Reading Help Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Ch.I-XV
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squeeze through on his knees; so he put his head through and began, `
` warily. `
` `
` "What makes the candle blow so?" said Aunt Polly. Tom hurried up. `
` "Why, that door's open, I believe. Why, of course it is. No end of `
` strange things now. Go 'long and shut it, Sid." `
` `
` Tom disappeared under the bed just in time. He lay and "breathed" `
` himself for a time, and then crept to where he could almost touch his `
` aunt's foot. `
` `
` "But as I was saying," said Aunt Polly, "he warn't BAD, so to say `
` --only mischEEvous. Only just giddy, and harum-scarum, you know. He `
` warn't any more responsible than a colt. HE never meant any harm, and `
` he was the best-hearted boy that ever was"--and she began to cry. `
` `
` "It was just so with my Joe--always full of his devilment, and up to `
` every kind of mischief, but he was just as unselfish and kind as he `
` could be--and laws bless me, to think I went and whipped him for taking `
` that cream, never once recollecting that I throwed it out myself `
` because it was sour, and I never to see him again in this world, never, `
` never, never, poor abused boy!" And Mrs. Harper sobbed as if her heart `
` would break. `
` `
` "I hope Tom's better off where he is," said Sid, "but if he'd been `
` better in some ways--" `
` `
` "SID!" Tom felt the glare of the old lady's eye, though he could not `
` see it. "Not a word against my Tom, now that he's gone! God'll take `
` care of HIM--never you trouble YOURself, sir! Oh, Mrs. Harper, I don't `
` know how to give him up! I don't know how to give him up! He was such a `
` comfort to me, although he tormented my old heart out of me, 'most." `
` `
` "The Lord giveth and the Lord hath taken away--Blessed be the name of `
` the Lord! But it's so hard--Oh, it's so hard! Only last Saturday my `
` Joe busted a firecracker right under my nose and I knocked him `
` sprawling. Little did I know then, how soon--Oh, if it was to do over `
` again I'd hug him and bless him for it." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, yes, I know just how you feel, Mrs. Harper, I know just `
` exactly how you feel. No longer ago than yesterday noon, my Tom took `
` and filled the cat full of Pain-killer, and I did think the cretur `
` would tear the house down. And God forgive me, I cracked Tom's head `
` with my thimble, poor boy, poor dead boy. But he's out of all his `
` troubles now. And the last words I ever heard him say was to reproach--" `
` `
` But this memory was too much for the old lady, and she broke entirely `
` down. Tom was snuffling, now, himself--and more in pity of himself than `
` anybody else. He could hear Mary crying, and putting in a kindly word `
` for him from time to time. He began to have a nobler opinion of himself `
` than ever before. Still, he was sufficiently touched by his aunt's `
` grief to long to rush out from under the bed and overwhelm her with `
` joy--and the theatrical gorgeousness of the thing appealed strongly to `
` his nature, too, but he resisted and lay still. `
` `
` He went on listening, and gathered by odds and ends that it was `
` conjectured at first that the boys had got drowned while taking a swim; `
` then the small raft had been missed; next, certain boys said the `
` missing lads had promised that the village should "hear something" `
` soon; the wise-heads had "put this and that together" and decided that `
` the lads had gone off on that raft and would turn up at the next town `
` below, presently; but toward noon the raft had been found, lodged `
` against the Missouri shore some five or six miles below the village `
` --and then hope perished; they must be drowned, else hunger would have `
` driven them home by nightfall if not sooner. It was believed that the `
` search for the bodies had been a fruitless effort merely because the `
` drowning must have occurred in mid-channel, since the boys, being good `
` swimmers, would otherwise have escaped to shore. This was Wednesday `
` night. If the bodies continued missing until Sunday, all hope would be `
` given over, and the funerals would be preached on that morning. Tom `
` shuddered. `
` `
` Mrs. Harper gave a sobbing good-night and turned to go. Then with a `
` mutual impulse the two bereaved women flung themselves into each `
` other's arms and had a good, consoling cry, and then parted. Aunt Polly `
` was tender far beyond her wont, in her good-night to Sid and Mary. Sid `
` snuffled a bit and Mary went off crying with all her heart. `
` `
` Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for Tom so touchingly, so `
` appealingly, and with such measureless love in her words and her old `
` trembling voice, that he was weltering in tears again, long before she `
` was through. `
` `
` He had to keep still long after she went to bed, for she kept making `
` broken-hearted ejaculations from time to time, tossing unrestfully, and `
` turning over. But at last she was still, only moaning a little in her `
