Reading Help Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Ch.I-XV
`
` He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very `
` well though--and loathed him. `
` `
` Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. `
` Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him `
` than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore `
` them down and drove them out of his mind for the time--just as men's `
` misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This `
` new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just `
` acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. `
` It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, `
` produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short `
` intervals in the midst of the music--the reader probably remembers how `
` to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave `
` him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full `
` of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an `
` astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as `
` strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with `
` the boy, not the astronomer. `
` `
` The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom `
` checked his whistle. A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger `
` than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive `
` curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy `
` was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day. This was simply `
` astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth `
` roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes `
` on--and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of `
` ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The `
` more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his `
` nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed `
` to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved--but `
` only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all `
` the time. Finally Tom said: `
` `
` "I can lick you!" `
` `
` "I'd like to see you try it." `
` `
` "Well, I can do it." `
` `
` "No you can't, either." `
` `
` "Yes I can." `
` `
` "No you can't." `
` `
` "I can." `
` `
` "You can't." `
` `
` "Can!" `
` `
` "Can't!" `
` `
` An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: `
` `
` "What's your name?" `
` `
` "'Tisn't any of your business, maybe." `
` `
` "Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my business." `
` `
` "Well why don't you?" `
` `
` "If you say much, I will." `
` `
` "Much--much--MUCH. There now." `
` `
` "Oh, you think you're mighty smart, DON'T you? I could lick you with `
` one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to." `
` `
` "Well why don't you DO it? You SAY you can do it." `
` `
` "Well I WILL, if you fool with me." `
` `
` "Oh yes--I've seen whole families in the same fix." `
` `
` "Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, DON'T you? Oh, what a hat!" `
` `
` "You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it `
` off--and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs." `
` `
` "You're a liar!" `
` `
` "You're another." `
` `
` "You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up." `
` `
` "Aw--take a walk!" `
` `
` "Say--if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a `
` rock off'n your head." `
` `
` "Oh, of COURSE you will." `
` `
` "Well I WILL." `
` `
` "Well why don't you DO it then? What do you keep SAYING you will for? `
` Why don't you DO it? It's because you're afraid." `
` `
` "I AIN'T afraid." `
` `
` "You are." `
` `
` "I ain't." `
` `
` "You are." `
` `
` Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently `
` they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: `
` `
` "Get away from here!" `
` `
` "Go away yourself!" `
` `
` "I won't." `
` `
` "I won't either." `
` `
` So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and `
` both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with `
` hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both `
` were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, `
` and Tom said: `
` `
` "You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he `
` can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too." `
` `
` "What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger `
` than he is--and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." `
` [Both brothers were imaginary.] `
` `
` "That's a lie." `
` `
` "YOUR saying so don't make it so." `
` `
` Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said: `
` `
` "I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand `
` up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep." `
` `
` The new boy stepped over promptly, and said: `
` `
` "Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it." `
` `
` "Don't you crowd me now; you better look out." `
` `
` "Well, you SAID you'd do it--why don't you do it?" `
` `
` "By jingo! for two cents I WILL do it." `
` `
` The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out `
` with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys `
` were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and `
` for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and `
` clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered `
` themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and `
` through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and `
` pounding him with his fists. "Holler 'nuff!" said he. `
` `
` The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying--mainly from rage. `
` `
` "Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding went on. `
` `
` At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up `
` and said: `
` `
` "Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with next `
` time." `
` `
` The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, `
` snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and `
` threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." `
` To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and `
` as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw `
` it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like `
` an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he `
` lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the `
` enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the `
` window and declined. At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called `
` Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went `
` away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy. `
` `
` He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in `
` at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; `
` and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn `
` his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in `
` its firmness. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER II `
` `
` SATURDAY morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and `
` fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if `
` the heart was young the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in `
` every face and a spring in every step. The locust-trees were in bloom `
` and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond `
` the village and above it, was green with vegetation and it lay just far `
