Приключения Тома Сойера / The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said: “Siddy, I’ll lick you for that 3

The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, and shouting what he would do to Tom the “ next time he caught him out 5 .’

The new boy stepped over promptly,

‘What’s gone with that boy, I wonder? You

wasn’t it?” “Yes, mam.”

The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children and slaves in the West at the period of this story – that is to say, thirty or forty years ago.

Chapter IV On Sunday after breakfast Tom went to learn “his verses”1 from the Bible. Sid had learned his lesson days before. Tom tried very hard to the memorize the five verses, and he chose part of the Sermon on the Mount, because he could find no verses that were shorter. At the end of half an hour Tom had a vague general idea of his lesson, but no more. His cousin Mary took his book to hear him recite, and he tried his best: “Blessed are the—a—a—” “Poor—” “Yes—poor; blessed are the poor—a—a—” “In spirit—” “In spirit; blessed are the poor in spirit, for they—they—” “Theirs—” “For theirs. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they—they—” “Sh—” “For they—a—” “S, H, A—” “For they S, H—Oh, I don’t know what it is!” “Shall!” “Oh, shall! for they shall—for they shall—a—a—shall mourn—a—a—blessed are they that shall—they that—a—they that shall mourn, for they shall—a—shall what? Why don’t you tell me, Mary?—what do you want to be so mean for?” “Oh, Tom, I’m not teasing you. I wouldn’t do that. You must go and learn it again. Don’t you be discouraged, Tom, you’ll manage it—and if you do, I’ll give you something ever so nice. There, now, that’s a good boy.” “All right! What is it, Mary, tell me what it is.” “Never you mind, Tom. You know if I say it’s nice, it is nice.” “You bet you that’s so, Mary. All right, I’ll tackle it again.” That made Tom do his best—and be a success. Mary gave him a brand-new “Barlow” knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would not cut anything, but it was a “sure-enough” Barlow. He was going to try the knife on the furniture when he was called off to dress for Sunday-school. Mary took care of the process. She made Tom put on a suit that had been used only on Sundays during two years. He now looked much better and felt very uncomfortable. He hoped that Mary would forget his shoes, but she asked Tom to put them on: “Please, Tom—that’s a good boy.” So he got into the shoes. Mary was soon ready, and the three children went to Sunday-school—a place that Tom hated with his whole heart; but Sid and Mary were fond of it. At the door Tom asked another pupil: