Prayer backards."

 

"Say, Hucky, when you going to try = the=20 cat?"

 

"To-night. I reckon they'll come = after old=20 Hoss Williams to-night."

 

"But they buried him Saturday. = Didn't they get=20 him Saturday night?"

 

"Why, how you talk! How could their = charms=20 work till midnight?--and

THEN it's Sunday. Devils don't = slosh around=20 much of a Sunday, I don't

reckon."

 

"I never thought of that. That's so. = Lemme go=20 with you?"

 

"Of course--if you ain't afeard."

 

"Afeard! 'Tain't likely. Will you = meow?"

 

"Yes--and you meow back, if you get = a chance.=20 Last time, you kep' me a-

meowing around till old Hays went = to throwing=20 rocks at me and says

'Dern that cat!' and so I hove a = brick through=20 his window--but don't

you tell."

 

"I won't. I couldn't meow that = night, becuz=20 auntie was watching me,

but I'll meow this time. = Say--what's=20 that?"

 

"Nothing but a tick."

 

"Where'd you get him?"

 

"Out in the woods."

 

"What'll you take for him?"

 

"I don't know. I don't want to sell = him."

 

"All right. It's a mighty small = tick,=20 anyway."

 

"Oh, anybody can run a tick down = that don't=20 belong to them. I'm

satisfied with it. It's a good = enough tick=20 for me."

 

"Sho, there's ticks a plenty. I = could have a=20 thousand of 'em if I

wanted to."

 

"Well, why don't you? Becuz you know = mighty=20 well you can't. This is a

pretty early tick, I reckon. It's = the first=20 one I've seen this year."

 

"Say, Huck--I'll give you my tooth = for=20 him."

 

"Less see it."

 

Tom got out a bit of paper and = carefully=20 unrolled it. Huckleberry

viewed it wistfully. The temptation = was very=20 strong. At last he said:

 

"Is it genuwyne?"

 

Tom lifted his lip and showed the=20 vacancy.

 

"Well, all right," said Huckleberry, = "it's a=20 trade."

 

Tom enclosed the tick in the = percussion-cap=20 box that had lately been

the pinchbug's prison, and the boys = separated, each feeling wealthier

than before.

 

When Tom reached the little = isolated frame=20 schoolhouse, he strode in

briskly, with the manner of one who = had come=20 with all honest speed. He

hung his hat on a peg and flung = himself into=20 his seat with business-

like alacrity. The master, throned = on high in=20 his great splint-bottom

arm-chair, was dozing, lulled by = the drowsy=20 hum of study. The

interruption roused him.

 

"Thomas Sawyer!"

 

Tom knew that when his name was = pronounced in=20 full, it meant trouble.

 

"Sir!"

 

"Come up here. Now, sir, why are you = late=20 again, as usual?"

 

Tom was about to take refuge in a = lie, when=20 he saw two long tails of

yellow hair hanging down a back = that he=20 recognized by the electric

sympathy of love; and by that form = was THE=20 ONLY VACANT PLACE on the

girls' side of the schoolhouse. He = instantly=20 said:

 

"I STOPPED TO TALK WITH HUCKLEBERRY = FINN!"

 

The master's pulse stood still, and = he stared=20 helplessly. The buzz of

study ceased. The pupils wondered = if this=20 foolhardy boy had lost his

mind. The master said:

 

"You--you did what?"

 

"Stopped to talk with Huckleberry = Finn."

 

There was no mistaking the = words.

 

"Thomas Sawyer, this is the most = astounding=20 confession I have ever

listened to. No mere ferule will = answer for=20 this offence. Take off your

jacket."

 

The master's arm performed until it = was tired=20 and the stock of

switches notably diminished. Then = the order=20 followed:

 

"Now, sir, go and sit with the = girls! And let=20 this be a warning to you."

 

The titter that rippled around the = room=20 appeared to abash the boy, but

in reality that result was caused = rather more=20 by his worshipful awe of

his unknown idol and the dread = pleasure that=20 lay in his high good

fortune. He sat down upon the end = of the pine=20 bench and the girl

hitched herself away from him with = a toss of=20 her head. Nudges and winks

and whispers traversed the room, = but Tom sat=20 still, with his arms upon

the long, low desk before him, and = seemed to=20 study his book.

 

By and by attention ceased from = him, and the=20 accustomed school murmur

rose upon the dull air once more. = Presently=20 the boy began to steal

furtive glances at the girl. She = observed it,=20 "made a mouth" at him and

gave him the back of her head for = the space=20 of a minute. When she

cautiously faced around again, a = peach lay=20 before her. She thrust it

away. Tom gently put it back. She = thrust it=20 away again, but with less

animosity. Tom patiently returned = it to its=20 place. Then she let it

remain. Tom scrawled on his slate, = "Please=20 take it--I got more." The

girl glanced at the words, but made = no sign.=20 Now the boy began to draw

something on the slate, hiding his = work with=20 his left hand. For a time

the girl refused to notice; but her = human=20 curiosity presently began to

manifest itself by hardly = perceptible signs.=20 The boy worked on,

apparently unconscious. The girl = made a sort=20 of noncommittal attempt to

see, but the boy did not betray = that he was=20 aware of it. At last she

gave in and hesitatingly = whispered:

 

"Let me see it."

 

Tom partly uncovered a dismal = caricature of a=20 house with two gable

ends to it and a corkscrew of smoke = issuing=20 from the chimney. Then the

girl's interest began to fasten = itself upon=20 the work and she forgot

everything else. When it was = finished, she=20 gazed a moment, then

whispered:

 

"It's nice--make a man."

 

The artist erected a man in the = front yard,=20 that resembled a derrick.

He could have stepped over the = house; but the=20 girl was not

hypercritical; she was satisfied = with the=20 monster, and whispered:

 

"It's a beautiful man--now make me = coming=20 along."

 

Tom drew an hour-glass with a full = moon and=20 straw limbs to it and

armed the spreading fingers with a = portentous=20 fan. The girl said:

 

"It's ever so nice--I wish I could = draw."

 

"It's easy," whispered Tom, "I'll = learn=20 you."

 

"Oh, will you? When?"

 

"At noon. Do you go home to = dinner?"

 

"I'll stay if you will."

 

"Good--that's a whack. What's your = name?"

 

"Becky Thatcher. What's yours? Oh, I = know.=20 It's Thomas Sawyer."

 

"That's the name they lick me by. = I'm Tom when=20 I'm good. You call me

Tom, will you?"

 

"Yes."

 

Now Tom began to scrawl something = on the=20 slate, hiding the words from

the girl. But she was not backward = this time.=20 She begged to see. Tom

said:

 

"Oh, it ain't anything."

 

"Yes it is."

 

"No it ain't. You don't want to = see."

 

"Yes I do, indeed I do. Please let = me."

 

"You'll tell."

 

"No I won't--deed and deed and = double deed=20 won't."

 

"You won't tell anybody at all? = Ever, as long=20 as you live?"

 

"No, I won't ever tell ANYbody. Now = let=20 me."

 

"Oh, YOU don't want to see!"

 

"Now that you treat me so, I WILL = see." And=20 she put her small hand

upon his and a little scuffle = ensued, Tom=20 pretending to resist in

earnest but letting his hand slip = by degrees=20 till these words were

revealed: "I LOVE YOU."

 

"Oh, you bad thing!" And she hit his = hand a=20 smart rap, but reddened

and looked pleased, = nevertheless.

 

Just at this juncture the boy felt = a slow,=20 fateful grip closing on his

ear, and a steady lifting impulse. = In that=20 vise he was borne across the

house and deposited in his own = seat, under a=20 peppering fire of giggles

from the whole school. Then the = master stood=20 over him during a few

awful moments, and finally moved = away to his=20 throne without saying a

word. But although Tom's ear = tingled, his=20 heart was jubilant.

 

As the school quieted down Tom made = an honest=20 effort to study, but the

turmoil within him was too great. = In turn he=20 took his place in the

reading class and made a botch of = it; then in=20 the geography class and

turned lakes into mountains, = mountains into=20 rivers, and rivers into

continents, till chaos was come = again; then=20 in the spelling class, and

got "turned down," by a succession = of mere=20 baby words, till he brought

up at the foot and yielded up the = pewter=20 medal which he had worn with

ostentation for months.

 

 

CHAPTER VII

 

THE harder Tom tried to fasten his = mind on=20 his book, the more his

ideas wandered. So at last, with a = sigh and a=20 yawn, he gave it up. It

seemed to him that the noon recess = would=20 never come. The air was

utterly dead. There was not a = breath=20 stirring. It was the sleepiest of

sleepy days. The drowsing murmur of = the five=20 and twenty studying

scholars soothed the soul like the = spell that=20 is in the murmur of bees.

