第12章

ThewidowsaidshemeanttogiveHuckahomeunderherroofandhavehimeducated;andthatwhenshecouldsparethemoneyshewouldstarthiminbusinessinamodestway.Tom"schancewascome.Hesaid:

"Huckdon"tneedit.Huck"srich."

Nothingbutaheavystrainuponthegoodmannersofthecompanykeptbackthedueandpropercomplimentarylaughatthispleasantjoke.Butthesilencewasalittleawkward.Tombrokeit:

"Huck"sgotmoney.Maybeyoudon"tbelieveit,buthe"sgotlotsofit.Oh,youneedn"tsmile——IreckonIcanshowyou.Youjustwaitaminute."

Tomranoutofdoors.Thecompanylookedateachotherwithaperplexedinterest——andinquiringlyatHuck,whowastongue-tied.

"Sid,whatailsTom?"saidAuntPolly."He——well,thereain"teveranymakingofthatboyout.Inever——"

Tomentered,strugglingwiththeweightofhissacks,andAuntPollydidnotfinishhersentence.Tompouredthemassofyellowcoinuponthetableandsaid:

"There——whatdidItellyou?Halfofit"sHuck"sandhalfofit"smine!"

Thespectacletookthegeneralbreathaway.Allgazed,nobodyspokeforamoment.Thentherewasaunanimouscallforanexplanation.Tomsaidhecouldfurnishit,andhedid.Thetalewaslong,butbrimfulofinterest.Therewasscarcelyaninterruptionfromanyonetobreakthecharmofitsflow.Whenhehadfinished,Mr.Jonessaid:

"IthoughtIhadfixedupalittlesurpriseforthisoccasion,butitdon"tamounttoanythingnow.Thisonemakesitsingmightysmall,I"mwillingtoallow."

Themoneywascounted.Thesumamountedtoalittleovertwelvethousanddollars.Itwasmorethananyonepresenthadeverseenatonetimebefore,thoughseveralpersonsweretherewhowereworthconsiderablymorethanthatinproperty.

CHAPTERXXXV

THEreadermayrestsatisfiedthatTom"sandHuck"swindfallmadeamightystirinthepoorlittlevillageofSt.Petersburg.Sovastasum,allinactualcash,seemednexttoincredible.Itwastalkedabout,gloatedover,glorified,untilthereasonofmanyofthecitizenstotteredunderthestrainoftheunhealthyexcitement.Every"haunted"houseinSt.Petersburgandtheneighboringvillageswasdissected,plankbyplank,anditsfoundationsdugupandransackedforhiddentreasure——andnotbyboys,butmen——prettygrave,unromanticmen,too,someofthem.WhereverTomandHuckappearedtheywerecourted,admired,staredat.Theboyswerenotabletorememberthattheirremarkshadpossessedweightbefore;butnowtheirsayingsweretreasuredandrepeated;everythingtheydidseemedsomehowtoberegardedasremarkable;theyhadevidentlylostthepowerofdoingandsayingcommonplacethings;moreover,theirpasthistorywasrakedupanddiscoveredtobearmarksofconspicuousoriginality.Thevillagepaperpublishedbiographicalsketchesoftheboys.

TheWidowDouglasputHuck"smoneyoutatsixpercent.,andJudgeThatcherdidthesamewithTom"satAuntPolly"srequest.Eachladhadanincome,now,thatwassimplyprodigious——adollarforeveryweek-dayintheyearandhalfoftheSundays.Itwasjustwhattheministergot——no,itwaswhathewaspromised——hegenerallycouldn"tcollectit.Adollarandaquarteraweekwouldboard,lodge,andschoolaboyinthoseoldsimpledays——andclothehimandwashhim,too,forthatmatter.

JudgeThatcherhadconceivedagreatopinionofTom.Hesaidthatnocommonplaceboywouldeverhavegothisdaughteroutofthecave.WhenBeckytoldherfather,instrictconfidence,howTomhadtakenherwhippingatschool,theJudgewasvisiblymoved;andwhenshepleadedgraceforthemightyliewhichTomhadtoldinordertoshiftthatwhippingfromhershoulderstohisown,theJudgesaidwithafineoutburstthatitwasanoble,agenerous,amagnanimouslie——aliethatwasworthytoholdupitsheadandmarchdownthroughhistorybreasttobreastwithGeorgeWashington"slaudedTruthaboutthehatchet!Beckythoughtherfatherhadneverlookedsotallandsosuperbaswhenhewalkedthefloorandstampedhisfootandsaidthat.ShewentstraightoffandtoldTomaboutit.

