English
MONDAYmorningfoundTomSawyermiserable.
Mondaymorningalwaysfoundhimso—becauseitbegananotherweek'sslowsufferinginschool.
Hegenerallybeganthatdaywithwishinghehadhadnointerveningholiday,itmadethegoingintocaptivityandfettersagainsomuchmoreodious.
Tomlaythinking.Presentlyitoccurredtohimthathewishedhewassick;thenhecouldstayhomefromschool.Herewasavaguepossibility.Hecanvassedhissystem.
Noailmentwasfound,andheinvestigatedagain.
Thistimehethoughthecoulddetectcolickysymptoms,andhebegantoencouragethemwithconsiderablehope.
Buttheysoongrewfeeble,andpresentlydiedwhollyaway.Hereflectedfurther.Suddenlyhediscoveredsomething.Oneofhisupperfrontteethwasloose.
Thiswaslucky;hewasabouttobegintogroan,asa"starter,"ashecalledit,whenitoccurredtohimthatifhecameintocourtwiththatargument,hisauntwouldpullitout,andthatwouldhurt.
Sohethoughthewouldholdthetoothinreserveforthepresent,andseekfurther.
Nothingofferedforsomelittletime,andthenherememberedhearingthedoctortellaboutacertainthingthatlaidupapatientfortwoorthreeweeksandthreatenedtomakehimloseafinger.
Sotheboyeagerlydrewhissoretoefromunderthesheetandhelditupforinspection.
Butnowhedidnotknowthenecessarysymptoms.
However,itseemedwellworthwhiletochanceit,sohefelltogroaningwithconsiderablespirit.
ButSidsleptonunconscious.
Tomgroanedlouder,andfanciedthathebegantofeelpaininthetoe.
NoresultfromSid.
Tomwaspantingwithhisexertionsbythistime.Hetookarestandthenswelledhimselfupandfetchedasuccessionofadmirablegroans.
Sidsnoredon.
Tomwasaggravated.Hesaid,"Sid,Sid!"andshookhim.
Thiscourseworkedwell,andTombegantogroanagain.
Sidyawned,stretched,thenbroughthimselfuponhiselbowwithasnort,andbegantostareatTom.Tomwentongroaning.Sidsaid:
"Tom!Say,Tom!"[Noresponse.]"Here,Tom!TOM!Whatisthematter,Tom?"Andheshookhimandlookedinhisfaceanxiously.
Tommoanedout:
"Oh,don't,Sid.Don'tjoggleme."
"Why,what'sthematter,Tom?Imustcallauntie."
"No—nevermind.It'llbeoverbyandby,maybe.Don'tcallanybody."
"ButImust!DON'Tgroanso,Tom,it'sawful.Howlongyoubeenthisway?"
"Hours.Ouch!Oh,don'tstirso,Sid,you'llkillme."
"Tom,whydidn'tyouwakemesooner?Oh,Tom,DON'T!Itmakesmyfleshcrawltohearyou.Tom,whatisthematter?"
"Iforgiveyoueverything,Sid.[Groan.]Everythingyou'veeverdonetome.WhenI'mgone—"
"Oh,Tom,youain'tdying,areyou?Don't,Tom—oh,don't.Maybe—"
"Iforgiveeverybody,Sid.[Groan.]Tell'emso,Sid.AndSid,yougivemywindow–sashandmycatwithoneeyetothatnewgirlthat'scometotown,andtellher—"
ButSidhadsnatchedhisclothesandgone.Tomwassufferinginreality,now,sohandsomelywashisimaginationworking,andsohisgroanshadgatheredquiteagenuinetone.
Sidflewdown–stairsandsaid:
"Oh,AuntPolly,come!Tom'sdying!"
"Dying!"
"Yes'm.Don'twait—comequick!"
"Rubbage!Idon'tbelieveit!"
Butshefledup–stairs,nevertheless,withSidandMaryatherheels.Andherfacegrewwhite,too,andherliptrembled.Whenshereachedthebedsideshegaspedout:
"You,Tom!Tom,what'sthematterwithyou?"
"Oh,auntie,I'm—"
"What'sthematterwithyou—whatisthematterwithyou,child?"
"Oh,auntie,mysoretoe'smortified!"
Theoldladysankdownintoachairandlaughedalittle,thencriedalittle,thendidbothtogether.Thisrestoredherandshesaid:
"Tom,whataturnyoudidgiveme.Nowyoushutupthatnonsenseandclimboutofthis."
Thegroansceasedandthepainvanishedfromthetoe.Theboyfeltalittlefoolish,andhesaid:
"AuntPolly,itSEEMEDmortified,andithurtsoInevermindedmytoothatall."
"Yourtooth,indeed!What'sthematterwithyourtooth?"
"Oneofthem'sloose,anditachesperfectlyawful."
"There,there,now,don'tbeginthatgroaningagain.Openyourmouth.
Well—yourtoothISloose,butyou'renotgoingtodieaboutthat.
Mary,getmeasilkthread,andachunkoffireoutofthekitchen."
Tomsaid:
"Oh,please,auntie,don'tpullitout.Itdon'thurtanymore.IwishImayneverstirifitdoes.Pleasedon't,auntie.Idon'twanttostayhomefromschool."
"Oh,youdon't,don'tyou?Soallthisrowwasbecauseyouthoughtyou'dgettostayhomefromschoolandgoa–fishing?
Tom,Tom,Iloveyouso,andyouseemtotryeverywayyoucantobreakmyoldheartwithyouroutrageousness."
Bythistimethedentalinstrumentswereready.
TheoldladymadeoneendofthesilkthreadfasttoTom'stoothwithaloopandtiedtheothertothebedpost.
Thensheseizedthechunkoffireandsuddenlythrustitalmostintotheboy'sface.
Thetoothhungdanglingbythebedpost,now.
Butalltrialsbringtheircompensations.
AsTomwendedtoschoolafterbreakfast,hewastheenvyofeveryboyhemetbecausethegapinhisupperrowofteethenabledhimtoexpectorateinanewandadmirableway.
Hegatheredquiteafollowingofladsinterestedintheexhibition;andonethathadcuthisfingerandhadbeenacentreoffascinationandhomageuptothistime,nowfoundhimselfsuddenlywithoutanadherent,andshornofhisglory.
Hisheartwasheavy,andhesaidwithadisdainwhichhedidnotfeelthatitwasn'tanythingtospitlikeTomSawyer;butanotherboysaid,"Sourgrapes!"andhewanderedawayadismantledhero.
ShortlyTomcameuponthejuvenilepariahofthevillage,HuckleberryFinn,sonofthetowndrunkard.
Huckleberrywascordiallyhatedanddreadedbyallthemothersofthetown,becausehewasidleandlawlessandvulgarandbad—andbecausealltheirchildrenadmiredhimso,anddelightedinhisforbiddensociety,andwishedtheydaredtobelikehim.
Tomwasliketherestoftherespectableboys,inthatheenviedHuckleberryhisgaudyoutcastcondition,andwasunderstrictordersnottoplaywithhim.
Soheplayedwithhimeverytimehegotachance.
Huckleberrywasalwaysdressedinthecast–offclothesoffull–grownmen,andtheywereinperennialbloomandflutteringwithrags.
Hishatwasavastruinwithawidecrescentloppedoutofitsbrim;hiscoat,whenheworeone,hungnearlytohisheelsandhadtherearwardbuttonsfardowntheback;butonesuspendersupportedhistrousers;theseatofthetrousersbaggedlowandcontainednothing,thefringedlegsdraggedinthedirtwhennotrolledup.
Huckleberrycameandwent,athisownfreewill.
Hesleptondoorstepsinfineweatherandinemptyhogsheadsinwet;hedidnothavetogotoschoolortochurch,orcallanybeingmasterorobeyanybody;hecouldgofishingorswimmingwhenandwherehechose,andstayaslongasitsuitedhim;nobodyforbadehimtofight;hecouldsitupaslateashepleased;hewasalwaysthefirstboythatwentbarefootinthespringandthelasttoresumeleatherinthefall;heneverhadtowash,norputoncleanclothes;hecouldswearwonderfully.
Inaword,everythingthatgoestomakelifepreciousthatboyhad.
Sothoughteveryharassed,hampered,respectableboyinSt.Petersburg.
Tomhailedtheromanticoutcast:
"Hello,Huckleberry!"
"Helloyourself,andseehowyoulikeit."
"What'sthatyougot?"
"Deadcat."
"Lemmeseehim,Huck.My,he'sprettystiff.Where'dyougethim?"
"Boughthimoff'naboy."
"Whatdidyougive?"
"IgiveablueticketandabladderthatIgotattheslaughter–house."
"Where'dyougettheblueticket?"
"Boughtitoff'nBenRogerstwoweeksagoforahoop–stick."
