PREFACE
Mostoftheadventuresrecordedinthis
livro
bookreallyoccurred;oneor
duas
twowereexperiencesofmyown,o
therestthoseofboysque
whowereschoolmatesofmine.HuckFinnisdrawnfrom
vida
life;TomSawyeralso,butnotfromanindividual—heisacombinationofthecharacteristicsof
três
threeboyswhomIknew,e
andthereforebelongstothecompositeordem
orderofarchitecture.Theoddsuperstitionstoucheduponwere
todas
allprevalentamongchildrenandslavesinas
theWestattheperiodofthisstory—thatistosay,thirtyou
orfortyyearsago.Althoughmy
livro
bookisintendedmainlyforo
theentertainmentofboysandgirls,Iespero
hopeitwillnotbeshunnedbymene
andwomenonthataccount,forparte
partofmyplanhasbeentotentar
trytopleasantlyremindadultsofwhattheyoncewerethemselves,e
andofhowtheyfelte
andthoughtandtalked,andwhatqueerenterprisestheyàs vezes
sometimesengagedin.THEAUTHOR.
CHAPTERI
“Tom!”
No
resposta
answer.“TOM!”
Noanswer.
“What’sgone
com
withthatboy,Iwonder?YouTOM!”
No
resposta
answer.Theoldladypulledherspectaclesdown
e
andlookedoverthemaboutthesala
room;thensheputthemup
e
andlookedoutunderthem.Sheseldom
ou
orneverlookedthroughthemforsosmallacoisa
thingasaboy;theywereherstatepair,
o
theprideofherheart,e
andwerebuiltfor“style,”notservice—shepoderia
couldhaveseenthroughapairofstove-lidsjustaswell.Shelookedperplexedfor
um
amoment,andthensaid,notfiercely,mas
butstillloudenoughforthefurnituretoouvir
hear:.“Well,IlayifIgetholdofyouI’ll—”.
Shedidnotfinish,forby
isso
thistimeshewasbendingdowne
andpunchingunderthebedcom
withthebroom,andsosheprecisava
neededbreathtopunctuatethepunchescom
with.Sheresurrectednothingbutthecat.
“I
nunca
neverdidseethebeatofthatboy!”She
foi
wenttotheopendoore
andstoodinitandolhou
lookedoutamongthetomatovinese
and“jimpson”weedsthatconstitutedthegarden.Não
NoTom.Soshelifteduphervoiceat
um
ananglecalculatedfordistancee
andshouted:.“Y-o-u-uTOM!”
Therewas
um
aslightnoisebehindhere
andsheturnedjustintempo
timetoseizeasmallmenino
boybytheslackofhisroundaboute
andarresthisflight.“There!
Imight’a’thoughtofthatcloset.
Whatyoubeen
fazer
doinginthere?”“Nothing.”
“Nothing!
Olha
Lookatyourhands.And
olha
lookatyourmouth.Whatisthattruck?”
“Idon’t
sei
know,aunt.”“Well,Iknow.
It’sjam—that’swhatit
é
is.FortytimesI’vesaid
se
ifyoudidn’tletthatjamaloneI’dskinyou.Handmethatswitch.”
O
Theswitchhoveredintheair—theperilwasdesperate—.“My!
Olha
Lookbehindyou,aunt!”Theoldladywhirledround,
e
andsnatchedherskirtsoutofdanger.Theladfledontheinstant,scrambledupthe
alto
highboard-fence,anddisappearedoverele
it.HisauntPollystoodsurpriseda
momento
moment,andthenbrokeintoagentlelaugh.“Hang
o
theboy,can’tIneveraprendo
learnanything?Ain’theplayedmetricks
suficiente
enoughlikethatformetobelookingoutforhimbyesta
thistime?Butoldfoolsis
os
thebiggestfoolsthereis.Can’tlearn
um
anolddognewtricks,asthediz
sayingis.Butmygoodness,he
nunca
neverplaysthemalike,twodays,e
andhowisabodytosabe
knowwhat’scoming?He’pearstoknowjusthow
tempo
longhecantormentmeantes
beforeIgetmydanderup,e
andheknowsifhecanfazer
makeouttoputmeoffforaminuto
minuteormakemelaugh,it’studo
alldownagainandIcan’tbater
hithimalick.Iain’t
fazer
doingmydutybythatrapaz
boy,andthat’stheLord’sverdade
truth,goodnessknows.Sparetherod
e
andspilethechild,astheBom
GoodBooksays.I’malayingupsin
e
andsufferingforusboth,Isei
know.He’sfullofthe
Velho
OldScratch,butlaws-a-me!he’smyown
morta
deadsister’sboy,poorthing,e
andIain’tgotthecoração
hearttolashhim,somehow.Cada
EverytimeIlethimoff,myconsciencedoeshurtmeso,e
andeverytimeIhithimmyvelho
oldheartmostbreaks.Well-a-well,
homem
manthatisbornofmulher
womanisoffewdayse
andfulloftrouble,astheScripturediz
says,andIreckonit’sso.He’llplayhookey
esta
thisevening,[*]andI’lljustbeobleegedtomakehimtrabalhar
work,tomorrow,topunishhim.It’smighty
difícil
hardtomakehimworkSaturdays,quando
whenalltheboysistenho
havingholiday,buthehatesworkmais
morethanhehatesanythingelse,e
andI’vegottodosomeofmydutybyhim,ou
orI’llbetheruinationofthechild.”[*]Southwesternfor“afternoon”.