JudgeThatcherhopedtoseeTomagreatlawyeroragreatsoldiersomeday.HesaidhemeanttolooktoitthatTomshouldbeadmittedtotheNationalMilitaryAcademyandafterwardtrainedinthebestlawschoolinthecountry,inorderthathemightbereadyforeithercareerorboth.

HuckFinn"swealthandthefactthathewasnowundertheWidowDouglas"protectionintroducedhimintosociety——no,draggedhimintoit,hurledhimintoit——andhissufferingswerealmostmorethanhecouldbear.Thewidow"sservantskepthimcleanandneat,combedandbrushed,andtheybeddedhimnightlyinunsympatheticsheetsthathadnotonelittlespotorstainwhichhecouldpresstohisheartandknowforafriend.Hehadtoeatwithaknifeandfork;hehadtousenapkin,cup,andplate;hehadtolearnhisbook,hehadtogotochurch;hehadtotalksoproperlythatspeechwasbecomeinsipidinhismouth;whithersoeverheturned,thebarsandshacklesofcivilizationshuthiminandboundhimhandandfoot.

Hebravelyborehismiseriesthreeweeks,andthenonedayturnedupmissing.Forforty-eighthoursthewidowhuntedforhimeverywhereingreatdistress.Thepublicwereprofoundlyconcerned;theysearchedhighandlow,theydraggedtheriverforhisbody.EarlythethirdmorningTomSawyerwiselywentpokingamongsomeoldemptyhogsheadsdownbehindtheabandonedslaughter-house,andinoneofthemhefoundtherefugee.Huckhadsleptthere;hehadjustbreakfasteduponsomestolenoddsandendsoffood,andwaslyingoff,now,incomfort,withhispipe.Hewasunkempt,uncombed,andcladinthesameoldruinofragsthathadmadehimpicturesqueinthedayswhenhewasfreeandhappy.Tomroutedhimout,toldhimthetroublehehadbeencausing,andurgedhimtogohome.Huck"sfacelostitstranquilcontent,andtookamelancholycast.Hesaid:

"Don"ttalkaboutit,Tom.I"vetriedit,anditdon"twork;itdon"twork,Tom.Itain"tforme;Iain"tusedtoit.Thewidder"sgoodtome,andfriendly;butIcan"tstandthemways.Shemakesmegetupjustatthesametimeeverymorning;shemakesmewash,theycombmealltothunder;shewon"tletmesleepinthewoodshed;Igottowearthemblamedclothesthatjustsmothersme,Tom;theydon"tseemtoanyairgitthrough"em,somehow;andthey"resorottennicethatIcan"tsetdown,norlaydown,norrollaroundanywher"s;Ihain"tslidonacellar-doorfor——well,it"pearstobeyears;Igottogotochurchandsweatandsweat——Ihatethemornerysermons!Ican"tketchaflyinthere,Ican"tchaw.IgottowearshoesallSunday.Thewiddereatsbyabell;shegoestobedbyabell;shegitsupbyabell——everything"ssoawfulreg"larabodycan"tstandit."

"Well,everybodydoesthatway,Huck."

"Tom,itdon"tmakenodifference.Iain"teverybody,andIcan"tstandit.It"sawfultobetiedupso.Andgrubcomestooeasy——Idon"ttakenointerestinvittles,thatway.Igottoasktogoa-fishing;Igottoasktogoina-swimming——dern"difIhain"tgottoasktodoeverything.Well,I"dgottotalksoniceitwasn"tnocomfort——I"dgottogoupintheatticandripoutawhile,everyday,togitatasteinmymouth,orI"dadied,Tom.Thewidderwouldn"tletmesmoke;shewouldn"tletmeyell,shewouldn"tletmegape,norstretch,norscratch,beforefolks——"[Thenwithaspasmofspecialirritationandinjury]——"Anddadfetchit,sheprayedallthetime!Ineverseesuchawoman!IHADtoshove,Tom——Ijusthadto.Andbesides,thatschool"sgoingtoopen,andI"dahadtogotoit——well,Iwouldn"tstandTHAT,Tom.Looky-here,Tom,beingrichain"twhatit"scrackeduptobe.It"sjustworryandworry,andsweatandsweat,anda-wishingyouwasdeadallthetime.Nowtheseclothessuitsme,andthisbar"lsuitsme,andIain"tevergoingtoshake"emanymore.Tom,Iwouldn"tevergotintoallthistroubleifithadn"t"a"benforthatmoney;nowyoujusttakemysheerofitalongwithyour"n,andgimmeaten-centersometimes——notmanytimes,becuzIdon"tgiveadernforathing"thoutit"stollablehardtogit——andyougoandbegoffformewiththewidder."

