PREFACE
Mostoftheadventuresrecordedin
ce
thisbookreallyoccurred;one
ou
ortwowereexperiencesofmyown,les
therestthoseofboysqui
whowereschoolmatesofmine.HuckFinnisdrawnfrom
vie
life;TomSawyeralso,butnotfromanindividual—heisacombinationofthecharacteristicsof
trois
threeboyswhomIknew,et
andthereforebelongstothecompositeorderofarchitecture.Les
Theoddsuperstitionstoucheduponweretoutes
allprevalentamongchildrenandslavesinles
theWestattheperiodofcette
thisstory—thatistosay,thirtyou
orfortyyearsago.Althoughmy
livre
bookisintendedmainlyforles
theentertainmentofboysandgirls,Ihopeitsera
willnotbeshunnedbymenet
andwomenonthataccount,forpartie
partofmyplanhasbeentotrytopleasantlyremindadultsofwhattheyoncewerethemselves,et
andofhowtheyfeltet
andthoughtandtalked,andwhatqueerenterprisestheyparfois
sometimesengagedin.THEAUTHOR.
CHAPTERI
“Tom!”
No
réponse
answer.“TOM!”
Noanswer.
“What’s
passé
gonewiththatboy,Iwonder?YouTOM!”
No
réponse
answer.Theoldladypulledherspectacles
bas
downandlookedoverthemabouttheroom;thenshe
mis
putthemupandlookedoutunderles
them.Sheseldomornever
regardait
lookedthroughthemforsosmallachose
thingasaboy;theywereherstatepair,theprideofher
cœur
heart,andwerebuiltfor“style,”notservice—shepu
couldhaveseenthroughapairofstove-lidsjustasbien
well.Shelookedperplexedfor
un
amoment,andthensaid,notfiercely,mais
butstillloudenoughforles
thefurnituretohear:.“Well,Ilay
si
ifIgetholdofyouI’ll—”.Shedidnotfinish,forby
ce
thistimeshewasbendingdownet
andpunchingunderthebedavec
withthebroom,andsosheneededbreathtopunctuatethepunchesavec
with.Sheresurrectednothingbut
le
thecat.“Ineverdid
vu
seethebeatofthatboy!”She
allée
wenttotheopendooret
andstoodinitandregardé
lookedoutamongthetomatovineset
and“jimpson”weedsthatconstitutedthegarden.Pas
NoTom.Soshelifteduphervoiceat
un
ananglecalculatedfordistanceet
andshouted:.“Y-o-u-uTOM!”
Therewas
un
aslightnoisebehindheret
andsheturnedjustintemps
timetoseizeasmallgarçon
boybytheslackofhisroundaboutet
andarresthisflight.“There!
I
pu
might’a’thoughtofthatcloset.Whatyoubeen
faisais
doinginthere?”“Nothing.”
“Nothing!
Regardez
Lookatyourhands.And
regardez
lookatyourmouth.Whatisthattruck?”
“Idon’t
sais
know,aunt.”“Well,Iknow.
It’sjam—that’swhatitis.
FortytimesI’ve
dit
saidifyoudidn’tletque
thatjamaloneI’dskinyou.Handmethatswitch.”
Theswitchhoveredintheair—theperilwasdesperate—.
“My!
Regarde
Lookbehindyou,aunt!”Theold
dame
ladywhirledround,andsnatchedherskirtshors
outofdanger.Theladfledontheinstant,scrambledupthe
haute
highboard-fence,anddisappearedoverelle
it.HisauntPollystoodsurprised
un
amoment,andthenbrokeintoun
agentlelaugh.“Hangthe
garçon
boy,can’tIneverlearnrien
anything?Ain’theplayedmetricksenough
comme
likethatformetobelookingoutforhimbyce
thistime?Butoldfoolsis
les
thebiggestfoolsthereis.Can’t
apprendre
learnanolddognewtricks,asthedit
sayingis.Butmygoodness,he
jamais
neverplaysthemalike,twodays,et
andhowisabodytosavoir
knowwhat’scoming?He’pearsto
savoir
knowjusthowlonghecantormentmeavant
beforeIgetmydanderup,et
andheknowsifhecanfaire
makeouttoputmeoffforune
aminuteormakemelaugh,it’stout
alldownagainandIcan’tfrapper
hithimalick.Iain’t
fais
doingmydutybythatgarçon
boy,andthat’stheLord’svérité
truth,goodnessknows.Sparetherod
et
andspilethechild,astheBon
GoodBooksays.I’malayingupsin
et
andsufferingforusboth,Isais
know.He’sfulloftheOldScratch,
mais
butlaws-a-me!he’smyowndeadsister’sboy,
pauvre
poorthing,andIain’tgotthecœur
hearttolashhim,somehow.Chaque
EverytimeIlethimoff,myconsciencefait
doeshurtmeso,andchaque
everytimeIhithimmyvieux
oldheartmostbreaks.Well-a-well,manthatisbornof
femme
womanisoffewdayset
andfulloftrouble,astheScripturedit
says,andIreckonit’sso.He’llplayhookey
ce
thisevening,[*]andI’lljustbeobleegedtofaire
makehimwork,tomorrow,topunishle
him.It’smightyhardtomakehim
travailler
workSaturdays,whenalltheboysishavingholiday,mais
buthehatesworkmorethanhedéteste
hatesanythingelse,andI’vegottofaire
dosomeofmydutybyhim,ou
orI’llbetheruinationofthechild.”[*]Southwesternfor“afternoon”.