` sleep. Now the boy stole out, rose gradually by the bedside, shaded the `
` candle-light with his hand, and stood regarding her. His heart was full `
` of pity for her. He took out his sycamore scroll and placed it by the `
` candle. But something occurred to him, and he lingered considering. His `
` face lighted with a happy solution of his thought; he put the bark `
` hastily in his pocket. Then he bent over and kissed the faded lips, and `
` straightway made his stealthy exit, latching the door behind him. `
` `
` He threaded his way back to the ferry landing, found nobody at large `
` there, and walked boldly on board the boat, for he knew she was `
` tenantless except that there was a watchman, who always turned in and `
` slept like a graven image. He untied the skiff at the stern, slipped `
` into it, and was soon rowing cautiously upstream. When he had pulled a `
` mile above the village, he started quartering across and bent himself `
` stoutly to his work. He hit the landing on the other side neatly, for `
` this was a familiar bit of work to him. He was moved to capture the `
` skiff, arguing that it might be considered a ship and therefore `
` legitimate prey for a pirate, but he knew a thorough search would be `
` made for it and that might end in revelations. So he stepped ashore and `
` entered the woods. `
` `
` He sat down and took a long rest, torturing himself meanwhile to keep `
` awake, and then started warily down the home-stretch. The night was far `
` spent. It was broad daylight before he found himself fairly abreast the `
` island bar. He rested again until the sun was well up and gilding the `
` great river with its splendor, and then he plunged into the stream. A `
` little later he paused, dripping, upon the threshold of the camp, and `
` heard Joe say: `
` `
` "No, Tom's true-blue, Huck, and he'll come back. He won't desert. He `
` knows that would be a disgrace to a pirate, and Tom's too proud for `
` that sort of thing. He's up to something or other. Now I wonder what?" `
` `
` "Well, the things is ours, anyway, ain't they?" `
` `
` Pretty near, but not yet, Huck. The writing says they are if he ain't `
` back here to breakfast." `
` `
` "Which he is!" exclaimed Tom, with fine dramatic effect, stepping `
` grandly into camp. `
` `
` A sumptuous breakfast of bacon and fish was shortly provided, and as `
` the boys set to work upon it, Tom recounted (and adorned) his `
` adventures. They were a vain and boastful company of heroes when the `
` tale was done. Then Tom hid himself away in a shady nook to sleep till `
` noon, and the other pirates got ready to fish and explore. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
`
` warily. `
` `
` "What makes the candle blow so?" said Aunt Polly. Tom hurried up. `
` "Why, that door's open, I believe. Why, of course it is. No end of `
` strange things now. Go 'long and shut it, Sid." `
` `
` Tom disappeared under the bed just in time. He lay and "breathed" `
` himself for a time, and then crept to where he could almost touch his `
` aunt's foot. `
` `
` "But as I was saying," said Aunt Polly, "he warn't BAD, so to say `
` --only mischEEvous. Only just giddy, and harum-scarum, you know. He `
` warn't any more responsible than a colt. HE never meant any harm, and `
` he was the best-hearted boy that ever was"--and she began to cry. `
` `
` "It was just so with my Joe--always full of his devilment, and up to `
` every kind of mischief, but he was just as unselfish and kind as he `
` could be--and laws bless me, to think I went and whipped him for taking `
` that cream, never once recollecting that I throwed it out myself `
` because it was sour, and I never to see him again in this world, never, `
` never, never, poor abused boy!" And Mrs. Harper sobbed as if her heart `
` would break. `
` `
` "I hope Tom's better off where he is," said Sid, "but if he'd been `
` better in some ways--" `
` `
` "SID!" Tom felt the glare of the old lady's eye, though he could not `
` see it. "Not a word against my Tom, now that he's gone! God'll take `
` care of HIM--never you trouble YOURself, sir! Oh, Mrs. Harper, I don't `
` know how to give him up! I don't know how to give him up! He was such a `
` comfort to me, although he tormented my old heart out of me, 'most." `
` `
` "The Lord giveth and the Lord hath taken away--Blessed be the name of `
` the Lord! But it's so hard--Oh, it's so hard! Only last Saturday my `
` Joe busted a firecracker right under my nose and I knocked him `
` sprawling. Little did I know then, how soon--Oh, if it was to do over `
` again I'd hug him and bless him for it." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, yes, I know just how you feel, Mrs. Harper, I know just `
` exactly how you feel. No longer ago than yesterday noon, my Tom took `
` and filled the cat full of Pain-killer, and I did think the cretur `
` would tear the house down. And God forgive me, I cracked Tom's head `
` with my thimble, poor boy, poor dead boy. But he's out of all his `
` troubles now. And the last words I ever heard him say was to reproach--" `
` `
` But this memory was too much for the old lady, and she broke entirely `