Tomdidplayhookey,
e
andhehadaverygoodtime.Hegotback
casa
homebarelyinseasontoajudar
helpJim,thesmallcoloredmenino
boy,sawnext-day’swoodandsplitthekindlingsantes
beforesupper—atleasthewaslá
thereintimetotellhisadventurestoJimenquanto
whileJimdidthree-fourthsofthetrabalho
work.Tom’syoungerbrother(orratherhalf-brother)Sidwas
já
alreadythroughwithhispartofo
thework(pickingupchips),forhewasum
aquietboy,andhadnão
noadventurous,trouble-someways.WhileTomwaseatinghissupper,
e
andstealingsugarasopportunityoffered,AuntPollyaskedhimquestionsque
thatwerefullofguile,e
andverydeep—forshewantedtotraphimintodamagingrevealments.Like
muitas
manyothersimple-heartedsouls,itwasherpetvanitytoacreditar
believeshewasendowedwithum
atalentfordarkandmysteriousdiplomacy,e
andshelovedtocontemplatehermais
mosttransparentdevicesasmarvelsoflowcunning.Disse
Saidshe:.“Tom,itwasmiddlingwarmin
escola
school,warn’tit?”“Yes’m.”
“Powerfulwarm,warn’tit?”
“Yes’m.”
“Didn’tyou
querias
wanttogoina-swimming,Tom?”Um
AbitofascareshotthroughTom—atoque
touchofuncomfortablesuspicion.HesearchedAuntPolly’s
rosto
face,butittoldhimnada
nothing.Sohesaid:.
“No’m—well,notverymuch.”
A
Theoldladyreachedouthermão
handandfeltTom’sshirt,e
andsaid:.“Butyouain’t
muito
toowarmnow,though.”Anditflatteredhertoreflectthatshe
tinha
haddiscoveredthattheshirtwasdrysem
withoutanybodyknowingthatthatwaswhatshetinha
hadinhermind.Butinspiteof
dela
her,Tomknewwherethewindlay,agora
now.Soheforestalledwhat
poderia
mightbethenextmove:.“Someofuspumpedonourheads—mine’sdamp
ainda
yet.See?”
AuntPollywasvexedto
pensar
thinkshehadoverlookedthatpouco
bitofcircumstantialevidence,andperdeu
missedatrick.Thenshe
teve
hadanewinspiration:.“Tom,youdidn’thavetoundoyourshirtcollar
onde
whereIsewedit,topumponyourcabeça
head,didyou?Unbuttonyourjacket!”
O
ThetroublevanishedoutofTom’srosto
face.Heopenedhisjacket.
Hisshirtcollarwassecurelysewed.
“Bother!
Bem
Well,go’longwithyou.I’dmade
certeza
sureyou’dplayedhookeyandbeena-swimming.Mas
ButIforgiveye,Tom.Ireckonyou’re
uma
akindofasingedcat,asthediz
sayingis—better’nyoulook.Thistime.”
Shewas
meio
halfsorryhersagacityhadmiscarried,e
andhalfgladthatTomhadstumbledintoobedientconductforonce.Mas
ButSidneysaid:.“Well,now,
se
ifIdidn’tthinkyousewedhiscollarcom
withwhitethread,butit’sblack.”“Why,Ididsewit
com
withwhite!Tom!”
ButTomdidnot
esperou
waitfortherest.Ashewentoutatthe
porta
doorhesaid:.“Siddy,I’lllickyouforthat.”
Ina
seguro
safeplaceTomexaminedtwolargeneedlesque
whichwerethrustintothelapelsofhisjacket,e
andhadthreadboundaboutthem—oneneedlecarriedbranco
whitethreadandtheotherpreto
black.Hesaid:.
“She’dnevernoticed
se
ifithadn’tbeenforSid.Confound
que
it!sometimesshesewsit
com
withwhite,andsometimesshesewsitcom
withblack.Iwishtogee-minyshe’dstickto
um
oneort’other—Ican’tkeeptherunof’em.Mas
ButIbetyouI’lllamSidforthat.I’lllearnhim!”
