Breakfastover,AuntPollyhadfamilyworship:itbeganwithaprayerbuiltfromthegroundupofsolidcoursesofScripturalquotations,weldedtogetherwithathinmortaroforiginality;andfromthesummitofthisshedeliveredagrimchapteroftheMosaicLaw,asfromSinai.
Tombentallhisenergiestothememorizingoffiveverses,andhechosepartoftheSermonontheMount,becausehecouldfindnoversesthatwereshorter.
AttheendofhalfanhourTomhadavaguegeneralideaofhislesson,butnomore,forhismindwastraversingthewholefieldofhumanthought,andhishandswerebusywithdistractingrecreations.
"ForTHEIRS.Blessedarethepoorinspirit,fortheirsisthekingdomofheaven.Blessedaretheythatmourn,forthey—they—"
"Oh,SHALL!fortheyshall—fortheyshall—a—a—shallmourn—a—a—blessedaretheythatshall—theythat—a—theythatshallmourn,fortheyshall—a—shallWHAT?Whydon'tyoutellme,Mary?—whatdoyouwanttobesomeanfor?"
Don'tyoubediscouraged,Tom,you'llmanageit—andifyoudo,I'llgiveyousomethingeversonice.There,now,that'sagoodboy."
Andhedid"tackleitagain"—andunderthedoublepressureofcuriosityandprospectivegainhediditwithsuchspiritthatheaccomplishedashiningsuccess.
Marygavehimabrand–new"Barlow"knifeworthtwelveandahalfcents;andtheconvulsionofdelightthatswepthissystemshookhimtohisfoundations.
True,theknifewouldnotcutanything,butitwasa"sure–enough"Barlow,andtherewasinconceivablegrandeurinthat—thoughwheretheWesternboysevergottheideathatsuchaweaponcouldpossiblybecounterfeitedtoitsinjuryisanimposingmysteryandwillalwaysremainso,perhaps.
Tomcontrivedtoscarifythecupboardwithit,andwasarrangingtobeginonthebureau,whenhewascalledofftodressforSunday–school.
Marygavehimatinbasinofwaterandapieceofsoap,andhewentoutsidethedoorandsetthebasinonalittlebenchthere;thenhedippedthesoapinthewaterandlaiditdown;turneduphissleeves;pouredoutthewaterontheground,gently,andthenenteredthekitchenandbegantowipehisfacediligentlyonthetowelbehindthedoor.ButMaryremovedthetowelandsaid:
Tomwasatrifledisconcerted.Thebasinwasrefilled,andthistimehestoodoveritalittlewhile,gatheringresolution;tookinabigbreathandbegan.
Whenheenteredthekitchenpresently,withbotheyesshutandgropingforthetowelwithhishands,anhonorabletestimonyofsudsandwaterwasdrippingfromhisface.
Butwhenheemergedfromthetowel,hewasnotyetsatisfactory,forthecleanterritorystoppedshortathischinandhisjaws,likeamask;belowandbeyondthislinetherewasadarkexpanseofunirrigatedsoilthatspreaddownwardinfrontandbackwardaroundhisneck.
Marytookhiminhand,andwhenshewasdonewithhimhewasamanandabrother,withoutdistinctionofcolor,andhissaturatedhairwasneatlybrushed,anditsshortcurlswroughtintoadaintyandsymmetricalgeneraleffect.
[Heprivatelysmoothedoutthecurls,withlaboranddifficulty,andplasteredhishairclosedowntohishead;forheheldcurlstobeeffeminate,andhisownfilledhislifewithbitterness.]
ThenMarygotoutasuitofhisclothingthathadbeenusedonlyonSundaysduringtwoyears—theyweresimplycalledhis"otherclothes"—andsobythatweknowthesizeofhiswardrobe.
Thegirl"puthimtorights"afterhehaddressedhimself;shebuttonedhisneatroundaboutuptohischin,turnedhisvastshirtcollardownoverhisshoulders,brushedhimoffandcrownedhimwithhisspeckledstrawhat.
