English
"TOM!"
Noanswer.
"TOM!"
Noanswer.
"What'sgonewiththatboy,Iwonder?YouTOM!"
Noanswer.
Theoldladypulledherspectaclesdownandlookedoverthemabouttheroom;thensheputthemupandlookedoutunderthem.
SheseldomorneverlookedTHROUGHthemforsosmallathingasaboy;theywereherstatepair,theprideofherheart,andwerebuiltfor"style,"notservice—shecouldhaveseenthroughapairofstove–lidsjustaswell.
Shelookedperplexedforamoment,andthensaid,notfiercely,butstillloudenoughforthefurnituretohear:
"Well,IlayifIgetholdofyouI'll—"
Shedidnotfinish,forbythistimeshewasbendingdownandpunchingunderthebedwiththebroom,andsosheneededbreathtopunctuatethepuncheswith.Sheresurrectednothingbutthecat.
"Ineverdidseethebeatofthatboy!"
Shewenttotheopendoorandstoodinitandlookedoutamongthetomatovinesand"jimpson"weedsthatconstitutedthegarden.NoTom.
Soshelifteduphervoiceatananglecalculatedfordistanceandshouted:
"Y–o–u–uTOM!"
Therewasaslightnoisebehindherandsheturnedjustintimetoseizeasmallboybytheslackofhisroundaboutandarresthisflight.
"There!Imight'a'thoughtofthatcloset.Whatyoubeendoinginthere?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing!Lookatyourhands.Andlookatyourmouth.WhatISthattruck?"
"Idon'tknow,aunt."
"Well,Iknow.It'sjam—that'swhatitis.FortytimesI'vesaidifyoudidn'tletthatjamaloneI'dskinyou.Handmethatswitch."
Theswitchhoveredintheair—theperilwasdesperate—
"My!Lookbehindyou,aunt!"
Theoldladywhirledround,andsnatchedherskirtsoutofdanger.Theladfledontheinstant,scrambledupthehighboard–fence,anddisappearedoverit.
HisauntPollystoodsurprisedamoment,andthenbrokeintoagentlelaugh.
"Hangtheboy,can'tIneverlearnanything?
Ain'theplayedmetricksenoughlikethatformetobelookingoutforhimbythistime?
Butoldfoolsisthebiggestfoolsthereis.
Can'tlearnanolddognewtricks,asthesayingis.
Butmygoodness,heneverplaysthemalike,twodays,andhowisabodytoknowwhat'scoming?
He'pearstoknowjusthowlonghecantormentmebeforeIgetmydanderup,andheknowsifhecanmakeouttoputmeoffforaminuteormakemelaugh,it'salldownagainandIcan'thithimalick.
Iain'tdoingmydutybythatboy,andthat'stheLord'struth,goodnessknows.
Sparetherodandspilethechild,astheGoodBooksays.
I'malayingupsinandsufferingforusboth,Iknow.
He'sfulloftheOldScratch,butlaws–a–me!
he'smyowndeadsister'sboy,poorthing,andIain'tgotthehearttolashhim,somehow.
EverytimeIlethimoff,myconsciencedoeshurtmeso,andeverytimeIhithimmyoldheartmostbreaks.
Well–a–well,manthatisbornofwomanisoffewdaysandfulloftrouble,astheScripturesays,andIreckonit'sso.
He'llplayhookeythisevening,*and[*Southwesternfor"afternoon"]I'lljustbeobleegedtomakehimwork,to–morrow,topunishhim.
It'smightyhardtomakehimworkSaturdays,whenalltheboysishavingholiday,buthehatesworkmorethanhehatesanythingelse,andI'veGOTtodosomeofmydutybyhim,orI'llbetheruinationofthechild."
Tomdidplayhookey,andhehadaverygoodtime.
HegotbackhomebarelyinseasontohelpJim,thesmallcoloredboy,sawnext–day'swoodandsplitthekindlingsbeforesupper—atleasthewasthereintimetotellhisadventurestoJimwhileJimdidthree–fourthsofthework.
Tom'syoungerbrother(orratherhalf–brother)Sidwasalreadythroughwithhispartofthework(pickingupchips),forhewasaquietboy,andhadnoadventurous,troublesomeways.
WhileTomwaseatinghissupper,andstealingsugarasopportunityoffered,AuntPollyaskedhimquestionsthatwerefullofguile,andverydeep—forshewantedtotraphimintodamagingrevealments.
Likemanyothersimple–heartedsouls,itwasherpetvanitytobelieveshewasendowedwithatalentfordarkandmysteriousdiplomacy,andshelovedtocontemplatehermosttransparentdevicesasmarvelsoflowcunning.Saidshe:
"Tom,itwasmiddlingwarminschool,warn'tit?"
"Yes'm."
"Powerfulwarm,warn'tit?"
"Yes'm."
"Didn'tyouwanttogoina–swimming,Tom?"