Away off in the flaming sunshine, = Cardiff=20 Hill lifted its soft green

sides through a shimmering veil of = heat,=20 tinted with the purple of

distance; a few birds floated on = lazy wing=20 high in the air; no other

living thing was visible but some = cows, and=20 they were asleep. Tom's

heart ached to be free, or else to = have=20 something of interest to do to

pass the dreary time. His hand = wandered into=20 his pocket and his face

lit up with a glow of gratitude = that was=20 prayer, though he did not know

it. Then furtively the = percussion-cap box=20 came out. He released the

tick and put him on the long flat = desk. The=20 creature probably glowed

with a gratitude that amounted to = prayer,=20 too, at this moment, but it

was premature: for when he started = thankfully=20 to travel off, Tom turned

him aside with a pin and made him = take a new=20 direction.

 

Tom's bosom friend sat next him, = suffering=20 just as Tom had been, and

now he was deeply and gratefully = interested=20 in this entertainment in an

instant. This bosom friend was Joe = Harper.=20 The two boys were sworn

friends all the week, and embattled = enemies=20 on Saturdays. Joe took a

pin out of his lapel and began to = assist in=20 exercising the prisoner.

The sport grew in interest = momently. Soon Tom=20 said that they were

interfering with each other, and = neither=20 getting the fullest benefit of

the tick. So he put Joe's slate on = the desk=20 and drew a line down the

middle of it from top to = bottom.

 

"Now," said he, "as long as he is on = your side=20 you can stir him up and

I'll let him alone; but if you let = him get=20 away and get on my side,

you're to leave him alone as long = as I can=20 keep him from crossing over."

 

"All right, go ahead; start him = up."

 

The tick escaped from Tom, = presently, and=20 crossed the equator. Joe

harassed him awhile, and then he = got away and=20 crossed back again. This

change of base occurred often. = While one boy=20 was worrying the tick with

absorbing interest, the other would = look on=20 with interest as strong,

the two heads bowed together over = the slate,=20 and the two souls dead to

all things else. At last luck = seemed to=20 settle and abide with Joe. The

tick tried this, that, and the = other course,=20 and got as excited and as

anxious as the boys themselves, but = time and=20 again just as he would

have victory in his very grasp, so = to speak,=20 and Tom's fingers would be

twitching to begin, Joe's pin would = deftly=20 head him off, and keep

possession. At last Tom could stand = it no=20 longer. The temptation was

too strong. So he reached out and = lent a hand=20 with his pin. Joe was

angry in a moment. Said he:

 

"Tom, you let him alone."

 

"I only just want to stir him up a = little,=20 Joe."

 

"No, sir, it ain't fair; you just = let him=20 alone."

 

"Blame it, I ain't going to stir him = much."

 

"Let him alone, I tell you."

 

"I won't!"

 

"You shall--he's on my side of the = line."

 

"Look here, Joe Harper, whose is = that=20 tick?"

 

"I don't care whose tick he is--he's = on my=20 side of the line, and you

sha'n't touch him."

 

"Well, I'll just bet I will, though. = He's my=20 tick and I'll do what I

blame please with him, or die!"

 

A tremendous whack came down on = Tom's=20 shoulders, and its duplicate on

Joe's; and for the space of two = minutes the=20 dust continued to fly from

the two jackets and the whole = school to enjoy=20 it. The boys had been too

absorbed to notice the hush that = had stolen=20 upon the school awhile

before when the master came = tiptoeing down=20 the room and stood over

them. He had contemplated a good = part of the=20 performance before he

contributed his bit of variety to = it.

 

When school broke up at noon, Tom = flew to=20 Becky Thatcher, and

whispered in her ear:

 

"Put on your bonnet and let on = you're going=20 home; and when you get to

the corner, give the rest of 'em = the slip,=20 and turn down through the

lane and come back. I'll go the = other way and=20 come it over 'em the same

way."

 

So the one went off with one group = of=20 scholars, and the other with

another. In a little while the two = met at the=20 bottom of the lane, and

when they reached the school they = had it all=20 to themselves. Then they

sat together, with a slate before = them, and=20 Tom gave Becky the pencil

and held her hand in his, guiding = it, and so=20 created another surprising

house. When the interest in art = began to=20 wane, the two fell to talking.

Tom was swimming in bliss. He = said:

 

"Do you love rats?"

 

"No! I hate them!"

 

"Well, I do, too--LIVE ones. But I = mean dead=20 ones, to swing round your

head with a string."

 

"No, I don't care for rats much, = anyway. What=20 I like is chewing-gum."

 

"Oh, I should say so! I wish I had = some=20 now."

 

"Do you? I've got some. I'll let you = chew it=20 awhile, but you must give

it back to me."

 

That was agreeable, so they chewed = it turn=20 about, and dangled their

legs against the bench in excess of = contentment.

 

"Was you ever at a circus?" said = Tom.

 

"Yes, and my pa's going to take me = again some=20 time, if I'm good."

 

"I been to the circus three or four=20 times--lots of times. Church ain't

shucks to a circus. There's things = going on=20 at a circus all the time.

I'm going to be a clown in a circus = when I=20 grow up."

 

"Oh, are you! That will be nice. = They're so=20 lovely, all spotted up."

 

"Yes, that's so. And they get = slathers of=20 money--most a dollar a day,

Ben Rogers says. Say, Becky, was = you ever=20 engaged?"

 

"What's that?"

 

"Why, engaged to be married."

 

"No."

 

"Would you like to?"

 

"I reckon so. I don't know. What is = it=20 like?"

 

"Like? Why it ain't like anything. = You only=20 just tell a boy you won't

ever have anybody but him, ever = ever ever,=20 and then you kiss and that's

all. Anybody can do it."

 

"Kiss? What do you kiss for?"

 

"Why, that, you know, is to--well, = they always=20 do that."

 

"Everybody?"

 

"Why, yes, everybody that's in love = with each=20 other. Do you remember

what I wrote on the slate?"

 

"Ye--yes."

 

"What was it?"

 

"I sha'n't tell you."

 

"Shall I tell YOU?"

 

"Ye--yes--but some other time."

 

"No, now."

 

"No, not now--to-morrow."

 

"Oh, no, NOW. Please, Becky--I'll = whisper it,=20 I'll whisper it ever so

easy."

 

Becky hesitating, Tom took silence = for=20 consent, and passed his arm

about her waist and whispered the = tale ever=20 so softly, with his mouth

close to her ear. And then he = added:

 

"Now you whisper it to me--just the = same."

 

She resisted, for a while, and then = said:

 

"You turn your face away so you = can't see, and=20 then I will. But you

mustn't ever tell anybody--WILL = you, Tom? Now=20 you won't, WILL you?"

 

"No, indeed, indeed I won't. Now, = Becky."

 

He turned his face away. She bent = timidly=20 around till her breath

stirred his curls and whispered,=20 "I--love--you!"

 

Then she sprang away and ran around = and=20 around the desks and benches,

with Tom after her, and took refuge = in a=20 corner at last, with her

little white apron to her face. Tom = clasped=20 her about her neck and

pleaded:

 

"Now, Becky, it's all done--all over = but the=20 kiss. Don't you be afraid

of that--it ain't anything at all. = Please,=20 Becky." And he tugged at her

apron and the hands.

 

By and by she gave up, and let her = hands=20 drop; her face, all glowing

with the struggle, came up and = submitted. Tom=20 kissed the red lips and

said:

 

"Now it's all done, Becky. And = always after=20 this, you know, you ain't

ever to love anybody but me, and = you ain't=20 ever to marry anybody but

me, ever never and forever. Will = you?"

 

"No, I'll never love anybody but = you, Tom, and=20 I'll never marry

anybody but you--and you ain't to = ever marry=20 anybody but me, either."

 

"Certainly. Of course. That's PART = of it. And=20 always coming to school

or when we're going home, you're to = walk with=20 me, when there ain't

anybody looking--and you choose me = and I=20 choose you at parties, because

that's the way you do when you're=20 engaged."

 

"It's so nice. I never heard of it = before."

 

"Oh, it's ever so gay! Why, me and = Amy=20 Lawrence--"

 

The big eyes told Tom his blunder = and he=20 stopped, confused.

 

"Oh, Tom! Then I ain't the first = you've ever=20 been engaged to!"

 

The child began to cry. Tom = said:

 

"Oh, don't cry, Becky, I don't care = for her=20 any more."

 

"Yes, you do, Tom--you know you = do."