Hewasfullyasuncomfortableashelooked;fortherewasarestraintaboutwholeclothesandcleanlinessthatgalledhim.
HehopedthatMarywouldforgethisshoes,butthehopewasblighted;shecoatedthemthoroughlywithtallow,aswasthecustom,andbroughtthemout.
Sohegotintotheshoessnarling.Marywassoonready,andthethreechildrensetoutforSunday–school—aplacethatTomhatedwithhiswholeheart;butSidandMarywerefondofit.
Twoofthechildrenalwaysremainedforthesermonvoluntarily,andtheotheralwaysremainedtoo—forstrongerreasons.
Thechurch'shigh–backed,uncushionedpewswouldseataboutthreehundredpersons;theedificewasbutasmall,plainaffair,withasortofpineboardtree–boxontopofitforasteeple.
Heenteredthechurch,now,withaswarmofcleanandnoisyboysandgirls,proceededtohisseatandstartedaquarrelwiththefirstboythatcamehandy.
Theteacher,agrave,elderlyman,interfered;thenturnedhisbackamomentandTompulledaboy'shairinthenextbench,andwasabsorbedinhisbookwhentheboyturnedaround;stuckapininanotherboy,presently,inordertohearhimsay"Ouch!"
However,theyworriedthrough,andeachgothisreward—insmallbluetickets,eachwithapassageofScriptureonit;eachblueticketwaspayfortwoversesoftherecitation.
Tenblueticketsequalledaredone,andcouldbeexchangedforit;tenredticketsequalledayellowone;fortenyellowticketsthesuperintendentgaveaveryplainlyboundBible(worthfortycentsinthoseeasytimes)tothepupil.
AndyetMaryhadacquiredtwoBiblesinthisway—itwasthepatientworkoftwoyears—andaboyofGermanparentagehadwonfourorfive.
Heoncerecitedthreethousandverseswithoutstopping;butthestrainuponhismentalfacultieswastoogreat,andhewaslittlebetterthananidiotfromthatdayforth—agrievousmisfortunefortheschool,forongreatoccasions,beforecompany,thesuperintendent(asTomexpressedit)hadalwaysmadethisboycomeoutand"spreadhimself."
OnlytheolderpupilsmanagedtokeeptheirticketsandsticktotheirtediousworklongenoughtogetaBible,andsothedeliveryofoneoftheseprizeswasarareandnoteworthycircumstance;thesuccessfulpupilwassogreatandconspicuousforthatdaythatonthespoteveryscholar'sheartwasfiredwithafreshambitionthatoftenlastedacoupleofweeks.
ItispossiblethatTom'smentalstomachhadneverreallyhungeredforoneofthoseprizes,butunquestionablyhisentirebeinghadformanyadaylongedforthegloryandtheeclatthatcamewithit.
Induecoursethesuperintendentstoodupinfrontofthepulpit,withaclosedhymn–bookinhishandandhisforefingerinsertedbetweenitsleaves,andcommandedattention.
WhenaSunday–schoolsuperintendentmakeshiscustomarylittlespeech,ahymn–bookinthehandisasnecessaryasistheinevitablesheetofmusicinthehandofasingerwhostandsforwardontheplatformandsingsasoloataconcert—thoughwhy,isamystery:forneitherthehymn–booknorthesheetofmusiciseverreferredtobythesufferer.
Thissuperintendentwasaslimcreatureofthirty–five,withasandygoateeandshortsandyhair;heworeastiffstanding–collarwhoseupperedgealmostreachedhisearsandwhosesharppointscurvedforwardabreastthecornersofhismouth—afencethatcompelledastraightlookoutahead,andaturningofthewholebodywhenasideviewwasrequired;hischinwasproppedonaspreadingcravatwhichwasasbroadandaslongasabank–note,andhadfringedends;hisboottoeswereturnedsharplyup,inthefashionoftheday,likesleigh–runners—aneffectpatientlyandlaboriouslyproducedbytheyoungmenbysittingwiththeirtoespressedagainstawallforhourstogether.