AbitofascareshotthroughTom—atouchofuncomfortablesuspicion.HesearchedAuntPolly'sface,butittoldhimnothing.Sohesaid:
"No'm—well,notverymuch."
TheoldladyreachedoutherhandandfeltTom'sshirt,andsaid:
"Butyouain'ttoowarmnow,though."Anditflatteredhertoreflectthatshehaddiscoveredthattheshirtwasdrywithoutanybodyknowingthatthatwaswhatshehadinhermind.
Butinspiteofher,Tomknewwherethewindlay,now.
Soheforestalledwhatmightbethenextmove:
"Someofuspumpedonourheads—mine'sdampyet.See?"
AuntPollywasvexedtothinkshehadoverlookedthatbitofcircumstantialevidence,andmissedatrick.Thenshehadanewinspiration:
"Tom,youdidn'thavetoundoyourshirtcollarwhereIsewedit,topumponyourhead,didyou?Unbuttonyourjacket!"
ThetroublevanishedoutofTom'sface.Heopenedhisjacket.Hisshirtcollarwassecurelysewed.
"Bother!Well,go'longwithyou.I'dmadesureyou'dplayedhookeyandbeena–swimming.ButIforgiveye,Tom.Ireckonyou'reakindofasingedcat,asthesayingis—better'nyoulook.THIStime."
Shewashalfsorryhersagacityhadmiscarried,andhalfgladthatTomhadstumbledintoobedientconductforonce.
ButSidneysaid:
"Well,now,ifIdidn'tthinkyousewedhiscollarwithwhitethread,butit'sblack."
"Why,Ididsewitwithwhite!Tom!"
ButTomdidnotwaitfortherest.Ashewentoutatthedoorhesaid:
"Siddy,I'lllickyouforthat."
InasafeplaceTomexaminedtwolargeneedleswhichwerethrustintothelapelsofhisjacket,andhadthreadboundaboutthem—oneneedlecarriedwhitethreadandtheotherblack.Hesaid:
"She'dnevernoticedifithadn'tbeenforSid.Confoundit!
sometimesshesewsitwithwhite,andsometimesshesewsitwithblack.
Iwishtogeeminyshe'dsticktooneort'other—Ican'tkeeptherunof'em.ButIbetyouI'lllamSidforthat.I'lllearnhim!"
HewasnottheModelBoyofthevillage.Heknewthemodelboyverywellthough—andloathedhim.
Withintwominutes,orevenless,hehadforgottenallhistroubles.
Notbecausehistroubleswereonewhitlessheavyandbittertohimthanaman'saretoaman,butbecauseanewandpowerfulinterestborethemdownanddrovethemoutofhismindforthetime—justasmen'smisfortunesareforgottenintheexcitementofnewenterprises.
Thisnewinterestwasavaluednoveltyinwhistling,whichhehadjustacquiredfromanegro,andhewassufferingtopractiseitundisturbed.
Itconsistedinapeculiarbird–liketurn,asortofliquidwarble,producedbytouchingthetonguetotheroofofthemouthatshortintervalsinthemidstofthemusic—thereaderprobablyremembershowtodoit,ifhehaseverbeenaboy.
Diligenceandattentionsoongavehimtheknackofit,andhestrodedownthestreetwithhismouthfullofharmonyandhissoulfullofgratitude.
Hefeltmuchasanastronomerfeelswhohasdiscoveredanewplanet—nodoubt,asfarasstrong,deep,unalloyedpleasureisconcerned,theadvantagewaswiththeboy,nottheastronomer.
Thesummereveningswerelong.Itwasnotdark,yet.PresentlyTomcheckedhiswhistle.
Astrangerwasbeforehim—aboyashadelargerthanhimself.
Anew–comerofanyageoreithersexwasanimpressivecuriosityinthepoorlittleshabbyvillageofSt.Petersburg.
Thisboywaswelldressed,too—welldressedonaweek–day.Thiswassimplyastounding.
Hiscapwasadaintything,hisclose–buttonedblueclothroundaboutwasnewandnatty,andsowerehispantaloons.Hehadshoeson—anditwasonlyFriday.
Heevenworeanecktie,abrightbitofribbon.
HehadacitifiedairabouthimthatateintoTom'svitals.
ThemoreTomstaredatthesplendidmarvel,thehigherheturneduphisnoseathisfineryandtheshabbierandshabbierhisownoutfitseemedtohimtogrow.Neitherboyspoke.
Ifonemoved,theothermoved—butonlysidewise,inacircle;theykeptfacetofaceandeyetoeyeallthetime.FinallyTomsaid:
"Icanlickyou!"
"I'dliketoseeyoutryit."
"Well,Icandoit."
"Noyoucan't,either."
"YesIcan."
"Noyoucan't."
"Ican."
"Youcan't."
"Can!"
"Can't!"
Anuncomfortablepause.ThenTomsaid:
"What'syourname?"
"'Tisn'tanyofyourbusiness,maybe."