Tom
fait
didplayhookey,andhehadatrès
verygoodtime.Hegotback
maison
homebarelyinseasontohelpJim,thepetit
smallcoloredboy,sawnext-day’swoodet
andsplitthekindlingsbeforesupper—atmoins
leasthewasthereintemps
timetotellhisadventurestoJimwhileJimfaisait
didthree-fourthsofthework.Tom’syounger
frère
brother(orratherhalf-brother)Sidwasdéjà
alreadythroughwithhispartofle
thework(pickingupchips),forhewasun
aquietboy,andhadpas
noadventurous,trouble-someways.WhileTomwas
mangeait
eatinghissupper,andstealingsugarasopportunityoffered,AuntPollyposait
askedhimquestionsthatwerefullofguile,et
andverydeep—forshewantedtotraphimintodamagingrevealments.Like
beaucoup
manyothersimple-heartedsouls,itwasherpetvanitytocroire
believeshewasendowedwithatalentfordarket
andmysteriousdiplomacy,andsheaimait
lovedtocontemplatehermosttransparentdevicesasmarvelsoflowcunning.Dit
Saidshe:.“Tom,itwasmiddlingwarminschool,warn’tit?”
“Yes’m.”
“Powerfulwarm,warn’tit?”
“Yes’m.”
“Didn’tyou
voulais
wanttogoina-swimming,Tom?”A
peu
bitofascareshotthroughTom—atouche
touchofuncomfortablesuspicion.HesearchedAuntPolly’s
visage
face,butittoldhimrien
nothing.Sohesaid:.
“No’m—well,not
très
verymuch.”Theoldladyreachedouther
main
handandfeltTom’sshirt,et
andsaid:.“Butyouain’t
trop
toowarmnow,though.”Anditflatteredhertoreflect
que
thatshehaddiscoveredthatla
theshirtwasdrywithoutanybodysache
knowingthatthatwaswhatshehadinhermind.Mais
Butinspiteofher,Tomsavait
knewwherethewindlay,maintenant
now.Soheforestalledwhat
pourrait
mightbethenextmove:.“Someofuspumpedonourheads—mine’sdampyet.
See?”
AuntPollywasvexedto
penser
thinkshehadoverlookedthatpeu
bitofcircumstantialevidence,andraté
missedatrick.Thenshe
eu
hadanewinspiration:.“Tom,youdidn’thavetoundoyourshirtcollar
où
whereIsewedit,topumponyourtête
head,didyou?Unbuttonyourjacket!”
Le
ThetroublevanishedoutofTom’svisage
face.Heopenedhisjacket.
Hisshirtcollarwassecurelysewed.
“Bother!
Bien
Well,go’longwithyou.I’d
fait
madesureyou’dplayedhookeyet
andbeena-swimming.ButIforgiveye,Tom.
Ireckonyou’re
une
akindofasingedcat,asthedit
sayingis—better’nyoulook.Thistime.”
Shewas
moitié
halfsorryhersagacityhadmiscarried,et
andhalfgladthatTomhadstumbledintoobedientconductforonce.Mais
ButSidneysaid:.“Well,now,
si
ifIdidn’tthinkyousewedhiscollaravec
withwhitethread,butit’sblack.”“Why,Ididsewit
avec
withwhite!Tom!”
ButTomdidnot
attendu
waitfortherest.Ashewentoutat
la
thedoorhesaid:.“Siddy,I’lllickyouforthat.”
Ina
sûr
safeplaceTomexaminedtwolargeneedlesqui
whichwerethrustintothelapelsofhisjacket,et
andhadthreadboundaboutthem—oneneedlecarriedblanc
whitethreadandtheothernoir
black.Hesaid:.
“She’dnevernoticed
si
ifithadn’tbeenforSid.Confoundit!
parfois
sometimesshesewsitwithblanc
white,andsometimesshesewsitavec
withblack.Iwishtogee-minyshe’dsticktoone
ou
ort’other—Ican’tkeeptherunof’em.Mais
ButIbetyouI’lllamSidforque
that.I’lllearnhim!”
