English
WHENIgotthereitwasallstillandSunday-like,andhotandsunshiny;thehandswasgonetothefields;andtherewasthemkindoffaintdroningsofbugsandfliesintheairthatmakesitseemsolonesomeandlikeeverybody’sdeadandgone;andifabreezefansalongandquiverstheleavesitmakesyoufeelmournful,becauseyoufeellikeit’sspiritswhispering–spiritsthat’sbeendeadeversomanyyears–andyoualwaysthinkthey’retalkingaboutYOU.
AsageneralthingitmakesabodywishHEwasdead,too,anddonewithitall.
Phelps’wasoneoftheselittleone-horsecottonplantations,andtheyalllookalike.
Arailfenceroundatwo-acreyard;astilemadeoutoflogssawedoffandup-endedinsteps,likebarrelsofadifferentlength,toclimboverthefencewith,andforthewomentostandonwhentheyaregoingtojumpontoahorse;somesicklygrass-patchesinthebigyard,butmostlyitwasbareandsmooth,likeanoldhatwiththenaprubbedoff;bigdoublelog-houseforthewhitefolks–hewedlogs,withthechinksstoppedupwithmudormortar,andthesemud-stripesbeenwhitewashedsometimeoranother;round-logkitchen,withabigbroad,openbutroofedpassagejoiningittothehouse;logsmokehousebackofthekitchen;threelittlelognigger-cabinsinarowt’othersidethesmoke-house;onelittlehutallbyitselfawaydownagainstthebackfence,andsomeoutbuildingsdownapiecetheotherside;ashhopperandbigkettletobilesoapinbythelittlehut;benchbythekitchendoor,withbucketofwaterandagourd;houndasleepthereinthesun;morehoundsasleeproundabout;aboutthreeshadetreesawayoffinacorner;somecurrantbushesandgooseberrybushesinoneplacebythefence;outsideofthefenceagardenandawatermelonpatch;thenthecottonfieldsbegins,andafterthefieldsthewoods.
Iwentaroundandclumboverthebackstilebytheash-hopper,andstartedforthekitchen.
WhenIgotalittlewaysIheardthedimhumofaspinning-wheelwailingalongupandsinkingalongdownagain;andthenIknowedforcertainIwishedIwasdead–forthatISthelonesomestsoundinthewholeworld.
Iwentrightalong,notfixingupanyparticularplan,butjusttrustingtoProvidencetoputtherightwordsinmymouthwhenthetimecome;forI’dnoticedthatProvidencealwaysdidputtherightwordsinmymouthifIleftitalone.
WhenIgothalf-way,firstonehoundandthenanothergotupandwentforme,andofcourseIstoppedandfacedthem,andkeptstill.Andsuchanotherpowwowastheymade!
InaquarterofaminuteIwasakindofahubofawheel,asyoumaysay–spokesmadeoutofdogs–circleoffifteenofthempackedtogetheraroundme,withtheirnecksandnosesstretcheduptowardsme,a-barkingandhowling;andmorea-coming;youcouldseethemsailingoverfencesandaroundcornersfromeverywheres.
Aniggerwomancometearingoutofthekitchenwitharolling-pininherhand,singingout,“BegoneYOUTige!youSpot!begonesah!”
andshefetchedfirstoneandthenanotherofthemaclipandsentthemhowling,andthentherestfollowed;andthenextsecondhalfofthemcomeback,waggingtheirtailsaroundme,andmakingfriendswithme.Thereain’tnoharminahound,nohow.
Andbehindthewomancomesalittleniggergirlandtwolittleniggerboyswithoutanythingonbuttow-linenshirts,andtheyhungontotheirmother’sgown,andpeepedoutfrombehindheratme,bashful,thewaytheyalwaysdo.
Andherecomesthewhitewomanrunningfromthehouse,aboutforty-fiveorfiftyyearold,bareheaded,andherspinning-stickinherhand;andbehindhercomesherlittlewhitechildren,actingthesamewaythelittleniggerswasgoing.
Shewassmilingalloversoshecouldhardlystand–andsays:
“It’sYOU,atlast!–AIN’Tit?”
Ioutwitha“Yes’m”beforeIthought.
Shegrabbedmeandhuggedmetight;andthengrippedmebybothhandsandshookandshook;andthetearscomeinhereyes,andrundownover;andshecouldn’tseemtohugandshakeenough,andkeptsaying,“Youdon’tlookasmuchlikeyourmotherasIreckonedyouwould;butlawsakes,Idon’tcareforthat,I’msogladtoseeyou!
