PREFACE
Mostoftheadventuresrecordedin
dit
thisbookreallyoccurred;one
of
ortwowereexperiencesofmyeigen
own,therestthoseofboyswhowereschoolmatesofmine.HuckFinnisdrawnfrom
leven
life;TomSawyeralso,butnotfromanindividual—heisacombinationof
de
thecharacteristicsofthreeboyswhomIkende
knew,andthereforebelongstode
thecompositeorderofarchitecture.Theoddsuperstitionstoucheduponwereallprevalentamong
kinderen
childrenandslavesintheWestattheperiodofdit
thisstory—thatistosay,thirtyof
orfortyyearsago.Althoughmy
boek
bookisintendedmainlyfortheentertainmentofboysen
andgirls,Ihopeitzal
willnotbeshunnedbymenen
andwomenonthataccount,fordeel
partofmyplanhasbeentoproberen
trytopleasantlyremindadultsofwhattheyoncewerethemselves,en
andofhowtheyfelten
andthoughtandtalked,andwhatqueerenterprisestheysoms
sometimesengagedin.THEAUTHOR.
CHAPTERI
“Tom!”
Geen
Noanswer.“TOM!”
Noanswer.
“What’sgone
met
withthatboy,Iwonder?YouTOM!”
Geen
Noanswer.Theoldladypulledherspectaclesdown
en
andlookedoverthemaboutde
theroom;thensheputthem
omhoog
upandlookedoutunderthem.Sheseldom
of
orneverlookedthroughthemforsoklein
smallathingasajongen
boy;theywereherstatepair,
de
theprideofherheart,en
andwerebuiltfor“style,”notservice—shekunnen
couldhaveseenthroughapairofstove-lidsnet
justaswell.Shelookedperplexedfor
een
amoment,andthensaid,notfiercely,maar
butstillloudenoughforhet
thefurnituretohear:.“Well,Ilay
als
ifIgetholdofyouI’ll—”.Shedidnotfinish,forbythis
tijd
timeshewasbendingdownen
andpunchingunderthebedmet
withthebroom,andsosheneededbreathtopunctuatethepunchesmet
with.Sheresurrectednothingbut
de
thecat.“Ineverdid
gezien
seethebeatofthatboy!”She
ging
wenttotheopendooren
andstoodinitandkeek
lookedoutamongthetomatovinesen
and“jimpson”weedsthatconstitutedde
thegarden.NoTom.
Soshelifteduphervoiceat
een
ananglecalculatedfordistanceen
andshouted:.“Y-o-u-uTOM!”
Therewas
een
aslightnoisebehindheren
andsheturnedjustintijd
timetoseizeasmalljongen
boybytheslackofhisroundabouten
andarresthisflight.“There!
Imight’a’
gedacht
thoughtofthatcloset.Whatyoubeen
gedaan
doinginthere?”“Nothing.”
“Nothing!
Kijk
Lookatyourhands.And
kijk
lookatyourmouth.Whatis
dat
thattruck?”“Idon’tknow,aunt.”
“Well,I
weet
know.It’sjam—that’swhatit
is
is.FortytimesI’vesaid
als
ifyoudidn’tletthatjamrust
aloneI’dskinyou.Handme
die
thatswitch.”Theswitchhoveredintheair—theperilwasdesperate—.
“My!
Kijk
Lookbehindyou,aunt!”The
oude
oldladywhirledround,andsnatchedherskirtsuit
outofdanger.Theladfledontheinstant,scrambledupthe
hoge
highboard-fence,anddisappearedoverit.HisauntPolly
stond
stoodsurprisedamoment,andthenbrak
brokeintoagentlelaugh.“Hang
de
theboy,can’tIneverleren
learnanything?Ain’theplayedmetricks
genoeg
enoughlikethatformetobelookingoutforhimbythistime?Maar
Butoldfoolsisthebiggestfoolser
thereis.Can’tlearnan
oude
olddognewtricks,ashet
thesayingis.Butmygoodness,he
nooit
neverplaysthemalike,twodays,en
andhowisabodytoweten
knowwhat’scoming?He’pearstoknowjust
hoe
howlonghecantormentmevoordat
beforeIgetmydanderup,en
andheknowsifhekan
canmakeouttoputmeoffforeen
aminuteormakemelaugh,it’salldownweer
againandIcan’thithimeen
alick.Iain’tdoingmydutybythat
jongen
boy,andthat’stheLord’swaarheid
truth,goodnessknows.Sparetherod
en
andspilethechild,astheGoede
GoodBooksays.I’malayingupsin
en
andsufferingforusboth,Iweet
know.He’sfullofthe
Oude
OldScratch,butlaws-a-me!he’smy
eigen
owndeadsister’sboy,poording
thing,andIain’tgotthehart
hearttolashhim,somehow.Elke
EverytimeIlethimoff,myconsciencedoet
doeshurtmeso,andelke
everytimeIhithimmyoude
oldheartmostbreaks.Well-a-well,
man
manthatisbornofvrouw
womanisoffewdaysen
andfulloftrouble,astheScripturezegt
says,andIreckonit’sso.He’llplayhookeythisevening,[*]
en
andI’lljustbeobleegedtomakehimwerken
work,tomorrow,topunishhim.It’smighty
moeilijk
hardtomakehimworkSaturdays,wanneer
whenalltheboysishebben
havingholiday,buthehatesworkmeer
morethanhehatesanythingelse,en
andI’vegottodosomeofmydutybyhem
him,orI’llbetheruinationofthechild.”[*]Southwesternfor“afternoon”.