"WellI'lowI'llMAKEitmybusiness."
"Wellwhydon'tyou?"
"Ifyousaymuch,Iwill."
"Much—much—MUCH.Therenow."
"Oh,youthinkyou'remightysmart,DON'Tyou?Icouldlickyouwithonehandtiedbehindme,ifIwantedto."
"Wellwhydon'tyouDOit?YouSAYyoucandoit."
"WellIWILL,ifyoufoolwithme."
"Ohyes—I'veseenwholefamiliesinthesamefix."
"Smarty!Youthinkyou'reSOME,now,DON'Tyou?Oh,whatahat!"
"Youcanlumpthathatifyoudon'tlikeit.Idareyoutoknockitoff—andanybodythat'lltakeadarewillsuckeggs."
"You'realiar!"
"You'reanother."
"You'reafightingliaranddasn'ttakeitup."
"Aw—takeawalk!"
"Say—ifyougivememuchmoreofyoursassI'lltakeandbouncearockoff'nyourhead."
"Oh,ofCOURSEyouwill."
"WellIWILL."
"Wellwhydon'tyouDOitthen?WhatdoyoukeepSAYINGyouwillfor?Whydon'tyouDOit?It'sbecauseyou'reafraid."
"IAIN'Tafraid."
"Youare."
"Iain't."
"Youare."
Anotherpause,andmoreeyingandsidlingaroundeachother.Presentlytheywereshouldertoshoulder.Tomsaid:
"Getawayfromhere!"
"Goawayyourself!"
"Iwon't."
"Iwon'teither."
Sotheystood,eachwithafootplacedatanangleasabrace,andbothshovingwithmightandmain,andgloweringateachotherwithhate.Butneithercouldgetanadvantage.
Afterstrugglingtillbothwerehotandflushed,eachrelaxedhisstrainwithwatchfulcaution,andTomsaid:
"You'reacowardandapup.I'lltellmybigbrotheronyou,andhecanthrashyouwithhislittlefinger,andI'llmakehimdoit,too."
"WhatdoIcareforyourbigbrother?I'vegotabrotherthat'sbiggerthanheis—andwhat'smore,hecanthrowhimoverthatfence,too."[Bothbrotherswereimaginary.]
"That'salie."
"YOURsayingsodon'tmakeitso."
Tomdrewalineinthedustwithhisbigtoe,andsaid:
"Idareyoutostepoverthat,andI'lllickyoutillyoucan'tstandup.Anybodythat'lltakeadarewillstealsheep."
Thenewboysteppedoverpromptly,andsaid:
"Nowyousaidyou'ddoit,nowlet'sseeyoudoit."
"Don'tyoucrowdmenow;youbetterlookout."
"Well,youSAIDyou'ddoit—whydon'tyoudoit?"
"Byjingo!fortwocentsIWILLdoit."
Thenewboytooktwobroadcoppersoutofhispocketandheldthemoutwithderision.Tomstruckthemtotheground.
Inaninstantbothboyswererollingandtumblinginthedirt,grippedtogetherlikecats;andforthespaceofaminutetheytuggedandtoreateachother'shairandclothes,punchedandscratchedeachother'snose,andcoveredthemselveswithdustandglory.
Presentlytheconfusiontookform,andthroughthefogofbattleTomappeared,seatedastridethenewboy,andpoundinghimwithhisfists."Holler'nuff!"saidhe.
Theboyonlystruggledtofreehimself.Hewascrying—mainlyfromrage.
"Holler'nuff!"—andthepoundingwenton.
Atlastthestrangergotoutasmothered"'Nuff!"andTomlethimupandsaid:
"Nowthat'lllearnyou.Betterlookoutwhoyou'refoolingwithnexttime."
Thenewboywentoffbrushingthedustfromhisclothes,sobbing,snuffling,andoccasionallylookingbackandshakinghisheadandthreateningwhathewoulddotoTomthe"nexttimehecaughthimout."
TowhichTomrespondedwithjeers,andstartedoffinhighfeather,andassoonashisbackwasturnedthenewboysnatchedupastone,threwitandhithimbetweentheshouldersandthenturnedtailandranlikeanantelope.
Tomchasedthetraitorhome,andthusfoundoutwherehelived.
Hethenheldapositionatthegateforsometime,daringtheenemytocomeoutside,buttheenemyonlymadefacesathimthroughthewindowanddeclined.
Atlasttheenemy'smotherappeared,andcalledTomabad,vicious,vulgarchild,andorderedhimaway.
Sohewentaway;buthesaidhe"'lowed"to"lay"forthatboy.
Hegothomeprettylatethatnight,andwhenheclimbedcautiouslyinatthewindow,heuncoveredanambuscade,inthepersonofhisaunt;andwhenshesawthestatehisclotheswereinherresolutiontoturnhisSaturdayholidayintocaptivityathardlaborbecameadamantineinitsfirmness.
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