English
MAKINGthempenswasadistressidtoughjob,andsowasthesaw;andJimallowedtheinscriptionwasgoingtobethetoughestofall.
That’stheonewhichtheprisonerhastoscrabbleonthewall.
Buthehadtohaveit;Tomsaidhe’dGOTto;therewarn’tnocaseofastateprisonernotscrabblinghisinscriptiontoleavebehind,andhiscoatofarms.
“LookatLadyJaneGrey,”hesays;“lookatGilfordDudley;lookatoldNorthumberland!
Why,Huck,s’poseitISconsiderbletrouble?–whatyougoingtodo?–howyougoingtogetaroundit?
Jim’sGOTtodohisinscriptionandcoatofarms.Theyalldo.”
Jimsays:
“Why,MarsTom,Ihain’tgotnocoato’arm;Ihain’tgotnuffnbutdishyeroleshirt,enyouknowsIgottokeepdejournalondat.”
“Oh,youdon’tunderstand,Jim;acoatofarmsisverydifferent.”
“Well,”Isays,“Jim’sright,anyway,whenhesaysheain’tgotnocoatofarms,becausehehain’t.”
“IreckonIknowedthat,”Tomsays,“butyoubethe’llhaveonebeforehegoesoutofthis–becausehe’sgoingoutRIGHT,andthereain’tgoingtobenoflawsinhisrecord.”
SowhilstmeandJimfiledawayatthepensonabrickbatapiece,Jima-makinghis’noutofthebrassandImakingmineoutofthespoon,Tomsettoworktothinkoutthecoatofarms.
Byandbyhesaidhe’dstrucksomanygoodoneshedidn’thardlyknowwhichtotake,buttherewasonewhichhereckonedhe’ddecideon.Hesays:
“Onthescutcheonwe’llhaveabendORinthedexterbase,asaltireMURREYinthefess,withadog,couchant,forcommoncharge,andunderhisfootachainembattled,forslavery,withachevronVERTinachiefengrailed,andthreeinvectedlinesonafieldAZURE,withthenombrilpointsrampantonadancetteindented;crest,arunawaynigger,SABLE,withhisbundleoverhisshoulderonabarsinister;andacoupleofgulesforsupporters,whichisyouandme;motto,MAGGIOREFRETTA,MINOREOTTO.
Gotitoutofabook–meansthemorehastethelessspeed.”
“Geewhillikins,”Isays,“butwhatdoestherestofitmean?”
“Weain’tgotnotimetobotheroverthat,”hesays;“wegottodiginlikeallgit-out.”
“Well,anyway,”Isays,“what’sSOMEofit?What’safess?”
“Afess–afessis–YOUdon’tneedtoknowwhatafessis.I’llshowhimhowtomakeitwhenhegetstoit.”
“Shucks,Tom,”Isays,“Ithinkyoumighttellaperson.What’sabarsinister?”
“Oh,Idon’tknow.Buthe’sgottohaveit.Allthenobilitydoes.”
Thatwasjusthisway.Ifitdidn’tsuithimtoexplainathingtoyou,hewouldn’tdoit.Youmightpumpathimaweek,itwouldn’tmakenodifference.
He’dgotallthatcoatofarmsbusinessfixed,sonowhestartedintofinishuptherestofthatpartofthework,whichwastoplanoutamournfulinscription–saidJimgottohaveone,liketheyalldone.
Hemadeupalot,andwrotethemoutonapaper,andreadthemoff,so:
1.Hereacaptiveheartbusted.2.
Hereapoorprisoner,forsookbytheworldandfriends,frettedhissorrowfullife.3.
Herealonelyheartbroke,andawornspiritwenttoitsrest,afterthirty-sevenyearsofsolitarycaptivity.4.
Here,homelessandfriendless,afterthirty-sevenyearsofbittercaptivity,perishedanoblestranger,naturalsonofLouisXIV.
Tom’svoicetrembledwhilsthewasreadingthem,andhemostbrokedown.
Whenhegotdonehecouldn’tnowaymakeuphismindwhichoneforJimtoscrabbleontothewall,theywasallsogood;butatlastheallowedhewouldlethimscrabblethemallon.
Jimsaiditwouldtakehimayeartoscrabblesuchalotoftruckontothelogswithanail,andhedidn’tknowhowtomakeletters,besides;butTomsaidhewouldblockthemoutforhim,andthenhewouldn’thavenothingtodobutjustfollowthelines.Thenprettysoonhesays:
“Cometothink,thelogsain’ta-goingtodo;theydon’thavelogwallsinadungeon:wegottodigtheinscriptionsintoarock.We’llfetcharock.”
Jimsaidtherockwasworsethanthelogs;hesaiditwouldtakehimsuchapisonlongtimetodigthemintoarockhewouldn’tevergetout.
ButTomsaidhewouldletmehelphimdoit.
ThenhetookalooktoseehowmeandJimwasgettingalongwiththepens.