"Say—whatisdeadcatsgoodfor,Huck?"
"Goodfor?Curewartswith."
"No!Isthatso?Iknowsomethingthat'sbetter."
"Ibetyoudon't.Whatisit?"
"Why,spunk–water."
"Spunk–water!Iwouldn'tgiveadernforspunk–water."
"Youwouldn't,wouldn'tyou?D'youevertryit?"
"No,Ihain't.ButBobTannerdid."
"Whotoldyouso!"
"Why,hetoldJeffThatcher,andJefftoldJohnnyBaker,andJohnnytoldJimHollis,andJimtoldBenRogers,andBentoldanigger,andtheniggertoldme.Therenow!"
"Well,whatofit?They'llalllie.Leastwaysallbutthenigger.Idon'tknowHIM.ButIneverseeaniggerthatWOULDN'Tlie.Shucks!NowyoutellmehowBobTannerdoneit,Huck."
"Why,hetookanddippedhishandinarottenstumpwheretherain–waterwas."
"Inthedaytime?"
"Certainly."
"Withhisfacetothestump?"
"Yes.LeastIreckonso."
"Didhesayanything?"
"Idon'treckonhedid.Idon'tknow."
"Aha!Talkabouttryingtocurewartswithspunk–watersuchablamefoolwayasthat!Why,thatain'ta–goingtodoanygood.
Yougottogoallbyyourself,tothemiddleofthewoods,whereyouknowthere'saspunk–waterstump,andjustasit'smidnightyoubackupagainstthestumpandjamyourhandinandsay:
'Barley–corn,barley–corn,injun–mealshorts,Spunk–water,spunk–water,swallerthesewarts,'
andthenwalkawayquick,elevensteps,withyoureyesshut,andthenturnaroundthreetimesandwalkhomewithoutspeakingtoanybody.Becauseifyouspeakthecharm'sbusted."
"Well,thatsoundslikeagoodway;butthatain'tthewayBobTannerdone."
"No,sir,youcanbethedidn't,becuzhe'sthewartiestboyinthistown;andhewouldn'thaveawartonhimifhe'dknowedhowtoworkspunk–water.
I'vetookoffthousandsofwartsoffofmyhandsthatway,Huck.
IplaywithfrogssomuchthatI'vealwaysgotconsiderablemanywarts.SometimesItake'emoffwithabean."
"Yes,bean'sgood.I'vedonethat."
"Haveyou?What'syourway?"
"Youtakeandsplitthebean,andcutthewartsoastogetsomeblood,andthenyouputthebloodononepieceofthebeanandtakeanddigaholeandburyit'boutmidnightatthecrossroadsinthedarkofthemoon,andthenyouburnuptherestofthebean.
Youseethatpiecethat'sgotthebloodonitwillkeepdrawinganddrawing,tryingtofetchtheotherpiecetoit,andsothathelpsthebloodtodrawthewart,andprettysoonoffshecomes."
"Yes,that'sit,Huck—that'sit;thoughwhenyou'reburyingitifyousay'Downbean;offwart;comenomoretobotherme!'it'sbetter.
That'sthewayJoeHarperdoes,andhe'sbeennearlytoCoonvilleandmosteverywheres.
Butsay—howdoyoucure'emwithdeadcats?"
"Why,youtakeyourcatandgoandgetinthegraveyard'longaboutmidnightwhensomebodythatwaswickedhasbeenburied;andwhenit'smidnightadevilwillcome,ormaybetwoorthree,butyoucan'tsee'em,youcanonlyhearsomethinglikethewind,ormaybehear'emtalk;andwhenthey'retakingthatfelleraway,youheaveyourcatafter'emandsay,'Devilfollowcorpse,catfollowdevil,wartsfollowcat,I'mdonewithye!'
That'llfetchANYwart."
"Soundsright.D'youevertryit,Huck?"
"No,butoldMotherHopkinstoldme."
"Well,Ireckonit'sso,then.Becuztheysayshe'sawitch."
"Say!Why,Tom,IKNOWsheis.Shewitchedpap.Papsayssohisownself.
Hecomealongoneday,andheseeshewasa–witchinghim,sohetookuparock,andifshehadn'tdodged,he'dagother.
Well,thatverynightherolledoff'nashedwher'hewasalayindrunk,andbrokehisarm."
"Why,that'sawful.Howdidheknowshewasa–witchinghim?"