 

Tom tried to put his arm about her = neck, but=20 she pushed him away and

turned her face to the wall, and = went on=20 crying. Tom tried again, with

soothing words in his mouth, and = was repulsed=20 again. Then his pride was

up, and he strode away and went = outside. He=20 stood about, restless and

uneasy, for a while, glancing at = the door,=20 every now and then, hoping

she would repent and come to find = him. But=20 she did not. Then he began

to feel badly and fear that he was = in the=20 wrong. It was a hard struggle

with him to make new advances, now, = but he=20 nerved himself to it and

entered. She was still standing = back there in=20 the corner, sobbing, with

her face to the wall. Tom's heart = smote him.=20 He went to her and stood a

moment, not knowing exactly how to = proceed.=20 Then he said hesitatingly:

 

"Becky, I--I don't care for anybody = but=20 you."

 

No reply--but sobs.

 

"Becky"--pleadingly. "Becky, won't = you say=20 something?"

 

More sobs.

 

Tom got out his chiefest jewel, a = brass knob=20 from the top of an

andiron, and passed it around her = so that she=20 could see it, and said:

 

"Please, Becky, won't you take = it?"

 

She struck it to the floor. Then = Tom marched=20 out of the house and over

the hills and far away, to return = to school=20 no more that day. Presently

Becky began to suspect. She ran to = the door;=20 he was not in sight; she

flew around to the play-yard; he = was not=20 there. Then she called:

 

"Tom! Come back, Tom!"

 

She listened intently, but there = was no=20 answer. She had no companions

but silence and loneliness. So she = sat down=20 to cry again and upbraid

herself; and by this time the = scholars began=20 to gather again, and she

had to hide her griefs and still = her broken=20 heart and take up the cross

of a long, dreary, aching = afternoon, with=20 none among the strangers

about her to exchange sorrows = with.

 

 

CHAPTER VIII

 

TOM dodged hither and thither = through lanes=20 until he was well out of

the track of returning scholars, = and then=20 fell into a moody jog. He

crossed a small "branch" two or = three times,=20 because of a prevailing

juvenile superstition that to cross = water=20 baffled pursuit. Half an hour

later he was disappearing behind = the Douglas=20 mansion on the summit of

Cardiff Hill, and the schoolhouse = was hardly=20 distinguishable away off

in the valley behind him. He = entered a dense=20 wood, picked his pathless

way to the centre of it, and sat = down on a=20 mossy spot under a spreading

oak. There was not even a zephyr = stirring;=20 the dead noonday heat had

even stilled the songs of the = birds; nature=20 lay in a trance that was

broken by no sound but the = occasional far-off=20 hammering of a

woodpecker, and this seemed to = render the=20 pervading silence and sense

of loneliness the more profound. = The boy's=20 soul was steeped in

melancholy; his feelings were in = happy accord=20 with his surroundings. He

sat long with his elbows on his = knees and his=20 chin in his hands,

meditating. It seemed to him that = life was=20 but a trouble, at best, and

he more than half envied Jimmy = Hodges, so=20 lately released; it must be

very peaceful, he thought, to lie = and slumber=20 and dream forever and

ever, with the wind whispering = through the=20 trees and caressing the

grass and the flowers over the = grave, and=20 nothing to bother and grieve

about, ever any more. If he only = had a clean=20 Sunday-school record he

could be willing to go, and be done = with it=20 all. Now as to this girl.

What had he done? Nothing. He had = meant the=20 best in the world, and been

treated like a dog--like a very = dog. She=20 would be sorry some day--maybe

when it was too late. Ah, if he = could only=20 die TEMPORARILY!

 

But the elastic heart of youth = cannot be=20 compressed into one

constrained shape long at a time. = Tom=20 presently began to drift

insensibly back into the concerns = of this=20 life again. What if he turned

his back, now, and disappeared = mysteriously?=20 What if he went away--ever

so far away, into unknown countries = beyond=20 the seas--and never came

back any more! How would she feel = then! The=20 idea of being a clown

recurred to him now, only to fill = him with=20 disgust. For frivolity and

jokes and spotted tights were an = offense,=20 when they intruded themselves

upon a spirit that was exalted into = the vague=20 august realm of the

romantic. No, he would be a = soldier, and=20 return after long years, all

war-worn and illustrious. = No--better still,=20 he would join the Indians,

and hunt buffaloes and go on the = warpath in=20 the mountain ranges and the

trackless great plains of the Far = West, and=20 away in the future come

back a great chief, bristling with = feathers,=20 hideous with paint, and

prance into Sunday-school, some = drowsy summer=20 morning, with a

bloodcurdling war-whoop, and sear = the=20 eyeballs of all his companions

with unappeasable envy. But no, = there was=20 something gaudier even than

this. He would be a pirate! That = was it! NOW=20 his future lay plain

before him, and glowing with = unimaginable=20 splendor. How his name would

fill the world, and make people = shudder! How=20 gloriously he would go

plowing the dancing seas, in his = long, low,=20 black-hulled racer, the

Spirit of the Storm, with his = grisly flag=20 flying at the fore! And at

the zenith of his fame, how he = would suddenly=20 appear at the old village

and stalk into church, brown and=20 weather-beaten, in his black velvet

doublet and trunks, his great = jack-boots, his=20 crimson sash, his belt

bristling with horse-pistols, his=20 crime-rusted cutlass at his side, his

slouch hat with waving plumes, his = black flag=20 unfurled, with the skull

and crossbones on it, and hear with = swelling=20 ecstasy the whisperings,

"It's Tom Sawyer the Pirate!--the = Black=20 Avenger of the Spanish Main!"

 

Yes, it was settled; his career was = determined. He would run away from

home and enter upon it. He would = start the=20 very next morning. Therefore

he must now begin to get ready. He = would=20 collect his resources

together. He went to a rotten log = near at=20 hand and began to dig under

one end of it with his Barlow = knife. He soon=20 struck wood that sounded

hollow. He put his hand there and = uttered=20 this incantation impressively:

 

"What hasn't come here, come! What's = here,=20 stay here!"

 

Then he scraped away the dirt, and = exposed a=20 pine shingle. He took it

up and disclosed a shapely little=20 treasure-house whose bottom and sides

were of shingles. In it lay a = marble. Tom's=20 astonishment was boundless!

He scratched his head with a = perplexed air,=20 and said:

 

"Well, that beats anything!"

 

Then he tossed the marble away = pettishly, and=20 stood cogitating. The

truth was, that a superstition of = his had=20 failed, here, which he and

all his comrades had always looked = upon as=20 infallible. If you buried a

marble with certain necessary = incantations,=20 and left it alone a

fortnight, and then opened the = place with the=20 incantation he had just

used, you would find that all the = marbles you=20 had ever lost had

gathered themselves together there, = meantime,=20 no matter how widely they

had been separated. But now, this = thing had=20 actually and unquestionably

failed. Tom's whole structure of = faith was=20 shaken to its foundations.

He had many a time heard of this = thing=20 succeeding but never of its

failing before. It did not occur to = him that=20 he had tried it several

times before, himself, but could = never find=20 the hiding-places

afterward. He puzzled over the = matter some=20 time, and finally decided

that some witch had interfered and = broken the=20 charm. He thought he

would satisfy himself on that = point; so he=20 searched around till he

found a small sandy spot with a = little=20 funnel-shaped depression in it.

He laid himself down and put his = mouth close=20 to this depression and

called--

 

"Doodle-bug, doodle-bug, tell me = what I want=20 to know! Doodle-bug,

doodle-bug, tell me what I want to = know!"

 

The sand began to work, and = presently a small=20 black bug appeared for a

second and then darted under again = in a=20 fright.

 

"He dasn't tell! So it WAS a witch = that done=20 it. I just knowed it."

 

He well knew the futility of trying = to=20 contend against witches, so he

gave up discouraged. But it = occurred to him=20 that he might as well have

the marble he had just thrown away, = and=20 therefore he went and made a

patient search for it. But he could = not find=20 it. Now he went back to

his treasure-house and carefully = placed=20 himself just as he had been

standing when he tossed the marble = away; then=20 he took another marble

from his pocket and tossed it in = the same=20 way, saying:

 

"Brother, go find your brother!"

 

He watched where it stopped, and = went there=20 and looked. But it must

have fallen short or gone too far; = so he=20 tried twice more. The last

repetition was successful. The two = marbles=20 lay within a foot of each

other.

 

Just here the blast of a toy tin = trumpet came=20 faintly down the green

aisles of the forest. Tom flung off = his=20 jacket and trousers, turned a

suspender into a belt, raked away = some brush=20 behind the rotten log,

disclosing a rude bow and arrow, a = lath sword=20 and a tin trumpet, and in

a moment had seized these things = and bounded=20 away, barelegged, with

fluttering shirt. He presently = halted under a=20 great elm, blew an

answering blast, and then began to = tiptoe and=20 look warily out, this way

and that. He said cautiously--to an = imaginary=20 company:

 

"Hold, my merry men! Keep hid till I = blow."

 

Now appeared Joe Harper, as airily = clad and=20 elaborately armed as Tom.