Tomdid
speelde
playhookey,andhehadeen
averygoodtime.Hegotback
thuis
homebarelyinseasontohelpen
helpJim,thesmallcoloredjongen
boy,sawnext-day’swoodandsplitthekindlingsbeforesupper—atleasthewaser
thereintimetotellhisadventurestoJimterwijl
whileJimdidthree-fourthsofthewerk
work.Tom’syoungerbrother(orratherhalf-brother)Sidwas
al
alreadythroughwithhispartofhet
thework(pickingupchips),forhewaseen
aquietboy,andhadgeen
noadventurous,trouble-someways.WhileTomwas
at
eatinghissupper,andstealingsugarasopportunityoffered,AuntPollyaskedhimquestionsdie
thatwerefullofguile,en
andverydeep—forshewantedtotraphimintodamagingrevealments.Like
vele
manyothersimple-heartedsouls,itwasherpetvanitytogeloven
believeshewasendowedwitheen
atalentfordarkandmysteriousdiplomacy,en
andshelovedtocontemplatehermeest
mosttransparentdevicesasmarvelsoflowcunning.Zei
Saidshe:.“Tom,itwasmiddlingwarmin
school
school,warn’tit?”“Yes’m.”
“Powerfulwarm,warn’tit?”
“Yes’m.”
“Didn’tyou
wil
wanttogoina-swimming,Tom?”Een
Abitofascareschot
shotthroughTom—atouchofuncomfortablesuspicion.HesearchedAuntPolly’s
gezicht
face,butittoldhimniets
nothing.Sohesaid:.
“No’m—well,not
erg
verymuch.”Theoldladyreached
uit
outherhandandfeltTom’sshirt,en
andsaid:.“Butyouain’ttoowarm
nu
now,though.”Anditflatteredhertoreflect
dat
thatshehaddiscoveredthattheshirtwasdryzonder
withoutanybodyknowingthatthatwaswhatshehad
hadinhermind.Butinspiteof
haar
her,Tomknewwherethewindlag
lay,now.Soheforestalledwhat
kunnen
mightbethenextmove:.“Someofuspumpedonourheads—mine’sdampyet.
See?”
AuntPollywasvexedto
denken
thinkshehadoverlookedthatbeetje
bitofcircumstantialevidence,andmiste
missedatrick.Thenshe
had
hadanewinspiration:.“Tom,youdidn’t
had
havetoundoyourshirtcollarwaar
whereIsewedit,topumponyourhoofd
head,didyou?Unbuttonyourjacket!”
The
problemen
troublevanishedoutofTom’sgezicht
face.Heopenedhisjacket.
Hisshirtcollarwassecurelysewed.
“Bother!
Nou
Well,go’longwithyou.I’dmadesureyou’dplayedhookey
en
andbeena-swimming.ButIforgiveye,Tom.
Ireckonyou’re
een
akindofasingedcat,ashet
thesayingis—better’nyoulook.Deze
Thistime.”Shewashalf
spijt
sorryhersagacityhadmiscarried,en
andhalfgladthatTomhad
hadstumbledintoobedientconductforonce.Maar
ButSidneysaid:.“Well,now,
als
ifIdidn’tthinkyousewedhiscollarmet
withwhitethread,butit’sblack.”“Why,Ididsewit
met
withwhite!Tom!”
ButTomdidnot
wachtte
waitfortherest.Ashe
ging
wentoutatthedoorhezei
said:.“Siddy,I’lllickyouforthat.”
In
een
asafeplaceTomexaminedtwee
twolargeneedleswhichwerethrustintode
thelapelsofhisjacket,en
andhadthreadboundaboutthem—oneneedlecarriedwitte
whitethreadandtheotherzwarte
black.Hesaid:.
“She’dnevernoticed
als
ifithadn’tbeenforSid.Confoundit!
soms
sometimesshesewsitwithwit
white,andsometimesshesewsitmet
withblack.Iwishtogee-minyshe’dstickto
ene
oneort’other—Ican’tkeepde
therunof’em.ButIbetyouI’lllamSidfor
dat
that.I’lllearnhim!”
HewasnottheModelBoyofthevillage.