"Lord,papcantell,easy.Papsayswhentheykeeplookingatyourightstiddy,they'rea–witchingyou.Speciallyiftheymumble.Becuzwhentheymumblethey'resayingtheLord'sPrayerbackards."
"Say,Hucky,whenyougoingtotrythecat?"
"To–night.Ireckonthey'llcomeafteroldHossWilliamsto–night."
"ButtheyburiedhimSaturday.Didn'ttheygethimSaturdaynight?"
"Why,howyoutalk!Howcouldtheircharmsworktillmidnight?—andTHENit'sSunday.Devilsdon'tslosharoundmuchofaSunday,Idon'treckon."
"Ineverthoughtofthat.That'sso.Lemmegowithyou?"
"Ofcourse—ifyouain'tafeard."
"Afeard!'Tain'tlikely.Willyoumeow?"
"Yes—andyoumeowback,ifyougetachance.
Lasttime,youkep'mea–meowingaroundtilloldHayswenttothrowingrocksatmeandsays'Dernthatcat!'
andsoIhoveabrickthroughhiswindow—butdon'tyoutell."
"Iwon't.Icouldn'tmeowthatnight,becuzauntiewaswatchingme,butI'llmeowthistime.Say—what'sthat?"
"Nothingbutatick."
"Where'dyougethim?"
"Outinthewoods."
"What'llyoutakeforhim?"
"Idon'tknow.Idon'twanttosellhim."
"Allright.It'samightysmalltick,anyway."
"Oh,anybodycanrunatickdownthatdon'tbelongtothem.I'msatisfiedwithit.It'sagoodenoughtickforme."
"Sho,there'sticksaplenty.Icouldhaveathousandof'emifIwantedto."
"Well,whydon'tyou?Becuzyouknowmightywellyoucan't.Thisisaprettyearlytick,Ireckon.It'sthefirstoneI'veseenthisyear."
"Say,Huck—I'llgiveyoumytoothforhim."
"Lessseeit."
Tomgotoutabitofpaperandcarefullyunrolledit.Huckleberryvieweditwistfully.Thetemptationwasverystrong.Atlasthesaid:
"Isitgenuwyne?"
Tomliftedhislipandshowedthevacancy.
"Well,allright,"saidHuckleberry,"it'satrade."
Tomenclosedthetickinthepercussion–capboxthathadlatelybeenthepinchbug'sprison,andtheboysseparated,eachfeelingwealthierthanbefore.
WhenTomreachedthelittleisolatedframeschoolhouse,hestrodeinbriskly,withthemannerofonewhohadcomewithallhonestspeed.
Hehunghishatonapegandflunghimselfintohisseatwithbusiness–likealacrity.
Themaster,thronedonhighinhisgreatsplint–bottomarm–chair,wasdozing,lulledbythedrowsyhumofstudy.Theinterruptionrousedhim.
"ThomasSawyer!"
Tomknewthatwhenhisnamewaspronouncedinfull,itmeanttrouble.
"Sir!"
"Comeuphere.Now,sir,whyareyoulateagain,asusual?"
Tomwasabouttotakerefugeinalie,whenhesawtwolongtailsofyellowhairhangingdownabackthatherecognizedbytheelectricsympathyoflove;andbythatformwasTHEONLYVACANTPLACEonthegirls'sideoftheschoolhouse.Heinstantlysaid:
"ISTOPPEDTOTALKWITHHUCKLEBERRYFINN!"
Themaster'spulsestoodstill,andhestaredhelplessly.Thebuzzofstudyceased.Thepupilswonderedifthisfoolhardyboyhadlosthismind.Themastersaid:
"You—youdidwhat?"
"StoppedtotalkwithHuckleberryFinn."
Therewasnomistakingthewords.
"ThomasSawyer,thisisthemostastoundingconfessionIhaveeverlistenedto.Nomereferulewillanswerforthisoffence.Takeoffyourjacket."
Themaster'sarmperformeduntilitwastiredandthestockofswitchesnotablydiminished.Thentheorderfollowed:
"Now,sir,goandsitwiththegirls!Andletthisbeawarningtoyou."
Thetitterthatrippledaroundtheroomappearedtoabashtheboy,butinrealitythatresultwascausedrathermorebyhisworshipfulaweofhisunknownidolandthedreadpleasurethatlayinhishighgoodfortune.
Hesatdownupontheendofthepinebenchandthegirlhitchedherselfawayfromhimwithatossofherhead.