Tom called:

 

"Hold! Who comes here into Sherwood = Forest=20 without my pass?"

 

"Guy of Guisborne wants no man's = pass. Who art=20 thou that--that--"

 

"Dares to hold such language," said = Tom,=20 prompting--for they talked

"by the book," from memory.

 

"Who art thou that dares to hold = such=20 language?"

 

"I, indeed! I am Robin Hood, as thy = caitiff=20 carcase soon shall know."

 

"Then art thou indeed that famous = outlaw?=20 Right gladly will I dispute

with thee the passes of the merry = wood. Have=20 at thee!"

 

They took their lath swords, dumped = their=20 other traps on the ground,

struck a fencing attitude, foot to = foot, and=20 began a grave, careful

combat, "two up and two down." = Presently Tom=20 said:

 

"Now, if you've got the hang, go it=20 lively!"

 

So they "went it lively," panting = and=20 perspiring with the work. By and

by Tom shouted:

 

"Fall! fall! Why don't you fall?"

 

"I sha'n't! Why don't you fall = yourself?=20 You're getting the worst of

it."

 

"Why, that ain't anything. I can't = fall; that=20 ain't the way it is in

the book. The book says, 'Then with = one=20 back-handed stroke he slew poor

Guy of Guisborne.' You're to turn = around and=20 let me hit you in the

back."

 

There was no getting around the = authorities,=20 so Joe turned, received

the whack and fell.

 

"Now," said Joe, getting up, "you = got to let=20 me kill YOU. That's fair."

 

"Why, I can't do that, it ain't in = the=20 book."

 

"Well, it's blamed mean--that's = all."

 

"Well, say, Joe, you can be Friar = Tuck or Much=20 the miller's son, and

lam me with a quarter-staff; or = I'll be the=20 Sheriff of Nottingham and

you be Robin Hood a little while = and kill=20 me."

 

This was satisfactory, and so these = adventures were carried out. Then

Tom became Robin Hood again, and = was allowed=20 by the treacherous nun to

bleed his strength away through his = neglected=20 wound. And at last Joe,

representing a whole tribe of = weeping=20 outlaws, dragged him sadly forth,

gave his bow into his feeble hands, = and Tom=20 said, "Where this arrow

falls, there bury poor Robin Hood = under the=20 greenwood tree." Then he

shot the arrow and fell back and = would have=20 died, but he lit on a

nettle and sprang up too gaily for = a=20 corpse.

 

The boys dressed themselves, hid = their=20 accoutrements, and went off

grieving that there were no outlaws = any more,=20 and wondering what modern

civilization could claim to have = done to=20 compensate for their loss.

They said they would rather be = outlaws a year=20 in Sherwood Forest than

President of the United States = forever.

 

 

CHAPTER IX

 

AT half-past nine, that night, Tom = and Sid=20 were sent to bed, as usual.

They said their prayers, and Sid = was soon=20 asleep. Tom lay awake and

waited, in restless impatience. = When it=20 seemed to him that it must be

nearly daylight, he heard the clock = strike=20 ten! This was despair. He

would have tossed and fidgeted, as = his nerves=20 demanded, but he was

afraid he might wake Sid. So he lay = still,=20 and stared up into the dark.

Everything was dismally still. By = and by, out=20 of the stillness, little,

scarcely preceptible noises began = to=20 emphasize themselves. The ticking

of the clock began to bring itself = into=20 notice. Old beams began to

crack mysteriously. The stairs = creaked=20 faintly. Evidently spirits were

abroad. A measured, muffled snore = issued from=20 Aunt Polly's chamber. And

now the tiresome chirping of a = cricket that=20 no human ingenuity could

locate, began. Next the ghastly = ticking of a=20 deathwatch in the wall at

the bed's head made Tom shudder--it = meant=20 that somebody's days were

numbered. Then the howl of a = far-off dog rose=20 on the night air, and was

answered by a fainter howl from a = remoter=20 distance. Tom was in an

agony. At last he was satisfied = that time had=20 ceased and eternity

begun; he began to doze, in spite = of himself;=20 the clock chimed eleven,

but he did not hear it. And then = there came,=20 mingling with his half-

formed dreams, a most melancholy=20 caterwauling. The raising of a

neighboring window disturbed him. A = cry of=20 "Scat! you devil!" and the

crash of an empty bottle against = the back of=20 his aunt's woodshed

brought him wide awake, and a = single minute=20 later he was dressed and

out of the window and creeping = along the roof=20 of the "ell" on all

fours. He "meow'd" with caution = once or=20 twice, as he went; then jumped

to the roof of the woodshed and = thence to the=20 ground. Huckleberry Finn

was there, with his dead cat. The = boys moved=20 off and disappeared in the

gloom. At the end of half an hour = they were=20 wading through the tall

grass of the graveyard.

 

It was a graveyard of the = old-fashioned=20 Western kind. It was on a

hill, about a mile and a half from = the=20 village. It had a crazy board

fence around it, which leaned = inward in=20 places, and outward the rest of

the time, but stood upright = nowhere. Grass=20 and weeds grew rank over the

whole cemetery. All the old graves = were=20 sunken in, there was not a

tombstone on the place; = round-topped,=20 worm-eaten boards staggered over

the graves, leaning for support and = finding=20 none. "Sacred to the memory

of" So-and-So had been painted on = them once,=20 but it could no longer

have been read, on the most of = them, now,=20 even if there had been light.

 

A faint wind moaned through the = trees, and=20 Tom feared it might be the

spirits of the dead, complaining at = being=20 disturbed. The boys talked

little, and only under their = breath, for the=20 time and the place and the

pervading solemnity and silence = oppressed=20 their spirits. They found the

sharp new heap they were seeking, = and=20 ensconced themselves within the

protection of three great elms that = grew in a=20 bunch within a few feet

of the grave.

 

Then they waited in silence for = what seemed a=20 long time. The hooting

of a distant owl was all the sound = that=20 troubled the dead stillness.

Tom's reflections grew oppressive. = He must=20 force some talk. So he said

in a whisper:

 

"Hucky, do you believe the dead = people like it=20 for us to be here?"

 

Huckleberry whispered:

 

"I wisht I knowed. It's awful solemn = like,=20 AIN'T it?"

 

"I bet it is."

 

There was a considerable pause, = while the=20 boys canvassed this matter

inwardly. Then Tom whispered:

 

"Say, Hucky--do you reckon Hoss = Williams hears=20 us talking?"

 

"O' course he does. Least his = sperrit=20 does."

 

Tom, after a pause:

 

"I wish I'd said Mister Williams. = But I never=20 meant any harm.

Everybody calls him Hoss."

 

"A body can't be too partic'lar how = they talk=20 'bout these-yer dead

people, Tom."

 

This was a damper, and conversation = died=20 again.

 

Presently Tom seized his comrade's = arm and=20 said:

 

"Sh!"

 

"What is it, Tom?" And the two clung = together=20 with beating hearts.

 

"Sh! There 'tis again! Didn't you = hear it?"

 

"I--"

 

"There! Now you hear it."

 

"Lord, Tom, they're coming! They're = coming,=20 sure. What'll we do?"

 

"I dono. Think they'll see us?"

 

"Oh, Tom, they can see in the dark, = same as=20 cats. I wisht I hadn't

come."

 

"Oh, don't be afeard. I don't = believe they'll=20 bother us. We ain't

doing any harm. If we keep = perfectly still,=20 maybe they won't notice us

at all."

 

"I'll try to, Tom, but, Lord, I'm = all of a=20 shiver."

 

"Listen!"

 

The boys bent their heads together = and=20 scarcely breathed. A muffled

sound of voices floated up from the = far end=20 of the graveyard.

 

"Look! See there!" whispered Tom. = "What is=20 it?"

 

"It's devil-fire. Oh, Tom, this is = awful."

 

Some vague figures approached = through the=20 gloom, swinging an old-

fashioned tin lantern that freckled = the=20 ground with innumerable little

spangles of light. Presently = Huckleberry=20 whispered with a shudder:

 

"It's the devils sure enough. Three = of 'em!=20 Lordy, Tom, we're goners!

Can you pray?"

 

"I'll try, but don't you be afeard. = They ain't=20 going to hurt us. 'Now

I lay me down to sleep, I--'"

 

"Sh!"

 

"What is it, Huck?"

 

"They're HUMANS! One of 'em is, = anyway. One of=20 'em's old Muff Potter's

voice."

 

"No--'tain't so, is it?"

 

"I bet I know it. Don't you stir nor = budge. He=20 ain't sharp enough to

notice us. Drunk, the same as = usual,=20 likely--blamed old rip!"

 

"All right, I'll keep still. Now = they're=20 stuck. Can't find it. Here

they come again. Now they're hot. = Cold again.=20 Hot again. Red hot!

