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And now at this moment, when hope was dead, Tom Sawyer came forward with nine yellow tickets, nine red tickets, and ten blue ones, and demanded a Bible. This was a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. Walters was not expecting an application from this source for the next ten years. But there was no getting around it — here were the certified checks, and they were good for their face. Tom was therefore elevated to a place with the Judge and the other elect, and the great news was announced from headquarters. It was the most stunning surprise of the decade, and so profound was the sensation that it lifted the new hero up to the judicial one's altitude, and the school had two marvels to gaze upon in place of one. The boys were all eaten up with envy — but those that suffered the bitterest pangs were those who perceived too late that they themselves had contributed to this hated splendor by trading tickets to Tom for the wealth he had amassed in selling whitewashing privileges. These despised themselves, as being the dupes of a wily fraud, a guileful snake in the grass. The prize was delivered to Tom with as much effusion as the superintendent could pump up under the circumstances; but it lacked somewhat of the true gush, for the poor fellow's instinct taught him that there was a mystery here that could not well bear the light, perhaps; it was simply preposterous that this boy had warehoused two thousand sheaves of Scriptural wisdom on his premises — a dozen would strain his capacity, without a doubt. Amy Lawrence was proud and glad, and she tried to make Tom see it in her face — but he wouldn't look. She wondered; then she was just a grain troubled; next a dim suspicion came and went — came again; she watched; a furtive glance told her worlds — and then her heart broke, and she was jealous, and angry, and the tears came and she hated everybody. Tom most of all (she thought). Tom was introduced to the Judge; but his tongue was tied, his breath would hardly come, his heart quaked — partly because of the awful greatness of the man, but mainly because he was her parent. He would have liked to fall down and worship him, if it were in the dark. The Judge put his hand on Tom's head and called him a fine little man, and asked him what his name was. The boy stammered, gasped, and got it out: "Tom." "Oh, no, not Tom — it is —" "Thomas." "Ah, that's it. I thought there was more to it, maybe. That's very well. But you've another one I daresay, and you'll tell it to me, won't you?" "Tell the gentleman your other name, Thomas," said Walters, "and say sir. You mustn't forget your manners." "Thomas Sawyer — sir." "That's it! That's a good boy. Fine boy. Fine, manly little fellow. Two thousand verses is a great many — very, very great many. And you never can be sorry for the trouble you took to learn them; for knowledge is worth more than anything there is in the world; it's what makes great men and good men; you'll be a great man and a good man yourself, some day, Thomas, and then you'll look back and say, It's all owing to the precious Sunday-school privileges of my boyhood — it's all owing to my dear teachers that taught me to learn — it's all owing to the good superintendent, who encouraged me, and watched over me, and gave me a beautiful Bible — a splendid elegant Bible — to keep and have it all for my own, always — it's all owing to right bringing up! That is what you will say, Thomas — and you wouldn't take any money for those two thousand verses — no indeed you wouldn't. And now you wouldn't mind telling me and this lady some of the things you've learned — no, I know you wouldn't — for we are proud of little boys that learn. Now, no doubt you know the names of all the
twelve disciples. Won't you tell us the names of the first two that were appointed?" Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. He blushed, now, and his eyes fell. Mr. Walters' heart sank within him. He said to himself, it is not possible that the boy can answer the simplest question — why did the Judge ask him? Yet he felt obliged to speak up and say: "Answer the gentleman, Thomas — don't be afraid." Tom still hung fire. "Now I know you'll tell me," said the lady. "The names of the first two disciples were —" "David and Goliah!" Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene.