Hewasnot
le
theModelBoyofthevillage.He
connaissait
knewthemodelboyverybien
wellthough—andloathedhim.Within
deux
twominutes,orevenless,hehadoublié
forgottenallhistroubles.Not
parce que
becausehistroubleswereonewhitlessheavyet
andbittertohimthanaman’saretoahomme
man,butbecauseanewet
andpowerfulinterestborethemdownet
anddrovethemoutofhisesprit
mindforthetime—justasmen’smisfortunesareforgottenintheexcitementofnewenterprises.Ce
Thisnewinterestwasavaluednoveltyinwhistling,whichhehadjustacquiredfromune
anegro,andhewassufferingtopractiseitundisturbed.Itconsistedinapeculiarbird-like
tour
turn,asortofliquidwarble,producedbytouchant
touchingthetonguetotheroofofthemouthatshortintervalsinthemidstofthemusic—thereaderprobablement
probablyremembershowtodoit,ifhehaseverbeenagarçon
boy.Diligenceandattentionsoongavehimtheknackofit,
et
andhestrodedowntherue
streetwithhismouthfullofharmonyet
andhissoulfullofgratitude.He
sentait
feltmuchasanastronomersentait
feelswhohasdiscoveredanewplanet—nodoubt,asfarasstrong,deep,unalloyedpleasureisconcerned,le
theadvantagewaswiththegarçon
boy,nottheastronomer.Thesummereveningswerelong.
Itwasnotdark,yet.
PresentlyTom
vérifié
checkedhiswhistle.Astrangerwas
devant
beforehim—aboyashadelargerque
thanhimself.Anew-comerof
n'importe quel
anyageoreithersexwasanimpressivecuriosityinle
thepoorlittleshabbyvillageofSt.Petersburg.Ce
Thisboywaswelldressed,too—welldressedonun
aweek-day.Thiswassimplyastounding.
Hiscapwas
une
adaintything,hisclose-buttonedblueclothroundaboutwasnouveau
newandnatty,andsowerehispantaloons.Hehadshoeson—anditwasonlyFriday.
He
même
evenworeanecktie,abrightbitofribbon.Hehad
un
acitifiedairabouthimqui
thatateintoTom’svitals.The
plus
moreTomstaredatthesplendidmarvel,thehigherheturneduphisnoseathisfineryet
andtheshabbierandshabbierhispropre
ownoutfitseemedtohimtogrow.Neitherboy
parlé
spoke.Ifonemoved,theothermoved—butonlysidewise,inacircle;
theykeptfacetoface
et
andeyetoeyeallle
thetime.FinallyTomsaid:.
“I
peux
canlickyou!”“I’dliketo
voir
seeyoutryit.”“Well,I
peux
candoit.”“Noyoucan’t,either.”
“YesIcan.”
“Noyoucan’t.”
“Ican.”
“Youcan’t.”
“Can!”
“Can’t!”
Une
Anuncomfortablepause.ThenTom
dit
said:.“What’syourname?”
“’Tisn’tanyofyourbusiness,maybe.”
“WellI’lowI’llmakeitmybusiness.”
“Well
pourquoi
whydon’tyou?”“Ifyou
dis
saymuch,Iwill.”“Much—much—much.
Y
Therenow.”“Oh,youthinkyou’remightysmart,don’tyou?
I
pourrais
couldlickyouwithonemain
handtiedbehindme,ifIvoulais
wantedto.”“Wellwhydon’tyou
ne
doit?Yousayyou
peux
candoit.”“WellIwill,
si
ifyoufoolwithme.”“Ohyes—I’ve
vu
seenwholefamiliesinthemême
samefix.”“Smarty!
Youthinkyou’resome,now,don’tyou?
Oh,whatahat!”
“You
peux
canlumpthathatifyoudon’tlikeit.Idareyoutoknockitoff—and
quiconque
anybodythat’lltakeadareva
willsuckeggs.”“You’realiar!”
“You’reanother.”
“You’re
un
afightingliaranddasn’tprends
takeitup.”“Aw—takeawalk!”
“Say—ifyou
donnez
givememuchmoreofyoursassI’llprendre
takeandbouncearockoff’nyourhead.”“Oh,of
sûr
courseyouwill.”“WellIwill.”
“Well
pourquoi
whydon’tyoudoitthen?What
feras
doyoukeepsayingyouwillfor?Pourquoi
Whydon’tyoudoit?It’s
parce que
becauseyou’reafraid.”“Iain’tafraid.”
“Youare.”
“Iain’t.”
“Youare.”
Anotherpause,
et
andmoreeyingandsidlingaroundeachother.Presentlytheywereshouldertoshoulder.
Tom
dit
said:.“Getawayfromhere!”
“Goawayyourself!”
“Iwon’t.”
“Iwon’teither.”
Sothey
tenaient
stood,eachwithafootplacé
placedatanangleasabrace,et
andbothshovingwithmightet
andmain,andgloweringatchacun
eachotherwithhate.Butneither
pu
couldgetanadvantage.Afterstrugglingtill
deux
bothwerehotandflushed,chacun
eachrelaxedhisstrainwithwatchfulcaution,et
andTomsaid:.“You’reacoward
et
andapup.I’lltellmy
grand
bigbrotheronyou,andhepeut
canthrashyouwithhispetit
littlefinger,andI’llmakehimdoit,too.”“WhatdoIcareforyour
grand
bigbrother?I’vegota
frère
brotherthat’sbiggerthanheis—andwhat’smore,hepeut
canthrowhimoverthatfence,aussi
too.“That’salie.”