Mr.Walterswasveryearnestofmien,andverysincereandhonestatheart;andheheldsacredthingsandplacesinsuchreverence,andsoseparatedthemfromworldlymatters,thatunconsciouslytohimselfhisSunday–schoolvoicehadacquiredapeculiarintonationwhichwaswhollyabsentonweek–days.Hebeganafterthisfashion:
"Now,children,Iwantyoualltositupjustasstraightandprettyasyoucanandgivemeallyourattentionforaminuteortwo.There—thatisit.
Iseeonelittlegirlwhoislookingoutofthewindow—IamafraidshethinksIamouttheresomewhere—perhapsupinoneofthetreesmakingaspeechtothelittlebirds.[Applausivetitter.]
Iwanttotellyouhowgooditmakesmefeeltoseesomanybright,cleanlittlefacesassembledinaplacelikethis,learningtodorightandbegood."Andsoforthandsoon.
Thelatterthirdofthespeechwasmarredbytheresumptionoffightsandotherrecreationsamongcertainofthebadboys,andbyfidgetingsandwhisperingsthatextendedfarandwide,washingeventothebasesofisolatedandincorruptiblerockslikeSidandMary.
Butnoweverysoundceasedsuddenly,withthesubsidenceofMr.Walters'voice,andtheconclusionofthespeechwasreceivedwithaburstofsilentgratitude.
Agoodpartofthewhisperinghadbeenoccasionedbyaneventwhichwasmoreorlessrare—theentranceofvisitors:lawyerThatcher,accompaniedbyaveryfeebleandagedman;afine,portly,middle–agedgentlemanwithiron–grayhair;andadignifiedladywhowasdoubtlessthelatter'swife.Theladywasleadingachild.
Tomhadbeenrestlessandfullofchafingsandrepinings;conscience–smitten,too—hecouldnotmeetAmyLawrence'seye,hecouldnotbrookherlovinggaze.
Thenextmomenthewas"showingoff"withallhismight—cuffingboys,pullinghair,makingfaces—inaword,usingeveryartthatseemedlikelytofascinateagirlandwinherapplause.
Hisexaltationhadbutonealloy—thememoryofhishumiliationinthisangel'sgarden—andthatrecordinsandwasfastwashingout,underthewavesofhappinessthatweresweepingoveritnow.
Thevisitorsweregiventhehighestseatofhonor,andassoonasMr.Walters'speechwasfinished,heintroducedthemtotheschool.
Themiddle–agedmanturnedouttobeaprodigiouspersonage—nolessaonethanthecountyjudge—altogetherthemostaugustcreationthesechildrenhadeverlookedupon—andtheywonderedwhatkindofmaterialhewasmadeof—andtheyhalfwantedtohearhimroar,andwerehalfafraidhemight,too.
HewasfromConstantinople,twelvemilesaway—sohehadtravelled,andseentheworld—theseveryeyeshadlookeduponthecountycourt–house—whichwassaidtohaveatinroof.
"Lookathim,Jim!He'sagoingupthere.Say—look!he'sagoingtoshakehandswithhim—heISshakinghandswithhim!Byjings,don'tyouwishyouwasJeff?"
Mr.Waltersfellto"showingoff,"withallsortsofofficialbustlingsandactivities,givingorders,deliveringjudgments,dischargingdirectionshere,there,everywherethathecouldfindatarget.
Thelibrarian"showedoff"—runninghitherandthitherwithhisarmsfullofbooksandmakingadealofthesplutterandfussthatinsectauthoritydelightsin.