Itwasmostpeskytedioushardworkandslow,anddidn’tgivemyhandsnoshowtogetwellofthesores,andwedidn’tseemtomakenoheadway,hardly;soTomsays:
“Iknowhowtofixit.Wegottohavearockforthecoatofarmsandmournfulinscriptions,andwecankilltwobirdswiththatsamerock.
There’sagaudybiggrindstonedownatthemill,andwe’llsmouchit,andcarvethethingsonit,andfileoutthepensandthesawonit,too.”
Itwarn’tnoslouchofanidea;anditwarn’tnoslouchofagrindstonenuther;butweallowedwe’dtackleit.
Itwarn’tquitemidnightyet,soweclearedoutforthemill,leavingJimatwork.
Wesmouchedthegrindstone,andsetouttorollherhome,butitwasamostnationtoughjob.
Sometimes,dowhatwecould,wecouldn’tkeepherfromfallingover,andshecomemightynearmashinguseverytime.
Tomsaidshewasgoingtogetoneofus,sure,beforewegotthrough.
Wegotherhalfway;andthenwewasplumbplayedout,andmostdrowndedwithsweat.
Weseeitwarn’tnouse;wegottogoandfetchJimSoheraiseduphisbedandslidthechainoffofthebed-leg,andwraptitroundandroundhisneck,andwecrawledoutthroughourholeanddownthere,andJimandmelaidintothatgrindstoneandwalkedheralonglikenothing;andTomsuperintended.
Hecouldout-superintendanyboyIeversee.Heknowedhowtodoeverything.
Ourholewasprettybig,butitwarn’tbigenoughtogetthegrindstonethrough;butJimhetookthepickandsoonmadeitbigenough.
ThenTommarkedoutthemthingsonitwiththenail,andsetJimtoworkonthem,withthenailforachiselandanironboltfromtherubbageinthelean-toforahammer,andtoldhimtoworktilltherestofhiscandlequitonhim,andthenhecouldgotobed,andhidethegrindstoneunderhisstrawtickandsleeponit.
Thenwehelpedhimfixhischainbackonthebed-leg,andwasreadyforbedourselves.ButTomthoughtofsomething,andsays:
“Yougotanyspidersinhere,Jim?”
“No,sah,thankstogoodnessIhain’t,MarsTom.”
“Allright,we’llgetyousome.”
“Butblessyou,honey,Idoan’WANTnone.I’safeardunum.Ijis’’ssoonhaverattlesnakesaroun’.”
Tomthoughtaminuteortwo,andsays:
“It’sagoodidea.AndIreckonit’sbeendone.ItMUSTabeendone;itstandstoreason.Yes,it’saprimegoodidea.Wherecouldyoukeepit?”
“Keepwhat,MarsTom?”
“Why,arattlesnake.”
“Degoodnessgraciousalive,MarsTom!Why,ifdeywasarattlesnaketocomeinheahI’dtakeenbustrightoutthoodatlogwall,Iwould,widmyhead.”
Why,Jim,youwouldn’tbeafraidofitafteralittle.Youcouldtameit.”
“TAMEit!”
“Yes–easyenough.Everyanimalisgratefulforkindnessandpetting,andtheywouldn’tTHINKofhurtingapersonthatpetsthem.Anybookwilltellyouthat.
Youtry–that’sallIask;justtryfortwoorthreedays.
Why,youcangethimsoinalittlewhilethathe’llloveyou;andsleepwithyou;andwon’tstayawayfromyouaminute;andwillletyouwraphimroundyourneckandputhisheadinyourmouth.”
“PLEASE,MarsTom–DOAN’talkso!Ican’tSTAN’it!
He’dLETmeshovehisheadinmymouf–ferafavor,hain’tit?
Ilayhe’dwaitapow’fullongtime‘fo’IASThim.
Enmo’endat,Idoan’WANThimtosleepwidme.”
“Jim,don’tactsofoolish.Aprisoner’sGOTtohavesomekindofadumbpet,andifarattlesnakehain’teverbeentried,why,there’smoreglorytobegainedinyourbeingthefirsttoevertryitthananyotherwayyoucouldeverthinkoftosaveyourlife.”
“Why,MarsTom,Idoan’WANTnosichglory.Snaketake‘nbiteJim’schinoff,denWHAHisdeglory?No,sah,Idoan’wantnosichdoin’s.”
“Blameit,can’tyouTRY?IonlyWANTyoutotry–youneedn’tkeepitupifitdon’twork.”
“ButdetroubleallDONEefdesnakebitemewhileI’satryin’him.
MarsTom,I’swillin’totacklemos’anything‘atain’tonreasonable,butefyouenHuckfetchesarattlesnakeinheahformetotame,I’sgwynetoLEAVE,dat’sSHORE.”
“Well,then,letitgo,letitgo,ifyou’resobullheadedaboutit.
Wecangetyousomegarter-snakes,andyoucantiesomebuttonsontheirtails,andletonthey’rerattlesnakes,andIreckonthat‘llhavetodo.”
