汤姆.索亚历险记-第7部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



The　minister　gave　out　his　text　and　droned　along　monotonously　through　an　argument　that　was　so　prosy　that　many　a　head　by　and　by　began　to　nod　　and　yet　it　was　an　argument　that　dealt　in　limitless　fire　and　brimstone　and　thinned　the　predestined　elect　down　to　a　company　so　small　as　to　be　hardly　worth　the　saving。　Tom　counted　the　pages　of　the　sermon；　after　church　he　always　knew　how　many　pages　there　had　been；　but　he　seldom　knew　anything　else　about　the　discourse。　However；　this　time　he　was　really　interested　for　a　little　while。　The　minister　made　a　grand　and　moving　picture　of　the　assembling　together　of　the　world's　hosts　at　the　millennium　when　the　lion　and　the　lamb　should　lie　down　together　and　a　little　child　should　lead　them。　But　the　pathos；　the　lesson；　the　moral　of　the　great　spectacle　were　lost　upon　the　boy；　he　only　thought　of　the　conspicuousness　of　the　principal　character　before　the　on…looking　nations；　his　face　lit　with　the　thought；　and　he　said　to　himself　that　he　wished　he　could　be　that　child；　if　it　was　a　tame　lion。
Now　he　lapsed　into　suffering　again；　as　the　dry　argument　was　resumed。　Presently　he　bethought　him　of　a　treasure　he　had　and　got　it　out。　It　was　a　large　black　beetle　with　formidable　jaws　　a　〃pinchbug；〃　he　called　it。　It　was　in　a　percussion…cap　box。　The　first　thing　the　beetle　did　was　to　take　him　by　the　finger。　A　natural　fillip　followed；　the　beetle　went　floundering　into　the　aisle　and　lit　on　its　back；　and　the　hurt　finger　went　into　the　boy's　mouth。　The　beetle　lay　there　working　its　helpless　legs；　unable　to　turn　over。　Tom　eyed　it；　and　longed　for　it；　but　it　was　safe　out　of　his　reach。　Other　people　uninterested　in　the　sermon　found　relief　in　the　beetle；　and　they　eyed　it　too。　Presently　a　vagrant　poodle　dog　came　idling　along；　sad　at　heart；　lazy　with　the　summer　softness　and　the　quiet；　weary　of　captivity；　sighing　for　change。　He　spied　the　beetle；　the　drooping　tail　lifted　and　wagged。　He　surveyed　the　prize；　walked　around　it；　smelt　at　it　from　a　safe　distance；　walked　around　it　again；　grew　bolder；　and　took　a　closer　smell；　then　lifted　his　lip　and　made　a　gingerly　snatch　at　it；　just　missing　it；　made　another；　and　another；　began　to　enjoy　the　diversion；　subsided　to　his　stomach　with　the　beetle　between　his　paws；　and　continued　his　experiments；　grew　weary　at　last；　and　then　indifferent　and　absent…minded。　His　head　nodded；　and　little　by　little　his　chin　descended　and　touched　the　enemy；　who　seized　it。　There　was　a　sharp　yelp；　a　flirt　of　the　poodle's　head；　and　the　beetle　fell　a　couple　of　yards　away；　and　lit　on　its　back　once　more。　The　neighboring　spectators　shook　with　a　gentle　inward　joy；　several　faces　went　behind　fans　and　handkerchiefs；　and　Tom　was　entirely　happy。　The　dog　looked　foolish；　and　probably　felt　so；　but　there　was　resentment　in　his　heart；　too；　and　a　craving　for　revenge。　So　he　went　to　the　beetle　and　began　a　wary　attack　on　it　again；　jumping　at　it　from　every　point　of　a　circle；　lighting　with　his　fore…paws　within　an　inch　of　the　creature；　making　even　closer　snatches　at　it　with　his　teeth；　and　jerking　his　head　till　his　ears　flapped　again。　But　he　grew　tired　once　more；　after　a　while；　tried　to　amuse　himself　with　a　fly　but　found　no　relief；　followed　an　ant　around；　with　his　nose　close　to　the　floor；　and　quickly　wearied　of　that；　yawned；　sighed；　forgot　the　beetle　entirely；　and　sat　down　on　it。　Then　there　was　a　wild　yelp　of　agony　and　the　poodle　went　sailing　up　the　aisle；　the　yelps　continued；　and　so　did　the　dog；　he　crossed　the　house　in　front　of　the　altar；　he　flew　down　the　other　aisle；　he　crossed　before　the　doors；　he　clamored　up　the　home…stretch；　his　anguish　grew　with　his　progress；　till　presently　he　was　but　a　woolly　comet　moving　in　its　orbit　with　the　gleam　and　the　speed　of　light。　At　last　the　frantic　sufferer　sheered　from　its　course；　and　sprang　into　its　master's　lap；　he　flung　it　out　of　the　window；　and　the　voice　of　distress　quickly　thinned　away　and　died　in　the　distance。