Theyoungladyteachers"showedoff"—bendingsweetlyoverpupilsthatwerelatelybeingboxed,liftingprettywarningfingersatbadlittleboysandpattinggoodoneslovingly.
Theyounggentlementeachers"showedoff"withsmallscoldingsandotherlittledisplaysofauthorityandfineattentiontodiscipline—andmostoftheteachers,ofbothsexes,foundbusinessupatthelibrary,bythepulpit;anditwasbusinessthatfrequentlyhadtobedoneoveragaintwoorthreetimes(withmuchseemingvexation).
Thelittlegirls"showedoff"invariousways,andthelittleboys"showedoff"withsuchdiligencethattheairwasthickwithpaperwadsandthemurmurofscufflings.
Andaboveitallthegreatmansatandbeamedamajesticjudicialsmileuponallthehouse,andwarmedhimselfinthesunofhisowngrandeur—forhewas"showingoff,"too.
TherewasonlyonethingwantingtomakeMr.Walters'ecstasycomplete,andthatwasachancetodeliveraBible–prizeandexhibitaprodigy.
Andnowatthismoment,whenhopewasdead,TomSawyercameforwardwithnineyellowtickets,nineredtickets,andtenblueones,anddemandedaBible.
TomwasthereforeelevatedtoaplacewiththeJudgeandtheotherelect,andthegreatnewswasannouncedfromheadquarters.
Itwasthemoststunningsurpriseofthedecade,andsoprofoundwasthesensationthatitliftedthenewherouptothejudicialone'saltitude,andtheschoolhadtwomarvelstogazeuponinplaceofone.
Theboyswerealleatenupwithenvy—butthosethatsufferedthebitterestpangswerethosewhoperceivedtoolatethattheythemselveshadcontributedtothishatedsplendorbytradingticketstoTomforthewealthhehadamassedinsellingwhitewashingprivileges.
TheprizewasdeliveredtoTomwithasmucheffusionasthesuperintendentcouldpumpupunderthecircumstances;butitlackedsomewhatofthetruegush,forthepoorfellow'sinstincttaughthimthattherewasamysteryherethatcouldnotwellbearthelight,perhaps;itwassimplypreposterousthatthisboyhadwarehousedtwothousandsheavesofScripturalwisdomonhispremises—adozenwouldstrainhiscapacity,withoutadoubt.
Shewondered;thenshewasjustagraintroubled;nextadimsuspicioncameandwent—cameagain;shewatched;afurtiveglancetoldherworlds—andthenherheartbroke,andshewasjealous,andangry,andthetearscameandshehatedeverybody.Tommostofall(shethought).
TomwasintroducedtotheJudge;buthistonguewastied,hisbreathwouldhardlycome,hisheartquaked—partlybecauseoftheawfulgreatnessoftheman,butmainlybecausehewasherparent.
"Ah,that'sit.Ithoughttherewasmoretoit,maybe.That'sverywell.Butyou'veanotheroneIdaresay,andyou'lltellittome,won'tyou?"
Andyounevercanbesorryforthetroubleyoutooktolearnthem;forknowledgeisworthmorethananythingthereisintheworld;it'swhatmakesgreatmenandgoodmen;you'llbeagreatmanandagoodmanyourself,someday,Thomas,andthenyou'lllookbackandsay,It'sallowingtothepreciousSunday–schoolprivilegesofmyboyhood—it'sallowingtomydearteachersthattaughtmetolearn—it'sallowingtothegoodsuperintendent,whoencouragedme,andwatchedoverme,andgavemeabeautifulBible—asplendidelegantBible—tokeepandhaveitallformyown,always—it'sallowingtorightbringingup!
Thatiswhatyouwillsay,Thomas—andyouwouldn'ttakeanymoneyforthosetwothousandverses—noindeedyouwouldn't.
Andnowyouwouldn'tmindtellingmeandthisladysomeofthethingsyou'velearned—no,Iknowyouwouldn't—forweareproudoflittleboysthatlearn.
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