Nudgesandwinksandwhisperstraversedtheroom,butTomsatstill,withhisarmsuponthelong,lowdeskbeforehim,andseemedtostudyhisbook.
Byandbyattentionceasedfromhim,andtheaccustomedschoolmurmurroseuponthedullaironcemore.
Presentlytheboybegantostealfurtiveglancesatthegirl.
Sheobservedit,"madeamouth"athimandgavehimthebackofherheadforthespaceofaminute.
Whenshecautiouslyfacedaroundagain,apeachlaybeforeher.Shethrustitaway.Tomgentlyputitback.
Shethrustitawayagain,butwithlessanimosity.Tompatientlyreturnedittoitsplace.Thensheletitremain.
Tomscrawledonhisslate,"Pleasetakeit—Igotmore."
Thegirlglancedatthewords,butmadenosign.
Nowtheboybegantodrawsomethingontheslate,hidinghisworkwithhislefthand.
Foratimethegirlrefusedtonotice;butherhumancuriositypresentlybegantomanifestitselfbyhardlyperceptiblesigns.
Theboyworkedon,apparentlyunconscious.
Thegirlmadeasortofnoncommittalattempttosee,buttheboydidnotbetraythathewasawareofit.
Atlastshegaveinandhesitatinglywhispered:
"Letmeseeit."
Tompartlyuncoveredadismalcaricatureofahousewithtwogableendstoitandacorkscrewofsmokeissuingfromthechimney.
Thenthegirl'sinterestbegantofastenitselfupontheworkandsheforgoteverythingelse.
Whenitwasfinished,shegazedamoment,thenwhispered:
"It'snice—makeaman."
Theartisterectedamaninthefrontyard,thatresembledaderrick.Hecouldhavesteppedoverthehouse;butthegirlwasnothypercritical;shewassatisfiedwiththemonster,andwhispered:
"It'sabeautifulman—nowmakemecomingalong."
Tomdrewanhour–glasswithafullmoonandstrawlimbstoitandarmedthespreadingfingerswithaportentousfan.Thegirlsaid:
"It'seversonice—IwishIcoulddraw."
"It'seasy,"whisperedTom,"I'lllearnyou."
"Oh,willyou?When?"
"Atnoon.Doyougohometodinner?"
"I'llstayifyouwill."
"Good—that'sawhack.What'syourname?"
"BeckyThatcher.What'syours?Oh,Iknow.It'sThomasSawyer."
"That'sthenametheylickmeby.I'mTomwhenI'mgood.YoucallmeTom,willyou?"
"Yes."
NowTombegantoscrawlsomethingontheslate,hidingthewordsfromthegirl.Butshewasnotbackwardthistime.Shebeggedtosee.Tomsaid:
"Oh,itain'tanything."
"Yesitis."
"Noitain't.Youdon'twanttosee."
"YesIdo,indeedIdo.Pleaseletme."
"You'lltell."
"NoIwon't—deedanddeedanddoubledeedwon't."
"Youwon'ttellanybodyatall?Ever,aslongasyoulive?"
"No,Iwon'tevertellANYbody.Nowletme."
"Oh,YOUdon'twanttosee!"
"Nowthatyoutreatmeso,IWILLsee."Andsheputhersmallhanduponhisandalittlescuffleensued,Tompretendingtoresistinearnestbutlettinghishandslipbydegreestillthesewordswererevealed:"ILOVEYOU."
"Oh,youbadthing!"Andshehithishandasmartrap,butreddenedandlookedpleased,nevertheless.
Justatthisjuncturetheboyfeltaslow,fatefulgripclosingonhisear,andasteadyliftingimpulse.
Inthatwisehewasborneacrossthehouseanddepositedinhisownseat,underapepperingfireofgigglesfromthewholeschool.
Thenthemasterstoodoverhimduringafewawfulmoments,andfinallymovedawaytohisthronewithoutsayingaword.
ButalthoughTom'seartingled,hisheartwasjubilant.
AstheschoolquieteddownTommadeanhonestefforttostudy,buttheturmoilwithinhimwastoogreat.
Inturnhetookhisplaceinthereadingclassandmadeabotchofit;theninthegeographyclassandturnedlakesintomountains,mountainsintorivers,andriversintocontinents,tillchaoswascomeagain;theninthespellingclass,andgot"turneddown,"byasuccessionofmerebabywords,tillhebroughtupatthefootandyieldedupthepewtermedalwhichhehadwornwithostentationformonths.
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