"Oh,Huck,youknowIcan"tdothat."Tain"tfair;andbesidesifyou"lltrythisthingjustawhilelongeryou"llcometolikeit."

"Likeit!Yes——thewayI"dlikeahotstoveifIwastosetonitlongenough.No,Tom,Iwon"tberich,andIwon"tliveinthemcussedsmotheryhouses.Ilikethewoods,andtheriver,andhogsheads,andI"llstickto"em,too.Blameitall!justaswe"dgotguns,andacave,andalljustfixedtorob,herethisdernfoolishnesshasgottocomeupandspileitall!"

Tomsawhisopportunity——

"Lookyhere,Huck,beingrichain"tgoingtokeepmebackfromturningrobber."

"No!Oh,good-licks;areyouinrealdead-woodearnest,Tom?"

"JustasdeadearnestasI"msittinghere.ButHuck,wecan"tletyouintothegangifyouain"trespectable,youknow."

Huck"sjoywasquenched.

"Can"tletmein,Tom?Didn"tyouletmegoforapirate?"

"Yes,butthat"sdifferent.Arobberismorehigh-tonedthanwhatapirateis——asageneralthing.Inmostcountriesthey"reawfulhighupinthenobility——dukesandsuch."

"Now,Tom,hain"tyoualwaysbenfriendlytome?Youwouldn"tshetmeout,wouldyou,Tom?Youwouldn"tdothat,now,wouldyou,Tom?"

"Huck,Iwouldn"twantto,andIdon"twantto——butwhatwouldpeoplesay?Why,they"dsay,"Mph!TomSawyer"sGang!prettylowcharactersinit!"They"dmeanyou,Huck.Youwouldn"tlikethat,andIwouldn"t."

Huckwassilentforsometime,engagedinamentalstruggle.Finallyhesaid:

"Well,I"llgobacktothewidderforamonthandtackleitandseeifIcancometostandit,ifyou"llletmeb"longtothegang,Tom."

"Allright,Huck,it"sawhiz!Comealong,oldchap,andI"llaskthewidowtoletuponyoualittle,Huck."

"Willyou,Tom——nowwillyou?That"sgood.Ifshe"llletuponsomeoftheroughestthings,I"llsmokeprivateandcussprivate,andcrowdthroughorbust.Whenyougoingtostartthegangandturnrobbers?"

"Oh,rightoff.We"llgettheboystogetherandhavetheinitiationto-night,maybe."

"Havethewhich?"

"Havetheinitiation."

"What"sthat?"

"It"stosweartostandbyoneanother,andnevertellthegang"ssecrets,evenifyou"rechoppedalltoflinders,andkillanybodyandallhisfamilythathurtsoneofthegang."

"That"sgay——that"smightygay,Tom,Itellyou."

"Well,Ibetitis.Andallthatswearing"sgottobedoneatmidnight,inthelonesomest,awfulestplaceyoucanfind——aha"ntedhouseisthebest,butthey"reallrippedupnow."

"Well,midnight"sgood,anyway,Tom."

"Yes,soitis.Andyou"vegottoswearonacoffin,andsignitwithblood."

"Now,that"ssomethinglike!Why,it"samilliontimesbullierthanpirating.I"llsticktothewiddertillIrot,Tom;andifIgittobeareg"larripperofarobber,andeverybodytalking"boutit,Ireckonshe"llbeproudshesnakedmeinoutofthewet."

CONCLUSION

SOendeththischronicle.Itbeingstrictlyahistoryofaboy,itmuststophere;thestorycouldnotgomuchfurtherwithoutbecomingthehistoryofaman.Whenonewritesanovelaboutgrownpeople,heknowsexactlywheretostop——thatis,withamarriage;butwhenhewritesofjuveniles,hemuststopwherehebestcan.

Mostofthecharactersthatperforminthisbookstilllive,andareprosperousandhappy.Somedayitmayseemworthwhiletotakeupthestoryoftheyoungeronesagainandseewhatsortofmenandwomentheyturnedouttobe;thereforeitwillbewisestnottorevealanyofthatpartoftheirlivesatpresent.