Hewasnot
o
theModelBoyofthevillage.He
conhecia
knewthemodelboyverywellthough—andloathedhim.Within
dois
twominutes,orevenless,hetinha
hadforgottenallhistroubles.Not
porque
becausehistroubleswereonewhitlessheavye
andbittertohimthanaman’saretoahomem
man,butbecauseanewe
andpowerfulinterestborethemdowne
anddrovethemoutofhismente
mindforthetime—justasmen’smisfortunesareforgotteninos
theexcitementofnewenterprises.Este
Thisnewinterestwasavaluednoveltyinwhistling,whichhetinha
hadjustacquiredfromanegro,e
andhewassufferingtopractiseitundisturbed.Itconsistedinapeculiarbird-liketurn,a
espécie
sortofliquidwarble,producedbytocar
touchingthetonguetotheroofofthemouthatshortintervalsinthemidstofthemusic—thereaderprovavelmente
probablyremembershowtodoit,se
ifhehaseverbeenamenino
boy.Diligenceandattentionsoon
deram
gavehimtheknackofit,e
andhestrodedowntherua
streetwithhismouthfullofharmonye
andhissoulfullofgratitude.He
sentiu
feltmuchasanastronomersentiu
feelswhohasdiscoveredanovo
newplanet—nodoubt,asfarasstrong,deep,unalloyedpleasureisconcerned,theadvantagewascom
withtheboy,nottheastronomer.As
Thesummereveningswerelong.Itwasnotdark,
ainda
yet.PresentlyTomcheckedhiswhistle.
Astrangerwasbeforehim—a
menino
boyashadelargerthanhimself.Anew-comerofanyageoreither
sexo
sexwasanimpressivecuriosityinthepoorlittleshabbyvillageofSt.Petersburg.Este
Thisboywaswelldressed,too—welldressedonaweek-day.Isto
Thiswassimplyastounding.Hiscapwas
uma
adaintything,hisclose-buttonedblueclothroundaboutwasnova
newandnatty,andsowerehispantaloons.He
tinha
hadshoeson—anditwassó
onlyFriday.Heevenworeanecktie,abrightbitofribbon.
He
tinha
hadacitifiedairabouthimque
thatateintoTom’svitals.The
mais
moreTomstaredatthesplendidmarvel,thehigherheturneduphisnoseathisfinerye
andtheshabbierandshabbierhisownoutfitseemedtohimtogrow.Neitherboy
falou
spoke.Ifonemoved,the
outro
othermoved—butonlysidewise,inacircle;they
mantiveram
keptfacetofaceandeyetoeyetodo
allthetime.FinallyTom
disse
said:.“Icanlickyou!”
“I’d
gostava
liketoseeyoutryit.”“Well,I
posso
candoit.”“Noyoucan’t,either.”
“YesIcan.”
“Noyoucan’t.”
“Ican.”
“Youcan’t.”
“Can!”
“Can’t!”
Uma
Anuncomfortablepause.ThenTom
disse
said:.“What’syourname?”
“’Tisn’tanyofyourbusiness,maybe.”
“WellI’lowI’ll
fazer
makeitmybusiness.”“Wellwhydon’tyou?”
“Ifyousay
muito
much,Iwill.”“Much—much—much.
Therenow.”
“Oh,you
achas
thinkyou’remightysmart,don’tyou?I
podia
couldlickyouwithonemão
handtiedbehindme,ifIquisesse
wantedto.”“Wellwhydon’tyou
fazes
doit?Yousayyou
podes
candoit.”“WellI
vou
will,ifyoufoolwithme.”“Ohyes—I’ve
vi
seenwholefamiliesinthemesma
samefix.”“Smarty!
Youthinkyou’resome,now,don’tyou?
Oh,whatahat!”
“You
podes
canlumpthathatifyoudon’tgostares
likeit.Idareyoutoknockitoff—and
qualquer
anybodythat’lltakeadarevai
willsuckeggs.”“You’realiar!”
“You’reanother.”
“You’re
um
afightingliaranddasn’ttakeitup.”“Aw—take
um
awalk!”“Say—ifyougiveme
muito
muchmoreofyoursassI’lltakee
andbouncearockoff’nyourhead.”“Oh,ofcourseyouwill.”
“WellIwill.”
“Wellwhydon’tyou
fazes
doitthen?Whatdoyoukeep
dizer
sayingyouwillfor?Whydon’tyou
fazes
doit?It’sbecauseyou’reafraid.”
“Iain’tafraid.”
“Youare.”
“Iain’t.”
“Youare.”
Anotherpause,
e
andmoreeyingandsidlingaroundeachother.Presentlytheywereshouldertoshoulder.
Tom
disse
said:.“Getawayfromhere!”
“Go
embora
awayyourself!”“Iwon’t.”
“Iwon’teither.”
Sotheystood,each
com
withafootplacedatanangleasabrace,e
andbothshovingwithmighte
andmain,andgloweringateachoutro
otherwithhate.Butneither
podia
couldgetanadvantage.Afterstrugglingtill
ambos
bothwerehotandflushed,eachrelaxedhisstraincom
withwatchfulcaution,andTomdisse
said:.“You’reacowardand
um
apup.I’lltellmybig
irmão
brotheronyou,andhepode
canthrashyouwithhislittlefinger,e
andI’llmakehimdoit,too.”“WhatdoI
me importo
careforyourbigbrother?I’vegot
um
abrotherthat’sbiggerthanheis—andwhat’smore,hepode
canthrowhimoverthatfence,também
too.“That’salie.”