They're p'inted right, this time. = Say, Huck,=20 I know another o' them

voices; it's Injun Joe."

 

"That's so--that murderin' = half-breed! I'd=20 druther they was devils a

dern sight. What kin they be up = to?"

 

The whisper died wholly out, now, = for the=20 three men had reached the

grave and stood within a few feet = of the=20 boys' hiding-place.

 

"Here it is," said the third voice; = and the=20 owner of it held the

lantern up and revealed the face of = young=20 Doctor Robinson.

 

Potter and Injun Joe were carrying = a=20 handbarrow with a rope and a

couple of shovels on it. They cast = down their=20 load and began to open

the grave. The doctor put the = lantern at the=20 head of the grave and came

and sat down with his back against = one of the=20 elm trees. He was so

close the boys could have touched = him.

 

"Hurry, men!" he said, in a low = voice; "the=20 moon might come out at any

moment."

 

They growled a response and went on = digging.=20 For some time there was

no noise but the grating sound of = the spades=20 discharging their freight

of mould and gravel. It was very = monotonous.=20 Finally a spade struck

upon the coffin with a dull woody = accent, and=20 within another minute or

two the men had hoisted it out on = the ground.=20 They pried off the lid

with their shovels, got out the = body and=20 dumped it rudely on the

ground. The moon drifted from = behind the=20 clouds and exposed the pallid

face. The barrow was got ready and = the corpse=20 placed on it, covered

with a blanket, and bound to its = place with=20 the rope. Potter took out a

large spring-knife and cut off the = dangling=20 end of the rope and then

said:

 

"Now the cussed thing's ready, = Sawbones, and=20 you'll just out with

another five, or here she = stays."

 

"That's the talk!" said Injun = Joe.

 

"Look here, what does this mean?" = said the=20 doctor. "You required your

pay in advance, and I've paid = you."

 

"Yes, and you done more than that," = said Injun=20 Joe, approaching the

doctor, who was now standing. "Five = years ago=20 you drove me away from

your father's kitchen one night, = when I come=20 to ask for something to

eat, and you said I warn't there = for any=20 good; and when I swore I'd get

even with you if it took a hundred = years,=20 your father had me jailed for

a vagrant. Did you think I'd = forget? The=20 Injun blood ain't in me for

nothing. And now I've GOT you, and = you got to=20 SETTLE, you know!"

 

He was threatening the doctor, with = his fist=20 in his face, by this

time. The doctor struck out = suddenly and=20 stretched the ruffian on the

ground. Potter dropped his knife, = and=20 exclaimed:

 

"Here, now, don't you hit my pard!" = and the=20 next moment he had

grappled with the doctor and the = two were=20 struggling with might and

main, trampling the grass and = tearing the=20 ground with their heels.

Injun Joe sprang to his feet, his = eyes=20 flaming with passion, snatched

up Potter's knife, and went = creeping, catlike=20 and stooping, round and

round about the combatants, seeking = an=20 opportunity. All at once the

doctor flung himself free, seized = the heavy=20 headboard of Williams'

grave and felled Potter to the = earth with=20 it--and in the same instant

the half-breed saw his chance and = drove the=20 knife to the hilt in the

young man's breast. He reeled and = fell partly=20 upon Potter, flooding him

with his blood, and in the same = moment the=20 clouds blotted out the

dreadful spectacle and the two = frightened=20 boys went speeding away in

the dark.

 

Presently, when the moon emerged = again, Injun=20 Joe was standing over

the two forms, contemplating them. = The doctor=20 murmured inarticulately,

gave a long gasp or two and was = still. The=20 half-breed muttered:

 

"THAT score is settled--damn = you."

 

Then he robbed the body. After = which he put=20 the fatal knife in

Potter's open right hand, and sat = down on the=20 dismantled coffin. Three--

four--five minutes passed, and then = Potter=20 began to stir and moan. His

hand closed upon the knife; he = raised it,=20 glanced at it, and let it

fall, with a shudder. Then he sat = up, pushing=20 the body from him, and

gazed at it, and then around him, = confusedly.=20 His eyes met Joe's.

 

"Lord, how is this, Joe?" he = said.

 

"It's a dirty business," said Joe, = without=20 moving.

 

"What did you do it for?"

 

"I! I never done it!"

 

"Look here! That kind of talk won't = wash."

 

Potter trembled and grew white.

 

"I thought I'd got sober. I'd no = business to=20 drink to-night. But it's

in my head yet--worse'n when we = started here.=20 I'm all in a muddle;

can't recollect anything of it, = hardly. Tell=20 me, Joe--HONEST, now, old

feller--did I do it? Joe, I never = meant=20 to--'pon my soul and honor, I

never meant to, Joe. Tell me how it = was, Joe.=20 Oh, it's awful--and him

so young and promising."

 

"Why, you two was scuffling, and he = fetched=20 you one with the headboard

and you fell flat; and then up you = come, all=20 reeling and staggering

like, and snatched the knife and = jammed it=20 into him, just as he fetched

you another awful clip--and here = you've laid,=20 as dead as a wedge til

now."

 

"Oh, I didn't know what I was = a-doing. I wish=20 I may die this minute if

I did. It was all on account of the = whiskey=20 and the excitement, I

reckon. I never used a weepon in my = life=20 before, Joe. I've fought, but

never with weepons. They'll all say = that.=20 Joe, don't tell! Say you

won't tell, Joe--that's a good = feller. I=20 always liked you, Joe, and

stood up for you, too. Don't you = remember?=20 You WON'T tell, WILL you,

Joe?" And the poor creature dropped = on his=20 knees before the stolid

murderer, and clasped his appealing = hands.

 

"No, you've always been fair and = square with=20 me, Muff Potter, and I

won't go back on you. There, now, = that's as=20 fair as a man can say."

 

"Oh, Joe, you're an angel. I'll = bless you for=20 this the longest day I

live." And Potter began to cry.

 

"Come, now, that's enough of that. = This ain't=20 any time for blubbering.

You be off yonder way and I'll go = this. Move,=20 now, and don't leave any

tracks behind you."

 

Potter started on a trot that = quickly=20 increased to a run. The half-

breed stood looking after him. He=20 muttered:

 

"If he's as much stunned with the = lick and=20 fuddled with the rum as he

had the look of being, he won't = think of the=20 knife till he's gone so

far he'll be afraid to come back = after it to=20 such a place by himself--

chicken-heart!"

 

Two or three minutes later the = murdered man,=20 the blanketed corpse, the

lidless coffin, and the open grave = were under=20 no inspection but the

moon's. The stillness was complete = again,=20 too.

 

 

CHAPTER X

 

THE two boys flew on and on, toward = the=20 village, speechless with

horror. They glanced backward over = their=20 shoulders from time to time,

apprehensively, as if they feared = they might=20 be followed. Every stump

that started up in their path = seemed a man=20 and an enemy, and made them

catch their breath; and as they = sped by some=20 outlying cottages that lay

near the village, the barking of = the aroused=20 watch-dogs seemed to give

wings to their feet.

 

"If we can only get to the old = tannery before=20 we break down!"

whispered Tom, in short catches = between=20 breaths. "I can't stand it much

longer."

 

Huckleberry's hard pantings were = his only=20 reply, and the boys fixed

their eyes on the goal of their = hopes and=20 bent to their work to win it.

They gained steadily on it, and at = last,=20 breast to breast, they burst

through the open door and fell = grateful and=20 exhausted in the sheltering

shadows beyond. By and by their = pulses slowed=20 down, and Tom whispered:

 

"Huckleberry, what do you reckon'll = come of=20 this?"

 

"If Doctor Robinson dies, I reckon = hanging'll=20 come of it."

 

"Do you though?"

 

"Why, I KNOW it, Tom."

 

Tom thought a while, then he = said:

 

"Who'll tell? We?"

 

"What are you talking about? S'pose = something=20 happened and Injun Joe

DIDN'T hang? Why, he'd kill us some = time or=20 other, just as dead sure as

we're a laying here."

 

"That's just what I was thinking to = myself,=20 Huck."

 

"If anybody tells, let Muff Potter = do it, if=20 he's fool enough. He's

generally drunk enough."

 

Tom said nothing--went on thinking. = Presently=20 he whispered:

 

"Huck, Muff Potter don't know it. = How can he=20 tell?"

 

"What's the reason he don't know = it?"

 

"Because he'd just got that whack = when Injun=20 Joe done it. D'you reckon

he could see anything? D'you reckon = he knowed=20 anything?"

 

"By hokey, that's so, Tom!"

 

"And besides, look-a-here--maybe = that whack=20 done for HIM!"