By　this　time　the　whole　church　was　red…faced　and　suffocating　with　suppressed　laughter；　and　the　sermon　had　come　to　a　dead　standstill。　The　discourse　was　resumed　presently；　but　it　went　lame　and　halting；　all　possibility　of　impressiveness　being　at　an　end；　for　even　the　gravest　sentiments　were　constantly　being　received　with　a　smothered　burst　of　unholy　mirth；　under　cover　of　some　remote　pew…back；　as　if　the　poor　parson　had　said　a　rarely　facetious　thing。　It　was　a　genuine　relief　to　the　whole　congregation　when　the　ordeal　was　over　and　the　benediction　pronounced。
Tom　Sawyer　went　home　quite　cheerful；　thinking　to　himself　that　there　was　some　satisfaction　about　divine　service　when　there　was　a　bit　of　variety　in　it。　He　had　but　one　marring　thought；　he　was　willing　that　the　dog　should　play　with　his　pinchbug；　but　he　did　not　think　it　was　upright　in　him　to　carry　it　off。　
CHAPTER　VI
MONDAY　morning　found　Tom　Sawyer　miserable。　Monday　morning　always　found　him　so　　because　it　began　another　week's　slow　suffering　in　school。　He　generally　began　that　day　with　wishing　he　had　had　no　intervening　holiday；　it　made　the　going　into　captivity　and　fetters　again　so　much　more　odious。
Tom　lay　thinking。　Presently　it　occurred　to　him　that　he　wished　he　was　sick；　then　he　could　stay　home　from　school。　Here　was　a　vague　possibility。　He　canvassed　his　system。　No　ailment　was　found；　and　he　investigated　again。　This　time　he　thought　he　could　detect　colicky　symptoms；　and　he　began　to　encourage　them　with　considerable　hope。　But　they　soon　grew　feeble；　and　presently　died　wholly　away。　He　reflected　further。　Suddenly　he　discovered　something。　One　of　his　upper　front　teeth　was　loose。　This　was　lucky；　he　was　about　to　begin　to　groan；　as　a　〃starter；〃　as　he　called　it；　when　it　occurred　to　him　that　if　he　came　into　court　with　that　argument；　his　aunt　would　pull　it　out；　and　that　would　hurt。　So　he　thought　he　would　hold　the　tooth　in　reserve　for　the　present；　and　seek　further。　Nothing　offered　for　some　little　time；　and　then　he　remembered　hearing　the　doctor　tell　about　a　certain　thing　that　laid　up　a　patient　for　two　or　three　weeks　and　threatened　to　make　him　lose　a　finger。　So　the　boy　eagerly　drew　his　sore　toe　from　under　the　sheet　and　held　it　up　for　inspection。　But　now　he　did　not　know　the　necessary　symptoms。　However；　it　seemed　well　worth　while　to　chance　it；　so　he　fell　to　groaning　with　considerable　spirit。
But　Sid　slept　on　unconscious。
Tom　groaned　louder；　and　fancied　that　he　began　to　feel　pain　in　the　toe。
No　result　from　Sid。
Tom　was　panting　with　his　exertions　by　this　time。　He　took　a　rest　and　then　swelled　himself　up　and　fetched　a　succession　of　admirable　groans。
Sid　snored　on。
Tom　was　aggravated。　He　said；　〃Sid；　Sid！〃　and　shook　him。　This　course　worked　well；　and　Tom　began　to　groan　again。　Sid　yawned；　stretched；　then　brought　himself　up　on　his　elbow　with　a　snort；　and　began　to　stare　at　Tom。　Tom　went　on　groaning。　Sid　said：
〃Tom！　Say；　Tom！〃　＇No　response。＇　〃Here；　Tom！　Tom！　What　is　the　matter；　Tom？〃　And　he　shook　him　and　looked　in　his　face　anxiously。