Dear,dear,itdoesseemlikeIcouldeatyouup!Children,it’syourcousinTom!–tellhimhowdy.”
Buttheyduckedtheirheads,andputtheirfingersintheirmouths,andhidbehindher.Sosherunon:
“Lize,hurryupandgethimahotbreakfastrightaway–ordidyougetyourbreakfastontheboat?”
IsaidIhadgotitontheboat.Sothenshestartedforthehouse,leadingmebythehand,andthechildrentaggingafter.
Whenwegotthereshesetmedowninasplit-bottomedchair,andsetherselfdownonalittlelowstoolinfrontofme,holdingbothofmyhands,andsays:
“NowIcanhaveaGOODlookatyou;and,laws-ame,I’vebeenhungryforitamanyandamanyatime,alltheselongyears,andit’scomeatlast!
Webeenexpectingyouacoupleofdaysandmore.Whatkep’you?–boatgetaground?”
“Yes’m–she–”
“Don’tsayyes’m–sayAuntSally.Where’dshegetaground?”
Ididn’trightlyknowwhattosay,becauseIdidn’tknowwhethertheboatwouldbecominguptheriverordown.
ButIgoagooddealoninstinct;andmyinstinctsaidshewouldbecomingup–fromdowntowardsOrleans.
Thatdidn’thelpmemuch,though;forIdidn’tknowthenamesofbarsdownthatway.
IseeI’dgottoinventabar,orforgetthenameoftheonewegotagroundon–or–NowIstruckanidea,andfetcheditout:
“Itwarn’tthegrounding–thatdidn’tkeepusbackbutalittle.Weblowedoutacylinder-head.”
“Goodgracious!anybodyhurt?”
“No’m.Killedanigger.”
“Well,it’slucky;becausesometimespeopledogethurt.
TwoyearsagolastChristmasyouruncleSilaswascomingupfromNewrleansontheoldLallyRook,andsheblowedoutacylinder-headandcrippledaman.AndIthinkhediedafterwards.HewasaBaptist.
YouruncleSilasknowedafamilyinBatonRougethatknowedhispeopleverywell.Yes,Iremembernow,heDIDdie.
Mortificationsetin,andtheyhadtoamputatehim.Butitdidn’tsavehim.
Yes,itwasmortification–thatwasit.
Heturnedblueallover,anddiedinthehopeofagloriousresurrection.Theysayhewasasighttolookat.
Youruncle’sbeenuptothetowneverydaytofetchyou.
Andhe’sgoneagain,notmore’nanhourago;he’llbebackanyminutenow.
Youmustamethimontheroad,didn’tyou?–oldishman,witha–”
“No,Ididn’tseenobody,AuntSally.Theboatlandedjustatdaylight,andIleftmybaggageonthewharf-boatandwentlookingaroundthetownandoutapieceinthecountry,toputinthetimeandnotgetheretoosoon;andsoIcomedownthebackway.”
“Who’dyougivethebaggageto?”
“Nobody.”
“Why,child,it‘llbestole!”
“NotwhereIhiditIreckonitwon’t,”Isays.
“How’dyougetyourbreakfastsoearlyontheboat?”
Itwaskinderthinice,butIsays:
“Thecaptainseemestandingaround,andtoldmeIbetterhavesomethingtoeatbeforeIwentashore;sohetookmeinthetexastotheofficers’lunch,andgivemeallIwanted.”
IwasgettingsouneasyIcouldn’tlistengood.
Ihadmymindonthechildrenallthetime;Iwantedtogetthemouttoonesideandpumpthemalittle,andfindoutwhoIwas.
ButIcouldn’tgetnoshow,Mrs.Phelpskeptitupandrunonso.
Prettysoonshemadethecoldchillsstreakalldownmyback,becauseshesays:
“Butherewe’rea-runningonthisway,andyouhain’ttoldmeawordaboutSis,noranyofthem.
NowI’llrestmyworksalittle,andyoustartupyourn;justtellmeEVERYTHING–tellmeallabout‘malleveryoneof‘m;andhowtheyare,andwhatthey’redoing,andwhattheytoldyoutotellme;andeverylastthingyoucanthinkof.”
Well,IseeIwasupastump–andupitgood.
Providencehadstoodbymethisfurallright,butIwashardandtightagroundnow.