 

"No, 'taint likely, Tom. He had = liquor in him;=20 I could see that; and

besides, he always has. Well, when = pap's=20 full, you might take and belt

him over the head with a church and = you=20 couldn't phase him. He says so,

his own self. So it's the same with = Muff=20 Potter, of course. But if a

man was dead sober, I reckon maybe = that whack=20 might fetch him; I dono."

 

After another reflective silence, = Tom=20 said:

 

"Hucky, you sure you can keep = mum?"

 

"Tom, we GOT to keep mum. You know = that. That=20 Injun devil wouldn't

make any more of drownding us than = a couple=20 of cats, if we was to

squeak 'bout this and they didn't = hang him.=20 Now, look-a-here, Tom, less

take and swear to one = another--that's what we=20 got to do--swear to keep

mum."

 

"I'm agreed. It's the best thing. = Would you=20 just hold hands and swear

that we--"

 

"Oh no, that wouldn't do for this. = That's good=20 enough for little

rubbishy common things--specially = with gals,=20 cuz THEY go back on you

anyway, and blab if they get in a = huff--but=20 there orter be writing

'bout a big thing like this. And = blood."

 

Tom's whole being applauded this = idea. It was=20 deep, and dark, and

awful; the hour, the circumstances, = the=20 surroundings, were in keeping

with it. He picked up a clean pine = shingle=20 that lay in the moonlight,

took a little fragment of "red = keel" out of=20 his pocket, got the moon on

his work, and painfully scrawled = these lines,=20 emphasizing each slow

down-stroke by clamping his tongue = between=20 his teeth, and letting up

the pressure on the up-strokes. = [See next=20 page.]

 

   "Huck Finn and

    = Tom Sawyer swears

    = they will keep mum

    = about This and They

    = wish They may Drop

    = down dead in Their

    = Tracks if They ever

    = Tell and Rot."

 

Huckleberry was filled with = admiration of=20 Tom's facility in writing,

and the sublimity of his language. = He at once=20 took a pin from his lapel

and was going to prick his flesh, = but Tom=20 said:

 

"Hold on! Don't do that. A pin's = brass. It=20 might have verdigrease on

it."

 

"What's verdigrease?"

 

"It's p'ison. That's what it is. You = just=20 swaller some of it once--

you'll see."

 

So Tom unwound the thread from one = of his=20 needles, and each boy

pricked the ball of his thumb and = squeezed=20 out a drop of blood. In

time, after many squeezes, Tom = managed to=20 sign his initials, using the

ball of his little finger for a = pen. Then he=20 showed Huckleberry how to

make an H and an F, and the oath = was=20 complete. They buried the shingle

close to the wall, with some dismal = ceremonies and incantations, and

the fetters that bound their = tongues were=20 considered to be locked and

the key thrown away.

 

A figure crept stealthily through a = break in=20 the other end of the

ruined building, now, but they did = not notice=20 it.

 

"Tom," whispered Huckleberry, "does = this keep=20 us from EVER telling--

ALWAYS?"

 

"Of course it does. It don't make = any=20 difference WHAT happens, we got

to keep mum. We'd drop down = dead--don't YOU=20 know that?"

 

"Yes, I reckon that's so."

 

They continued to whisper for some = little=20 time. Presently a dog set up

a long, lugubrious howl just = outside--within=20 ten feet of them. The boys

clasped each other suddenly, in an = agony of=20 fright.

 

"Which of us does he mean?" gasped=20 Huckleberry.

 

"I dono--peep through the crack. = Quick!"

 

"No, YOU, Tom!"

 

"I can't--I can't DO it, Huck!"

 

"Please, Tom. There 'tis again!"

 

"Oh, lordy, I'm thankful!" whispered = Tom. "I=20 know his voice. It's Bull

Harbison." *

 

[* = If Mr. Harbison owned a slave named = Bull, Tom=20 would have spoken of

him as "Harbison's Bull," but a son = or a dog=20 of that name was "Bull

Harbison."]

 

"Oh, that's good--I tell you, Tom, I = was most=20 scared to death; I'd a

bet anything it was a STRAY = dog."

 

The dog howled again. The boys' = hearts sank=20 once more.

 

"Oh, my! that ain't no Bull = Harbison!"=20 whispered Huckleberry. "DO, Tom!"

 

Tom, quaking with fear, yielded, = and put his=20 eye to the crack. His

whisper was hardly audible when he = said:

 

"Oh, Huck, IT S A STRAY DOG!"

 

"Quick, Tom, quick! Who does he = mean?"

 

"Huck, he must mean us both--we're = right=20 together."

 

"Oh, Tom, I reckon we're goners. I = reckon=20 there ain't no mistake 'bout

where I'LL go to. I been so = wicked."

 

"Dad fetch it! This comes of playing = hookey=20 and doing everything a

feller's told NOT to do. I might a = been good,=20 like Sid, if I'd a tried--

but no, I wouldn't, of course. But = if ever I=20 get off this time, I lay

I'll just WALLER in = Sunday-schools!" And Tom=20 began to snuffle a little.

 

"YOU bad!" and Huckleberry began to = snuffle=20 too. "Consound it, Tom

Sawyer, you're just old pie, = 'longside o'=20 what I am. Oh, LORDY, lordy,

lordy, I wisht I only had half your = chance."

 

Tom choked off and whispered:

 

"Look, Hucky, look! He's got his = BACK to=20 us!"

 

Hucky looked, with joy in his = heart.

 

"Well, he has, by jingoes! Did he = before?"

 

"Yes, he did. But I, like a fool, = never=20 thought. Oh, this is bully,

you know. NOW who can he mean?"

 

The howling stopped. Tom pricked up = his=20 ears.

 

"Sh! What's that?" he whispered.

 

"Sounds like--like hogs grunting. = No--it's=20 somebody snoring, Tom."

 

"That IS it! Where 'bouts is it, = Huck?"

 

"I bleeve it's down at 'tother end. = Sounds so,=20 anyway. Pap used to

sleep there, sometimes, 'long with = the hogs,=20 but laws bless you, he

just lifts things when HE snores. = Besides, I=20 reckon he ain't ever

coming back to this town any = more."

 

The spirit of adventure rose in the = boys'=20 souls once more.

 

"Hucky, do you das't to go if I = lead?"

 

"I don't like to, much. Tom, s'pose = it's Injun=20 Joe!"

 

Tom quailed. But presently the = temptation=20 rose up strong again and the

boys agreed to try, with the = understanding=20 that they would take to

their heels if the snoring stopped. = So they=20 went tiptoeing stealthily

down, the one behind the other. = When they had=20 got to within five steps

of the snorer, Tom stepped on a = stick, and it=20 broke with a sharp snap.

The man moaned, writhed a little, = and his=20 face came into the moonlight.

It was Muff Potter. The boys' = hearts had=20 stood still, and their hopes

too, when the man moved, but their = fears=20 passed away now. They tiptoed

out, through the broken = weather-boarding, and=20 stopped at a little

distance to exchange a parting = word. That=20 long, lugubrious howl rose on

the night air again! They turned = and saw the=20 strange dog standing

within a few feet of where Potter = was lying,=20 and FACING Potter, with

his nose pointing heavenward.

 

"Oh, geeminy, it's HIM!" exclaimed = both boys,=20 in a breath.

 

"Say, Tom--they say a stray dog come = howling=20 around Johnny Miller's

house, 'bout midnight, as much as = two weeks=20 ago; and a whippoorwill

come in and lit on the banisters = and sung,=20 the very same evening; and

there ain't anybody dead there = yet."

 

"Well, I know that. And suppose = there ain't.=20 Didn't Gracie Miller fall

in the kitchen fire and burn = herself terrible=20 the very next Saturday?"

 

"Yes, but she ain't DEAD. And what's = more,=20 she's getting better, too."

 

"All right, you wait and see. She's = a goner,=20 just as dead sure as Muff

Potter's a goner. That's what the = niggers=20 say, and they know all about

these kind of things, Huck."

 

Then they separated, cogitating. = When Tom=20 crept in at his bedroom

window the night was almost spent. = He=20 undressed with excessive caution,

and fell asleep congratulating = himself that=20 nobody knew of his

escapade. He was not aware that the = gently-snoring Sid was awake, and

had been so for an hour.

 

When Tom awoke, Sid was dressed and = gone.=20 There was a late look in the

light, a late sense in the = atmosphere. He was=20 startled. Why had he not

been called--persecuted till he was = up, as=20 usual? The thought filled

him with bodings. Within five = minutes he was=20 dressed and down-stairs,

feeling sore and drowsy. The family = were=20 still at table, but they had

finished breakfast. There was no = voice of=20 rebuke; but there were

averted eyes; there was a silence = and an air=20 of solemnity that struck a

chill to the culprit's heart. He = sat down and=20 tried to seem gay, but it

was up-hill work; it roused no = smile, no=20 response, and he lapsed into

silence and let his heart sink down = to the=20 depths.