He
kende
knewthemodelboyverygoed
wellthough—andloathedhim.Within
twee
twominutes,orevenless,hehadvergeten
forgottenallhistroubles.Not
omdat
becausehistroubleswereonewhitlessheavyen
andbittertohimthanaman’saretoaman
man,butbecauseanewen
andpowerfulinterestborethemdownen
anddrovethemoutofhisgeest
mindforthetime—justasmen’smisfortunesarevergeten
forgottenintheexcitementofnieuwe
newenterprises.Thisnewinterestwas
een
avaluednoveltyinwhistling,die
whichhehadjustacquiredfromeen
anegro,andhewassufferingtopractiseitundisturbed.Itconsistedin
een
apeculiarbird-liketurn,asoort
sortofliquidwarble,producedbyaanraken
touchingthetonguetotheroofofthemouthatshortintervalsinthemidstofthemusic—thereaderwaarschijnlijk
probablyremembershowtodoit,als
ifhehaseverbeeneen
aboy.Diligenceandattention
snel
soongavehimtheknackofit,en
andhestrodedownthestraat
streetwithhismouthfullofharmonyen
andhissoulfullofgratitude.He
voelde
feltmuchasanastronomervoelde
feelswhohasdiscoveredanieuwe
newplanet—nodoubt,asfarasstrong,deep,unalloyedpleasureisconcerned,theadvantagewaswiththejongen
boy,nottheastronomer.Thesummereveningswere
lang
long.Itwasnotdark,yet.
PresentlyTom
controleerde
checkedhiswhistle.Astrangerwasbeforehim—a
jongen
boyashadelargerthanhimself.Anew-comerofanyage
of
oreithersexwasanimpressivecuriosityinhet
thepoorlittleshabbyvillageofSt.Petersburg.Deze
Thisboywaswelldressed,too—welldressedoneen
aweek-day.Thiswassimplyastounding.
Hiscapwas
een
adaintything,hisclose-buttonedblueclothroundaboutwasnieuw
newandnatty,andsowerehispantaloons.He
had
hadshoeson—anditwasonlyFriday.He
zelfs
evenworeanecktie,abrightbitofribbon.He
had
hadacitifiedairabouthimdie
thatateintoTom’svitals.Het
ThemoreTomstaredathet
thesplendidmarvel,thehigherhedraaide
turneduphisnoseathisfineryen
andtheshabbierandshabbierhiseigen
ownoutfitseemedtohimtogrow.Neitherboy
sprak
spoke.Ifonemoved,the
andere
othermoved—butonlysidewise,inacircle;they
bleven
keptfacetofaceandeyetoeyeallde
thetime.FinallyTomsaid:.
“I
kan
canlickyou!”“I’dliketo
zien
seeyoutryit.”“Well,I
kan
candoit.”“Noyoucan’t,either.”
“YesIcan.”
“Noyoucan’t.”
“Ican.”
“Youcan’t.”
“Can!”
“Can’t!”
Een
Anuncomfortablepause.ThenTom
zei
said:.“What’syourname?”
“’Tisn’tanyofyourbusiness,maybe.”
“WellI’lowI’llmakeitmybusiness.”
“Well
waarom
whydon’tyou?”“Ifyou
zegt
saymuch,Iwill.”“Much—much—much.
Daar
Therenow.”“Oh,youthinkyou’remightysmart,don’tyou?
I
kunnen
couldlickyouwithonehand
handtiedbehindme,ifIwilde
wantedto.”“Wellwhydon’tyou
doe
doit?Yousayyou
kan
candoit.”“WellI
zal
will,ifyoufoolwithme.”“Ohyes—I’ve
gezien
seenwholefamiliesinthedezelfde
samefix.”“Smarty!
Youthinkyou’resome,now,don’tyou?
Oh,what
een
ahat!”“Youcanlump
die
thathatifyoudon’tlikeit.Idareyoutoknockitoff—and
iedereen
anybodythat’lltakeadarezal
willsuckeggs.”“You’realiar!”
“You’reanother.”
“You’re
een
afightingliaranddasn’tneem
takeitup.”“Aw—takeawalk!”
“Say—ifyou
geeft
givememuchmoreofyoursassI’lltakeandbounceeen
arockoff’nyourhead.”“Oh,of
natuurlijk
courseyouwill.”“WellIwill.”
“Well
waarom
whydon’tyoudoitthen?Whatdoyou
blijf
keepsayingyouwillfor?Waarom
Whydon’tyoudoit?It’s
omdat
becauseyou’reafraid.”“Iain’tafraid.”
“Youare.”
“Iain’t.”
“Youare.”
Anotherpause,
en
andmoreeyingandsidlingrond
aroundeachother.Presentlytheywereshouldertoshoulder.
Tom
zei
said:.“Getawayfromhere!”
“Go
weg
awayyourself!”“Iwon’t.”
“Iwon’teither.”
Sothey
stonden
stood,eachwithafootgeplaatst
placedatanangleasabrace,en
andbothshovingwithmighten
andmain,andgloweringatelk
eachotherwithhate.Butneither
kon
couldgetanadvantage.Afterstrugglingtillbothwere
heet
hotandflushed,eachrelaxedhisstrainmet
withwatchfulcaution,andTomzei
said:.“You’reacowardand
een
apup.I’lltellmy
grote
bigbrotheronyou,andhekan
canthrashyouwithhiskleine
littlefinger,andI’llmakehimdoen
doit,too.”“WhatdoI
schelen
careforyourbigbrother?I’vegot
een
abrotherthat’sbiggerthanheis—andwhat’smore,hekan
canthrowhimoverthatfence,too.“That’s
een
alie.”