Iseeitwarn’tabitofusetotrytogoahead–I’dgottothrowupmyhand.
SoIsaystomyself,here’sanotherplacewhereIgottoreskthetruth.
Iopenedmymouthtobegin;butshegrabbedmeandhustledmeinbehindthebed,andsays:
“Herehecomes!Stickyourheaddownlower–there,that’lldo;youcan’tbeseennow.Don’tyouletonyou’rehere.I’llplayajokeonhim.Children,don’tyousayaword.”
IseeIwasinafixnow.Butitwarn’tnousetoworry;therewarn’tnothingtodobutjustholdstill,andtryandbereadytostandfromunderwhenthelightningstruck.
Ihadjustonelittleglimpseoftheoldgentlemanwhenhecomein;thenthebedhidhim.Mrs.Phelpsshejumpsforhim,andsays:
“Hashecome?”
“No,”saysherhusband.
“Good-NESSgracious!”shesays,“whatinthewarldcanhavebecomeofhim?”
“Ican’timagine,”saystheoldgentleman;“andImustsayitmakesmedreadfuluneasy.”
“Uneasy!”shesays;“I’mreadytogodistracted!HeMUSTacome;andyou’vemissedhimalongtheroad.IKNOWit’sso–somethingtellsmeso.”
“Why,Sally,ICOULDN’Tmisshimalongtheroad–YOUknowthat.”
“Butoh,dear,dear,whatWILLSissay!Hemustacome!Youmustamissedhim.He–”
“Oh,don’tdistressmeanymore’nI’malreadydistressed.
Idon’tknowwhatintheworldtomakeofit.
I’matmywit’send,andIdon’tmindacknowledging‘tI’mrightdownscared.
Butthere’snohopethathe’scome;forheCOULDN’Tcomeandmemisshim.
Sally,it’sterrible–justterrible–something’shappenedtotheboat,sure!”
“Why,Silas!Lookyonder!–uptheroad!–ain’tthatsomebodycoming?”
Hesprungtothewindowattheheadofthebed,andthatgiveMrs.Phelpsthechanceshewanted.
Shestoopeddownquickatthefootofthebedandgivemeapull,andoutIcome;andwhenheturnedbackfromthewindowthereshestood,a-beaminganda-smilinglikeahouseafire,andIstandingprettymeekandsweatyalongside.Theoldgentlemanstared,andsays:
“Why,who’sthat?”
“Whodoyoureckon‘tis?”
“Ihain’tnoidea.WhoISit?”
“It’sTOMSAWYER!”
Byjings,Imostslumpedthroughthefloor!
Buttherewarn’tnotimetoswapknives;theoldmangrabbedmebythehandandshook,andkeptonshaking;andallthetimehowthewomandiddancearoundandlaughandcry;andthenhowtheybothdidfireoffquestionsaboutSid,andMary,andtherestofthetribe.
Butiftheywasjoyful,itwarn’tnothingtowhatIwas;foritwaslikebeingbornagain,IwassogladtofindoutwhoIwas.
Well,theyfrozetomefortwohours;andatlast,whenmychinwassotireditcouldn’thardlygoanymore,Ihadtoldthemmoreaboutmyfamily–ImeantheSawyerfamily–thaneverhappenedtoanysixSawyerfamilies.
AndIexplainedallabouthowweblowedoutacylinder-headatthemouthofWhiteRiver,andittookusthreedaystofixit.
Whichwasallright,andworkedfirst-rate;becauseTHEYdidn’tknowbutwhatitwouldtakethreedaystofixit.
IfI’dacalleditaboltheaditwouldadonejustaswell.
NowIwasfeelingprettycomfortablealldownoneside,andprettyuncomfortablealluptheother.
BeingTomSawyerwaseasyandcomfortable,anditstayedeasyandcomfortabletillbyandbyIhearasteamboatcoughingalongdowntheriver.
ThenIsaystomyself,s’poseTomSawyercomesdownonthatboat?
Ands’posehestepsinhereanyminute,andsingsoutmynamebeforeIcanthrowhimawinktokeepquiet?
Well,Icouldn’tHAVEitthatway;itwouldn’tdoatall.Imustgouptheroadandwaylayhim.
SoItoldthefolksIreckonedIwouldgouptothetownandfetchdownmybaggage.
Theoldgentlemanwasforgoingalongwithme,butIsaidno,Icoulddrivethehorsemyself,andIdrutherhewouldn’ttakenotroubleaboutme.
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