 

After breakfast his aunt took him = aside, and=20 Tom almost brightened in

the hope that he was going to be = flogged; but=20 it was not so. His aunt

wept over him and asked him how he = could go=20 and break her old heart so;

and finally told him to go on, and = ruin=20 himself and bring her gray

hairs with sorrow to the grave, for = it was no=20 use for her to try any

more. This was worse than a = thousand=20 whippings, and Tom's heart was

sorer now than his body. He cried, = he pleaded=20 for forgiveness, promised

to reform over and over again, and = then=20 received his dismissal, feeling

that he had won but an imperfect = forgiveness=20 and established but a

feeble confidence.

 

He left the presence too miserable = to even=20 feel revengeful toward Sid;

and so the latter's prompt retreat = through=20 the back gate was

unnecessary. He moped to school = gloomy and=20 sad, and took his flogging,

along with Joe Harper, for playing = hookey the=20 day before, with the air

of one whose heart was busy with = heavier woes=20 and wholly dead to

trifles. Then he betook himself to = his seat,=20 rested his elbows on his

desk and his jaws in his hands, and = stared at=20 the wall with the stony

stare of suffering that has reached = the limit=20 and can no further go.

His elbow was pressing against some = hard=20 substance. After a long time

he slowly and sadly changed his = position, and=20 took up this object with

a sigh. It was in a paper. He = unrolled it. A=20 long, lingering, colossal

sigh followed, and his heart broke. = It was=20 his brass andiron knob!

 

This final feather broke the = camel's=20 back.

 

 

CHAPTER XI

 

CLOSE upon the hour of noon the = whole village=20 was suddenly electrified

with the ghastly news. No need of = the as yet=20 undreamed-of telegraph;

the tale flew from man to man, from = group to=20 group, from house to

house, with little less than = telegraphic=20 speed. Of course the

schoolmaster gave holiday for that = afternoon;=20 the town would have

thought strangely of him if he had = not.

 

A gory knife had been found close = to the=20 murdered man, and it had been

recognized by somebody as belonging = to Muff=20 Potter--so the story ran.

And it was said that a belated = citizen had=20 come upon Potter washing

himself in the "branch" about one = or two=20 o'clock in the morning, and

that Potter had at once sneaked=20 off--suspicious circumstances,

especially the washing which was = not a habit=20 with Potter. It was also

said that the town had been = ransacked for=20 this "murderer" (the public

are not slow in the matter of = sifting=20 evidence and arriving at a

verdict), but that he could not be = found.=20 Horsemen had departed down

all the roads in every direction, = and the=20 Sheriff "was confident" that

he would be captured before = night.

 

All the town was drifting toward = the=20 graveyard. Tom's heartbreak

vanished and he joined the = procession, not=20 because he would not a

thousand times rather go anywhere = else, but=20 because an awful,

unaccountable fascination drew him = on.=20 Arrived at the dreadful place,

he wormed his small body through = the crowd=20 and saw the dismal

spectacle. It seemed to him an age = since he=20 was there before. Somebody

pinched his arm. He turned, and his = eyes met=20 Huckleberry's. Then both

looked elsewhere at once, and = wondered if=20 anybody had noticed anything

in their mutual glance. But = everybody was=20 talking, and intent upon the

grisly spectacle before them.

 

"Poor fellow!" "Poor young fellow!" = "This=20 ought to be a lesson to

grave robbers!" "Muff Potter'll = hang for this=20 if they catch him!" This

was the drift of remark; and the = minister=20 said, "It was a judgment; His

hand is here."

 

Now Tom shivered from head to heel; = for his=20 eye fell upon the stolid

face of Injun Joe. At this moment = the crowd=20 began to sway and struggle,

and voices shouted, "It's him! it's = him! he's=20 coming himself!"

 

"Who? Who?" from twenty voices.

 

"Muff Potter!"

 

"Hallo, he's stopped!--Look out, = he's turning!=20 Don't let him get away!"

 

People in the branches of the trees = over=20 Tom's head said he wasn't

trying to get away--he only looked = doubtful=20 and perplexed.

 

"Infernal impudence!" said a = bystander;=20 "wanted to come and take a

quiet look at his work, I = reckon--didn't=20 expect any company."

 

The crowd fell apart, now, and the = Sheriff=20 came through,

ostentatiously leading Potter by = the arm. The=20 poor fellow's face was

haggard, and his eyes showed the = fear that=20 was upon him. When he stood

before the murdered man, he shook = as with a=20 palsy, and he put his face

in his hands and burst into = tears.

 

"I didn't do it, friends," he = sobbed; "'pon my=20 word and honor I never

done it."

 

"Who's accused you?" shouted a = voice.

 

This shot seemed to carry home. = Potter lifted=20 his face and looked

around him with a pathetic = hopelessness in=20 his eyes. He saw Injun Joe,

and exclaimed:

 

"Oh, Injun Joe, you promised me = you'd=20 never--"

 

"Is that your knife?" and it was = thrust before=20 him by the Sheriff.

 

Potter would have fallen if they = had not=20 caught him and eased him to

the ground. Then he said:

 

"Something told me 't if I didn't = come back=20 and get--" He shuddered;

then waved his nerveless hand with = a=20 vanquished gesture and said, "Tell

'em, Joe, tell 'em--it ain't any use = any=20 more."

 

Then Huckleberry and Tom stood dumb = and=20 staring, and heard the stony-

hearted liar reel off his serene = statement,=20 they expecting every moment

that the clear sky would deliver = God's=20 lightnings upon his head, and

wondering to see how long the = stroke was=20 delayed. And when he had

finished and still stood alive and = whole,=20 their wavering impulse to

break their oath and save the poor = betrayed=20 prisoner's life faded and

vanished away, for plainly this = miscreant had=20 sold himself to Satan and

it would be fatal to meddle with = the property=20 of such a power as that.

 

"Why didn't you leave? What did you = want to=20 come here for?" somebody

said.

 

"I couldn't help it--I couldn't help = it,"=20 Potter moaned. "I wanted to

run away, but I couldn't seem to = come=20 anywhere but here." And he fell

to sobbing again.

 

Injun Joe repeated his statement, = just as=20 calmly, a few minutes

afterward on the inquest, under = oath; and the=20 boys, seeing that the

lightnings were still withheld, = were=20 confirmed in their belief that Joe

had sold himself to the devil. He = was now=20 become, to them, the most

balefully interesting object they = had ever=20 looked upon, and they could

not take their fascinated eyes from = his=20 face.

 

They inwardly resolved to watch him = nights,=20 when opportunity should

offer, in the hope of getting a = glimpse of=20 his dread master.

 

Injun Joe helped to raise the body = of the=20 murdered man and put it in a

wagon for removal; and it was = whispered=20 through the shuddering crowd

that the wound bled a little! The = boys=20 thought that this happy

circumstance would turn suspicion = in the=20 right direction; but they were

disappointed, for more than one = villager=20 remarked:

 

"It was within three feet of Muff = Potter when=20 it done it."

 

Tom's fearful secret and gnawing = conscience=20 disturbed his sleep for as

much as a week after this; and at = breakfast=20 one morning Sid said:

 

"Tom, you pitch around and talk in = your sleep=20 so much that you keep me

awake half the time."

 

Tom blanched and dropped his = eyes.

 

"It's a bad sign," said Aunt Polly, = gravely.=20 "What you got on your

mind, Tom?"

 

"Nothing. Nothing 't I know of." But = the boy's=20 hand shook so that he

spilled his coffee.

 

"And you do talk such stuff," Sid = said. "Last=20 night you said, 'It's

blood, it's blood, that's what it = is!' You=20 said that over and over. And

you said, 'Don't torment me = so--I'll tell!'=20 Tell WHAT? What is it

you'll tell?"

 

Everything was swimming before Tom. = There is=20 no telling what might

have happened, now, but luckily the = concern=20 passed out of Aunt Polly's

face and she came to Tom's relief = without=20 knowing it. She said:

 

"Sho! It's that dreadful murder. I = dream about=20 it most every night

myself. Sometimes I dream it's me = that done=20 it."

 

Mary said she had been affected = much the same=20 way. Sid seemed

satisfied. Tom got out of the = presence as=20 quick as he plausibly could,

and after that he complained of = toothache for=20 a week, and tied up his

jaws every night. He never knew = that Sid lay=20 nightly watching, and

frequently slipped the bandage free = and then=20 leaned on his elbow

listening a good while at a time, = and=20 afterward slipped the bandage

back to its place again. Tom's = distress of=20 mind wore off gradually and

the toothache grew irksome and was = discarded.=20 If Sid really managed to

make anything out of Tom's = disjointed=20 mutterings, he kept it to himself.