Tom　moaned　out：
〃Oh；　don't；　Sid。　Don't　joggle　me。〃
〃Why；　what's　the　matter；　Tom？　I　must　call　auntie。〃
〃No　　never　mind。　It'll　be　over　by　and　by；　maybe。　Don't　call　anybody。〃
〃But　I　must！　don't　groan　so；　Tom；　it's　awful。　How　long　you　been　this　way？〃
〃Hours。　Ouch！　Oh；　don't　stir　so；　Sid；　you'll　kill　me。〃
〃Tom；　why　didn't　you　wake　me　sooner　？　Oh；　Tom；　don't！　It　makes　my　flesh　crawl　to　hear　you。　Tom；　what　is　the　matter？〃
〃I　forgive　you　everything；　Sid。　＇Groan。＇　Everything　you've　ever　done　to　me。　When　I'm　gone　〃
〃Oh；　Tom；　you　ain't　dying；　are　you？　Don't；　Tom　　oh；　don't。　Maybe　〃
〃I　forgive　everybody；　Sid。　＇Groan。＇　Tell　'em　so；　Sid。　And　Sid；　you　give　my　window…sash　and　my　cat　with　one　eye　to　that　new　girl　that's　come　to　town；　and　tell　her　〃
But　Sid　had　snatched　his　clothes　and　gone。　Tom　was　suffering　in　reality；　now；　so　handsomely　was　his　imagination　working；　and　so　his　groans　had　gathered　quite　a　genuine　tone。
Sid　flew　down…stairs　and　said：
〃Oh；　Aunt　Polly；　come！　Tom's　dying！〃
〃Dying！〃
〃Yes'm。　Don't　wait　　come　quick！〃
〃Rubbage！　I　don't　believe　it！〃
But　she　fled　up…stairs；　nevertheless；　with　Sid　and　Mary　at　her　heels。　And　her　face　grew　white；　too；　and　her　lip　trembled。　When　she　reached　the　bedside　she　gasped　out：
〃You；　Tom！　Tom；　what's　the　matter　with　you？〃
〃Oh；　auntie；　I'm　〃
〃What's　the　matter　with　you　　what　is　the　matter　with　you；　child？〃
〃Oh；　auntie；　my　sore　toe's　mortified！〃
The　old　lady　sank　down　into　a　chair　and　laughed　a　little；　then　cried　a　little；　then　did　both　together。　This　restored　her　and　she　said：
〃Tom；　what　a　turn　you　did　give　me。　Now　you　shut　up　that　nonsense　and　climb　out　of　this。〃
The　groans　ceased　and　the　pain　vanished　from　the　toe。　The　boy　felt　a　little　foolish；　and　he　said：
〃Aunt　Polly；　it　seemed　mortified；　and　it　hurt　so　I　never　minded　my　tooth　at　all。〃
〃Your　tooth；　indeed！　What's　the　matter　with　your　tooth？〃
〃One　of　them's　loose；　and　it　aches　perfectly　awful。〃
〃There；　there；　now；　don't　begin　that　groaning　again。　Open　your　mouth。　Well　　your　tooth　is　loose；　but　you're　not　going　to　die　about　that。　Mary；　get　me　a　silk　thread；　and　a　chunk　of　fire　out　of　the　kitchen。〃
Tom　said：
〃Oh；　please；　auntie；　don't　pull　it　out。　It　don't　hurt　any　more。　I　wish　I　may　never　stir　if　it　does。　Please　don't；　auntie。　I　don't　want　to　stay　home　from　school。〃
〃Oh；　you　don't；　don't　you？　So　all　this　row　was　because　you　thought　you'd　get　to　stay　home　from　school　and　go　a…fishing？　Tom；　Tom；　I　love　you　so；　and　you　seem　to　try　every　way　you　can　to　break　my　old　heart　with　your　outrageousness。〃　By　this　time　the　dental　instruments　were　ready。　The　old　lady　made　one　end　of　the　silk　thread　fast　to　Tom's　tooth　with　a　loop　and　tied　the　other　to　the　bedpost。　Then　she　seized　the　chunk　of　fire　and　suddenly　thrust　it　almost　into　the　boy's　face。　The　tooth　hung　dangling　by　the　bedpost；　now。
But　all　trials　bring　their　compensations。　As　Tom　wended　to　school　after　breakfast；　he　was　the　envy　of　every　boy　he　met　because　the　gap　in　his　upper　row　of　teeth　enabled　him　to　expectorate　in　a　new　and　admirable　way。　He　gathered　quite　a　following　of　lads　interested　in　the　exhibition；　and　one　that　had　cut　his　finger　and　had　been　a　centre　of　fascination　and　homage　up　to　this　time；　now　found　himself　suddenly　without　an　adherent；　and　shorn　of　his　glory。　His　heart　was　heavy；　and　he　said　with　a　disdain　which　he　did　not　feel　that　it　wasn't　anything　to　spit　like　Tom　Sawyer；　but　another　boy　said；　〃Sour　grapes！〃　a