Page 2 and 3: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mark T
Page 4 and 5: Preface Most of the adventures reco
Page 6 and 7: can't hit him a lick. I ain't doing
Page 8 and 9: "If you say much, I will." "Much
Page 10 and 11: Chapter 2 Saturday morning was come
Page 12 and 13: "Like it? Well, I don't see why I o
Page 14 and 15: Chapter 3 Tom presented himself bef
Page 16 and 17: "Hold on, now, what 'er you belting
Page 18 and 19: Chapter 4 The sun rose upon a tranq
Page 20 and 21: longer. He entered the church, now,
Page 24 and 25: Chapter 5 About half-past ten the c
Page 26 and 27: smelt at it from a safe distance; w
Page 28 and 29: cat with one eye to that new girl t
Page 30 and 31: ain't a-going to do any good. You g
Page 32 and 33: "Now, sir, go and sit with the girl
Page 34 and 35: Chapter 7 The harder Tom tried to f
Page 36 and 37: "Ye — yes." "What was it?" "I sha
Page 38 and 39: Chapter 8 Tom dodged hither and thi
Page 40 and 41: "Hold! Who comes here into Sherwood
Page 42 and 43: "I wisht I knowed. It's awful solem
Page 44 and 45: "What did you do it for?" "I! I nev
Page 46 and 47: "I'm agreed. It's the best thing. W
Page 48 and 49: "Yes, but she ain't dead. And what'
Page 50 and 51: "Who's accused you?" shouted a voic
Page 52 and 53: Chapter 12 One of the reasons why T
Page 54 and 55: Tom looked up in her face with just
Page 56 and 57: About midnight Tom arrived with a b
Page 58 and 59: "Why, Huck, you'd have to. How'd yo
Page 60 and 61: They came back to camp wonderfully
Page 62 and 63: each of these with his "red keel";
Page 64 and 65: Tom, now that he's gone! God'll tak
Page 66 and 67: Chapter 16 After dinner all the gan
Page 68 and 69: made pipes and filled them. These n
Page 70 and 71: happened. Everything in camp was dr
Page 72 and 73:
expectant dumbness, and then Aunt P
Page 74 and 75:
"Try harder, Tom! The wind did blow
Page 76 and 77:
"Oh, that's jolly. Who's going to g
Page 78 and 79:
Chapter 19 Tom arrived at home in a
Page 80 and 81:
Chapter 20 There was something abou
Page 82 and 83:
A denial. Another pause. "Joseph Ha
Page 84 and 85:
indestructible "Give me liberty or
Page 86 and 87:
house. He knew what the matter was,
Page 88 and 89:
Then came the measles. During two l
Page 90 and 91:
"Yes — so they would. But I hate
Page 92 and 93:
"Where?" "Behind the elms that's on
Page 94 and 95:
Chapter 25 There comes a time in ev
Page 96 and 97:
fight all the time. I remember, mig
Page 98 and 99:
house a wide berth, and took their
Page 100 and 101:
there were so many cases where peop
Page 102 and 103:
now we're here!" Joe's knife struck
Page 104 and 105:
Chapter 27 The adventure of the day
Page 106 and 107:
Chapter 28 That night Tom and Huck
Page 108 and 109:
Chapter 29 The first thing Tom hear
Page 110 and 111:
then he dropped her out of his mind
Page 112 and 113:
Chapter 30 As the earliest suspicio
Page 114 and 115:
During breakfast the talk went on,
Page 116 and 117:
"You can depend on it. That's the L
Page 118 and 119:
"Yes, I reckon we better. P'raps we
Page 120 and 121:
"Tom!" "Well, Becky?" "They'll miss
Page 122 and 123:
Chapter 32 Tuesday afternoon came,
Page 124 and 125:
Chapter 33 Within a few minutes the
Page 126 and 127:
"Right now, if you say it. Are you
Page 128 and 129:
exclaimed: "My goodness, Huck, look
Page 130 and 131:
Chapter 34 Huck said: "Tom, we can
Page 132 and 133:
Chapter 35 The reader may rest sati
Page 134 and 135:
most countries they're awful high u
Page 136 and 137:
Jules Verne 20,000 Leagues Under th
Page 138:
www.feedbooks.com Food for the mind
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