 

It seemed to Tom that his = schoolmates never=20 would get done holding

inquests on dead cats, and thus = keeping his=20 trouble present to his

mind. Sid noticed that Tom never = was coroner=20 at one of these inquiries,

though it had been his habit to = take the lead=20 in all new enterprises;

he noticed, too, that Tom never = acted as a=20 witness--and that was

strange; and Sid did not overlook = the fact=20 that Tom even showed a

marked aversion to these inquests, = and always=20 avoided them when he

could. Sid marvelled, but said = nothing.=20 However, even inquests went out

of vogue at last, and ceased to = torture Tom's=20 conscience.

 

Every day or two, during this time = of sorrow,=20 Tom watched his

opportunity and went to the little = grated=20 jail-window and smuggled such

small comforts through to the = "murderer" as=20 he could get hold of. The

jail was a trifling little brick = den that=20 stood in a marsh at the edge

of the village, and no guards were = afforded=20 for it; indeed, it was

seldom occupied. These offerings = greatly=20 helped to ease Tom's

conscience.

 

The villagers had a strong desire = to=20 tar-and-feather Injun Joe and

ride him on a rail, for = body-snatching, but=20 so formidable was his

character that nobody could be = found who was=20 willing to take the lead

in the matter, so it was dropped. = He had been=20 careful to begin both of

his inquest-statements with the = fight,=20 without confessing the grave-

robbery that preceded it; therefore = it was=20 deemed wisest not to try the

case in the courts at present.

 

 

CHAPTER XII

 

ONE of the reasons why Tom's mind = had drifted=20 away from its secret

troubles was, that it had found a = new and=20 weighty matter to interest

itself about. Becky Thatcher had = stopped=20 coming to school. Tom had

struggled with his pride a few = days, and=20 tried to "whistle her down the

wind," but failed. He began to find = himself=20 hanging around her father's

house, nights, and feeling very = miserable.=20 She was ill. What if she

should die! There was distraction = in the=20 thought. He no longer took an

interest in war, nor even in = piracy. The=20 charm of life was gone; there

was nothing but dreariness left. He = put his=20 hoop away, and his bat;

there was no joy in them any more. = His aunt=20 was concerned. She began to

try all manner of remedies on him. = She was=20 one of those people who are

infatuated with patent medicines = and all=20 new-fangled methods of

producing health or mending it. She = was an=20 inveterate experimenter in

these things. When something fresh = in this=20 line came out she was in a

fever, right away, to try it; not = on herself,=20 for she was never ailing,

but on anybody else that came = handy. She was=20 a subscriber for all the

"Health" periodicals and = phrenological frauds;=20 and the solemn ignorance

they were inflated with was breath = to her=20 nostrils. All the "rot" they

contained about ventilation, and = how to go to=20 bed, and how to get up,

and what to eat, and what to drink, = and how=20 much exercise to take, and

what frame of mind to keep one's = self in, and=20 what sort of clothing to

wear, was all gospel to her, and = she never=20 observed that her health-

journals of the current month = customarily=20 upset everything they had

recommended the month before. She = was as=20 simple-hearted and honest as

the day was long, and so she was an = easy=20 victim. She gathered together

her quack periodicals and her quack = medicines, and thus armed with

death, went about on her pale = horse,=20 metaphorically speaking, with

"hell following after." But she = never=20 suspected that she was not an

angel of healing and the balm of = Gilead in=20 disguise, to the suffering

neighbors.

 

The water treatment was new, now, = and Tom's=20 low condition was a

windfall to her. She had him out at = daylight=20 every morning, stood him

up in the woodshed and drowned him = with a=20 deluge of cold water; then

she scrubbed him down with a towel = like a=20 file, and so brought him to;

then she rolled him up in a wet = sheet and put=20 him away under blankets

till she sweated his soul clean and = "the=20 yellow stains of it came

through his pores"--as Tom = said.

 

Yet notwithstanding all this, the = boy grew=20 more and more melancholy

and pale and dejected. She added = hot baths,=20 sitz baths, shower baths,

and plunges. The boy remained as = dismal as a=20 hearse. She began to

assist the water with a slim = oatmeal diet and=20 blister-plasters. She

calculated his capacity as she = would a jug's,=20 and filled him up every

day with quack cure-alls.

 

Tom had become indifferent to = persecution by=20 this time. This phase

filled the old lady's heart with=20 consternation. This indifference must

be broken up at any cost. Now she = heard of=20 Pain-killer for the first

time. She ordered a lot at once. = She tasted=20 it and was filled with

gratitude. It was simply fire in a = liquid=20 form. She dropped the water

treatment and everything else, and = pinned her=20 faith to Pain-killer. She

gave Tom a teaspoonful and watched = with the=20 deepest anxiety for the

result. Her troubles were instantly = at rest,=20 her soul at peace again;

for the "indifference" was broken = up. The boy=20 could not have shown a

wilder, heartier interest, if she = had built a=20 fire under him.

 

Tom felt that it was time to wake = up; this=20 sort of life might be

romantic enough, in his blighted = condition,=20 but it was getting to have

too little sentiment and too much = distracting=20 variety about it. So he

thought over various plans for = relief, and=20 finally hit pon that of

professing to be fond of = Pain-killer. He=20 asked for it so often that he

became a nuisance, and his aunt = ended by=20 telling him to help himself

and quit bothering her. If it had = been Sid,=20 she would have had no

misgivings to alloy her delight; = but since it=20 was Tom, she watched the

bottle clandestinely. She found = that the=20 medicine did really diminish,

but it did not occur to her that = the boy was=20 mending the health of a

crack in the sitting-room floor = with it.

 

One day Tom was in the act of = dosing the=20 crack when his aunt's yellow

cat came along, purring, eying the = teaspoon=20 avariciously, and begging

for a taste. Tom said:

 

"Don't ask for it unless you want = it,=20 Peter."

 

But Peter signified that he did = want it.

 

"You better make sure."

 

Peter was sure.

 

"Now you've asked for it, and I'll = give it to=20 you, because there ain't

anything mean about me; but if you = find you=20 don't like it, you mustn't

blame anybody but your own = self."

 

Peter was agreeable. So Tom pried = his mouth=20 open and poured down the

Pain-killer. Peter sprang a couple = of yards=20 in the air, and then

delivered a war-whoop and set off = round and=20 round the room, banging

against furniture, upsetting = flower-pots, and=20 making general havoc.

Next he rose on his hind feet and = pranced=20 around, in a frenzy of

enjoyment, with his head over his = shoulder=20 and his voice proclaiming

his unappeasable happiness. Then he = went=20 tearing around the house again

spreading chaos and destruction in = his path.=20 Aunt Polly entered in time

to see him throw a few double = summersets,=20 deliver a final mighty

hurrah, and sail through the open = window,=20 carrying the rest of the

flower-pots with him. The old lady = stood=20 petrified with astonishment,

peering over her glasses; Tom lay = on the=20 floor expiring with laughter.

 

"Tom, what on earth ails that = cat?"

 

"I don't know, aunt," gasped the = boy.

 

"Why, I never see anything like it. = What did=20 make him act so?"

 

"Deed I don't know, Aunt Polly; cats = always=20 act so when they're having

a good time."

 

"They do, do they?" There was = something in the=20 tone that made Tom

apprehensive.

 

"Yes'm. That is, I believe they = do."

 

"You DO?"

 

"Yes'm."

 

The old lady was bending down, Tom = watching,=20 with interest emphasized

by anxiety. Too late he divined her = "drift."=20 The handle of the telltale

teaspoon was visible under the = bed-valance.=20 Aunt Polly took it, held it

up. Tom winced, and dropped his = eyes. Aunt=20 Polly raised him by the

usual handle--his ear--and cracked = his head=20 soundly with her thimble.

 

"Now, sir, what did you want to = treat that=20 poor dumb beast so, for?"

 

"I done it out of pity for = him--because he=20 hadn't any aunt."

 

"Hadn't any aunt!--you numskull. = What has that=20 got to do with it?"

 

"Heaps. Because if he'd had one = she'd a burnt=20 him out herself! She'd a

roasted his bowels out of him = 'thout any more=20 feeling than if he was a

human!"

 

Aunt Polly felt a sudden pang of = remorse.=20 This was putting the thing

in a new light; what was cruelty to = a cat=20 MIGHT be cruelty to a boy,

too. She began to soften; she felt = sorry. Her=20 eyes watered a little,

and she put her hand on Tom's head = and said=20 g

 

 

 

 

 

Project=20 of concordancer :

 

Finding=20 the word ( marry). In the story of Tom Sawyer.

1      ut = you--and you=20 ain't to ever marry=20 anybody but me, either." =20 "Cer

2      but = me, and you=20 ain't ever to marry=20 anybody but me, ever never and

3       = but you,=20 Tom, and I'll never marry=20 anybody but you--and you ain't