“Ik’nstan’DEM,MarsTom,butblame’‘fIcouldn’getalongwidoutum,Itellyoudat.Ineverknowedb’fo’‘twassomuchbotherandtroubletobeaprisoner.”
“Well,itALWAYSiswhenit’sdoneright.Yougotanyratsaroundhere?”
“No,sah,Ihain’tseednone.”
“Well,we’llgetyousomerats.”
“Why,MarsTom,Idoan’WANTnorats.Dey’sdedadblamedestcretursto‘sturbabody,enrustleroun’over‘im,enbitehisfeet,whenhe’stryin’tosleep,Ieversee.
No,sah,gimmeg’yarter-snakes,‘fI’sgottohave‘m,butdoan’gimmenorats;Ihain’gotnousef’rum,skasely.”
“But,Jim,youGOTtohave‘em–theyalldo.Sodon’tmakenomorefussaboutit.Prisonersain’teverwithoutrats.Thereain’tnoinstanceofit.
Andtheytrainthem,andpetthem,andlearnthemtricks,andtheygettobeassociableasflies.Butyougottoplaymusictothem.Yougotanythingtoplaymusicon?”
“Iain’gotnuffnbutacoasecombenapieceo’paper,enajuice-harp;butIreck’ndeywouldn’takenostockinajuice-harp.”
“Yestheywould.THEYdon’tcarewhatkindofmusic‘tis.
Ajews-harp’splentygoodenoughforarat.
Allanimalslikemusic–inaprisontheydoteonit.
Specially,painfulmusic;andyoucan’tgetnootherkindoutofajews-harp.
Italwaysintereststhem;theycomeouttoseewhat’sthematterwithyou.
Yes,you’reallright;you’refixedverywell.
Youwanttosetonyourbednightsbeforeyougotosleep,andearlyinthemornings,andplayyourjewsharp;play‘TheLastLinkisBroken’–that’sthethingthat‘llscooparatquicker‘nanythingelse;andwhenyou’veplayedabouttwominutesyou’llseealltherats,andthesnakes,andspiders,andthingsbegintofeelworriedaboutyou,andcome.
Andthey’lljustfairlyswarmoveryou,andhaveanoblegoodtime.”
“Yes,DEYwill,Ireck’n,MarsTom,butwhatkineertimeisJIMhavin’?BlestifIkinseedepint.ButI’lldoitefIgotto.
Ireck’nIbetterkeepdeanimalssatisfied,ennothavenotroubleindehouse.”
Tomwaitedtothinkitover,andseeiftherewasn’tnothingelse;andprettysoonhesays:
“Oh,there’sonethingIforgot.Couldyouraiseaflowerhere,doyoureckon?”
“IdoanknowbutmaybeIcould,MarsTom;butit’stolabledarkinheah,enIain’gotnousef’rnoflower,nohow,enshe’dbeapow’fulsighto’trouble.”
“Well,youtryit,anyway.Someotherprisonershasdoneit.”
“Oneerdembigcat-tail-lookin’mullen-stalkswouldgrowinheah,MarsTom,Ireck’n,butshewouldn’tbewuthhalfdetroubleshe’dcoss.”
“Don’tyoubelieveit.We’llfetchyoualittleoneandyouplantitinthecorneroverthere,andraiseit.
Anddon’tcallitmullen,callitPitchiola–that’sitsrightnamewhenit’sinaprison.
Andyouwanttowateritwithyourtears.”
“Why,Igotplentyspringwater,MarsTom.”
“Youdon’tWANTspringwater;youwanttowateritwithyourtears.It’sthewaytheyalwaysdo.”
“Why,MarsTom,IlayIkinraiseoneerdemmullen-stalkstwystewidspringwaterwhilesanotherman’saSTART’Nonewidtears.”
“Thatain’ttheidea.YouGOTtodoitwithtears.”
“She’lldieonmyhan’s,MarsTom,shesholywill;kaseIdoan’skaselyevercry.”
SoTomwasstumped.Buthestudieditover,andthensaidJimwouldhavetoworryalongthebesthecouldwithanonion.
Hepromisedhewouldgototheniggercabinsanddropone,private,inJim’scoffeepot,inthemorning.
Jimsaidhewould“jis’’ssoonhavetobackerinhiscoffee;”andfoundsomuchfaultwithit,andwiththeworkandbotherofraisingthemullen,andjews-harpingtherats,andpettingandflatteringupthesnakesandspidersandthings,ontopofalltheotherworkhehadtodoonpens,andinscriptions,andjournals,andthings,whichmadeitmoretroubleandworryandresponsibilitytobeaprisonerthananythingheeverundertook,thatTommostlostallpatiencewithhim;andsaidhewasjustloadeneddownwithmoregaudierchancesthanaprisonereverhadintheworldtomakeanameforhimself,andyethedidn’tknowenoughtoappreciatethem,andtheywasjustaboutwastedonhim.
SoJimhewassorry,andsaidhewouldn’tbehavesonomore,andthenmeandTomshovedforbed.
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