TheAdventuresofTomSawyerByMarkTwainChapter1TOM!"Noanswer."TOM!"Noanswer."What'sgonewiththatboy,Iwonder?YouTOM!"Noanswer.Theoldladypulledherspectaclesdownandlookedoverthemabouttheroom;thensheputthemupandlookedoutunderthem.Sheseldomorneverlookedthroughthemforsosmallathingasaboy;theywereherstatepair,theprideofherheart,andwerebuiltfor"style,"notservice--shecouldhaveseenthroughapairofstove-lidsjustaswell.Shelookedperplexedforamoment,andthensaid,notfiercely,butstillloudenoughforthefurnituretohear:"Well,IlayifIgetholdofyouI'll--"Shedidnotfinish,forbythistimeshewasbendingdownandpunchingunderthebedwiththebroom,andsosheneededbreathtopunctuatethepuncheswith.Sheresurrectednothingbutthecat."Ineverdidseethebeatofthatboy!"Shewenttotheopendoorandstoodinitandlookedoutamongthetomatovinesand"jimpson"weedsthatconstitutedthegarden.NoTom.Soshelifteduphervoiceatananglecalculatedfordistanceandshouted:"Y-o-u-uTom!"Therewasaslightnoisebehindherandsheturnedjustintimetoseizeasmallboybytheslackofhisroundaboutandarresthisflight."There!Imight'athoughtofthatcloset.Whatyoubeendoinginthere?""Nothing.""Nothing!Lookatyourhands.Andlookatyourmouth.Whatisthattruck?""Idon'tknow,aunt.""Well,Iknow.It'sjam--that'swhatitis.FortytimesI'vesaidifyoudidn'tletthatjamaloneI'dskinyou.Handmethatswitch."Theswitchhoveredintheair--theperilwasdesperate--"My!Lookbehindyou,aunt!"Theoldladywhirledround,andsnatchedherskirtsoutofdanger.Theladfledontheinstant,scrambledupthehighboard-fence,anddisappearedoverit.HisauntPollystoodsurprisedamoment,andthenbrokeintoagentlelaugh."Hangtheboy,can'tIneverlearnanything?Ain'theplayedmetricksenoughlikethatformetobelookingoutforhimbythistime?Butoldfoolsisthebiggestfoolsthereis.Can'tlearnanolddognewtricks,asthesayingis.Butmygoodness,heneverplaysthemalike,twodays,andhowisabodytoknowwhat'scoming?He'pearstoknowjusthowlonghecantormentmebeforeIgetmydanderup,andheknowsifhecanmakeouttoputmeoffforaminuteormakemelaugh,it'salldownagainandIcan'thithimalick.Iain'tdoingmydutybythatboy,andthat'stheLord'struth,goodnessknows.Sparetherodandspilethechild,astheGoodBooksays.I'malayingupsinandsufferingforusboth,Iknow.He'sfulloftheOldScratch,butlaws-a-me!he'smyowndeadsister'sboy,poorthing,andIain'tgotthehearttolashhim,somehow.EverytimeIlethimoff,myconsciencedoeshurtmeso,andeverytimeIhithimmyoldheartmostbreaks.Well-a-well,manthatisbornofwomanisoffewdaysandfulloftrouble,astheScripturesays,andIreckonit'sso.He'llplayhookeythisevening,andI'lljustbeobligedtomakehimwork,to-morrow,topunishhim.It'smightyhardtomakehimworkSaturdays,whenalltheboysishavingholiday,buthehatesworkmorethanhehatesanythingelse,andI'vegottodosomeofmydutybyhim,orI'llbetheruinationofthechild."Tomdidplayhookey,andhehadaverygoodtime.HegotbackhomebarelyinseasontohelpJim,thesmallcoloredboy,sawnext-day'swoodandsplitthekindlingsbeforesupper--atleasthewasthereintimetotellhisadventurestoJimwhileJimdidthree-fourthsofthework.Tom'syoungerbrother(orratherhalf-brother)Sidwasalreadythroughwithhispartofthework(pickingupchips),forhewasaquietboy,andhadnoadventurous,troublesomeways.WhileTomwaseatinghissupper,andstealingsugarasopportunityoffered,AuntPollyaskedhimquestionsthatwerefullofguile,andverydeep--forshewantedtotraphimintodamagingrevealments.Likemanyothersimple-heartedsouls,itwasherpetvanitytobelieveshewasendowedwithatalentfordarkandmysteriousdiplomacy,andshelovedtocon...