` down. Tom was snuffling, now, himself--and more in pity of himself than `
` anybody else. He could hear Mary crying, and putting in a kindly word `
` for him from time to time. He began to have a nobler opinion of himself `
` than ever before. Still, he was sufficiently touched by his aunt's `
` grief to long to rush out from under the bed and overwhelm her with `
` joy--and the theatrical gorgeousness of the thing appealed strongly to `
` his nature, too, but he resisted and lay still. `
` `
` He went on listening, and gathered by odds and ends that it was `
` conjectured at first that the boys had got drowned while taking a swim; `
` then the small raft had been missed; next, certain boys said the `
` missing lads had promised that the village should "hear something" `
` soon; the wise-heads had "put this and that together" and decided that `
` the lads had gone off on that raft and would turn up at the next town `
` below, presently; but toward noon the raft had been found, lodged `
` against the Missouri shore some five or six miles below the village `
` --and then hope perished; they must be drowned, else hunger would have `
` driven them home by nightfall if not sooner. It was believed that the `
` search for the bodies had been a fruitless effort merely because the `
` drowning must have occurred in mid-channel, since the boys, being good `
` swimmers, would otherwise have escaped to shore. This was Wednesday `
` night. If the bodies continued missing until Sunday, all hope would be `
` given over, and the funerals would be preached on that morning. Tom `
` shuddered. `
` `
` Mrs. Harper gave a sobbing good-night and turned to go. Then with a `
` mutual impulse the two bereaved women flung themselves into each `
` other's arms and had a good, consoling cry, and then parted. Aunt Polly `
` was tender far beyond her wont, in her good-night to Sid and Mary. Sid `
` snuffled a bit and Mary went off crying with all her heart. `
` `
` Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for Tom so touchingly, so `
` appealingly, and with such measureless love in her words and her old `
` trembling voice, that he was weltering in tears again, long before she `
` was through. `
` `
` He had to keep still long after she went to bed, for she kept making `
` broken-hearted ejaculations from time to time, tossing unrestfully, and `
` turning over. But at last she was still, only moaning a little in her `
` sleep. Now the boy stole out, rose gradually by the bedside, shaded the `
` candle-light with his hand, and stood regarding her. His heart was full `
` of pity for her. He took out his sycamore scroll and placed it by the `
` candle. But something occurred to him, and he lingered considering. His `
` face lighted with a happy solution of his thought; he put the bark `
` hastily in his pocket. Then he bent over and kissed the faded lips, and `
` straightway made his stealthy exit, latching the door behind him. `
` `
` He threaded his way back to the ferry landing, found nobody at large `
` there, and walked boldly on board the boat, for he knew she was `
` tenantless except that there was a watchman, who always turned in and `
` slept like a graven image. He untied the skiff at the stern, slipped `
` into it, and was soon rowing cautiously upstream. When he had pulled a `
` mile above the village, he started quartering across and bent himself `
` stoutly to his work. He hit the landing on the other side neatly, for `
` this was a familiar bit of work to him. He was moved to capture the `
` skiff, arguing that it might be considered a ship and therefore `
` legitimate prey for a pirate, but he knew a thorough search would be `
` made for it and that might end in revelations. So he stepped ashore and `
` entered the woods. `
` `
` He sat down and took a long rest, torturing himself meanwhile to keep `
` awake, and then started warily down the home-stretch. The night was far `
` spent. It was broad daylight before he found himself fairly abreast the `
` island bar. He rested again until the sun was well up and gilding the `
` great river with its splendor, and then he plunged into the stream. A `
` little later he paused, dripping, upon the threshold of the camp, and `
` heard Joe say: `
` `
` "No, Tom's true-blue, Huck, and he'll come back. He won't desert. He `
` knows that would be a disgrace to a pirate, and Tom's too proud for `
` that sort of thing. He's up to something or other. Now I wonder what?" `
` `
` "Well, the things is ours, anyway, ain't they?" `
` `
` Pretty near, but not yet, Huck. The writing says they are if he ain't `
` back here to breakfast." `
` `
` "Which he is!" exclaimed Tom, with fine dramatic effect, stepping `
` grandly into camp. `
` `
` A sumptuous breakfast of bacon and fish was shortly provided, and as `
` the boys set to work upon it, Tom recounted (and adorned) his `
` adventures. They were a vain and boastful company of heroes when the `
` tale was done. Then Tom hid himself away in a shady nook to sleep till `
` noon, and the other pirates got ready to fish and explore. `
` `
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