`
` He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very `
` well though--and loathed him. `
` `
` Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. `
` Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him `
` than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore `
` them down and drove them out of his mind for the time--just as men's `
` misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This `
` new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just `
` acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. `
` It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, `
` produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short `
` intervals in the midst of the music--the reader probably remembers how `
` to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave `
` him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full `
` of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an `
` astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as `
` strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with `
` the boy, not the astronomer. `
` `
` The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom `
` checked his whistle. A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger `
` than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive `
` curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy `
` was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day. This was simply `
` astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth `
` roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes `
` on--and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of `
` ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The `
` more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his `
` nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed `
` to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved--but `
` only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all `
` the time. Finally Tom said: `
` `
` "I can lick you!" `
` `
` "I'd like to see you try it." `
` `
` "Well, I can do it." `
` `
` "No you can't, either." `
` `
` "Yes I can." `
` `
` "No you can't." `
` `
` "I can." `
` `
` "You can't." `
` `
` "Can!" `
` `
` "Can't!" `
` `
` An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: `
` `
` "What's your name?" `
` `
` "'Tisn't any of your business, maybe." `
` `
` "Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my business." `
` `
` "Well why don't you?" `
` `
` "If you say much, I will." `
` `
` "Much--much--MUCH. There now." `
` `
` "Oh, you think you're mighty smart, DON'T you? I could lick you with `
` one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to." `
` `
` "Well why don't you DO it? You SAY you can do it." `
` `
` "Well I WILL, if you fool with me." `
` `
` "Oh yes--I've seen whole families in the same fix." `
` `
` "Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, DON'T you? Oh, what a hat!" `
` `
` "You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it `
` off--and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs." `
` `
` "You're a liar!" `
` `
` "You're another." `
` `
` "You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up." `
` `
` "Aw--take a walk!" `
` `
` "Say--if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a `
` rock off'n your head." `
` `
` "Oh, of COURSE you will." `
` `
` "Well I WILL." `
` `
` "Well why don't you DO it then? What do you keep SAYING you will for? `
` Why don't you DO it? It's because you're afraid." `
` `
` "I AIN'T afraid." `
` `
` "You are." `
` `
` "I ain't." `
` `
` "You are." `
` `
` Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently `
` they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: `
` `
` "Get away from here!" `
` `
` "Go away yourself!" `
` `
` "I won't." `
` `
` "I won't either." `
` `
` So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and `
` both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with `
` hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both `
` were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, `
` and Tom said: `
` `
` "You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he `
` can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too." `
` `
` "What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger `
` than he is--and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." `
` [Both brothers were imaginary.] `
` `
` "That's a lie." `
` `
` "YOUR saying so don't make it so." `
` `
` Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said: `
` `
` "I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand `
` up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep." `
` `
` The new boy stepped over promptly, and said: `
` `
` "Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it." `
` `
` "Don't you crowd me now; you better look out." `
` `
` "Well, you SAID you'd do it--why don't you do it?" `
` `
` "By jingo! for two cents I WILL do it." `
` `
` The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out `
` with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys `
` were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and `
` for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and `
` clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered `
` themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and `
` through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and `
` pounding him with his fists. "Holler 'nuff!" said he. `
` `
` The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying--mainly from rage. `
` `
` "Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding went on. `
` `
` At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up `
` and said: `
` `
` "Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with next `
` time." `
` `
` The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, `
` snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and `
` threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." `
` To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and `
` as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw `
` it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like `
` an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he `
` lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the `
` enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the `
` window and declined. At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called `
` Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went `
` away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy. `
` `
` He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in `
` at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; `
` and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn `
` his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in `
` its firmness. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER II `
` `
` SATURDAY morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and `
` fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if `
` the heart was young the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in `
` every face and a spring in every step. The locust-trees were in bloom `
` and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond `
` the village and above it, was green with vegetation and it lay just far `
`