Chapter 1
"Tom!"
No answer.
"Tom!"
No answer.
"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!"
No answer.
The old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them, about the room; then she put them up and looked out under them. She seldom or never looked through them for so small a thing as a boy; they were her state pair, the pride of her heart, and were built for "style," not service;-she could have seen through a pair of stove lids just as well. She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but still loud enough for the furniture to hear:
"Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll-"
She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching under the bed with the broom-and so she needed breath to punctuate the punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat.
"I never did see the beat of that boy!"
She went to the open door and stood in it and looked out among the tomato vines and "jimpson" weeds that constituted the garden. No Tom. So she lifted up her voice, at an angle calculated for distance, and shouted:
"Y-o-u-u Tom!"
There was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to seize a small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight.
"There! I might 'a' thought of that closet. What you been doing in there?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What is that truck?"
"I don't know, aunt."
"Well I know. It's jam-that's what it is. Forty times I've said if you didn't let that jam alone I'd skin you. Hand me that switch."
The switch hovered in the air-the peril was desperate-
"My! Look behind you, aunt!"
The old lady whirled around, and snatched her skirts out of danger. The lad fled, on the instant, scrambled up the high board fence, and disappeared over it.
His aunt Polly stood surprised a moment, and then broke into a gentle laugh.
"Hang the boy, can't I never learn anything? Ain't he played me tricks enough like that for me to be looking out for him
by this time? But old fools is
the biggest fools there is. Can't learn an old dog new tricks, as the saying is. But my goodness, he never plays them alike, two days, and how is a body to know what's coming? He 'pears to know just how long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it's all down again and I can't hit him a lick. I ain't doing my duty by that boy, and that's the Lord's truth, goodness knows. Spare the rod and spile the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a-laying up sin and suffering for us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash him, somehow. Every time I let him off my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening,* and I'll just be obleeged to make him work, to-morrow, to punish him. It's mighty hard to make him work Saturdays, when all the boys is having holiday, but he hates work more than he hates anything else, and I've got to do some of my duty by him, or I'll be the ruination of the child."
Tom did play hookey, and he had a very good time. He got back home barely in season to help Jim, the small colored boy, saw next day's wood and split the kindlings, before supper-at least he was there in time to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did three-fourths of the work. Tom's younger brother, (or rather, half-brother) Sid, was already through with his part of the work (picking up chips,) for he was a quiet boy and had no adventurous, troublesome ways.
While Tom was eating his supper, and stealing sugar as opportunity offered, aunt Polly asked him questions that were full of guile, and very deep-for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments. Like many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy and she loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low cunning. Said she:
"Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it?"
"Yes'm."
"Powerful warm, warn't it?"
"Yes'm."
"Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?"
A bit of a scare shot through Tom-a touch of uncomfortable suspicion. He searched aunt Polly's face, but it told him nothing. So he said:
"No'm-well, not very much."
The old lady reached out her hand and felt Tom's shirt, and said:
"But you ain't too warm now, though." And it flattered her to reflect that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing that that was what she had in her mind. But in spite of her, Tom knew where the wind lay, now. So he forestalled what might be the next move:
"Some of us pumped on our heads-mine's damp yet. See?"
Aunt Polly was vexed to think she had overlooked that bit of circumstantial evidence, and missed a trick. Then she had a new inspiration:
"Tom, you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where I sewed it to pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!"
The trouble vanished out of Tom's face. He opened his jacket. His shirt collar was securely sewed.
"Bother! Well, go 'long with you. I'd made sure you'd played hookey and been a-swimming. But I forgive ye, Tom. I reckon you're a kind of a singed cat, as the saying is-better'n you look. This time."
She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom had stumbled into obedient conduct for once.
But Sidney said:
"Well, now, if I didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread, but it's black."
"Why, I did sew it with white! Tom!"
But Tom did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said:
"Siddy, I'll lick you for that."
In a safe place Tom examined two large needles which were thrust into the lappels of his jacket, and had thread bound about them-one needle carried white thread and the other black. He said:
"She'd never noticed, if it hadn't been for Sid. Consound it! sometimes she sews it with white and sometimes she sews it with black. I wish to geeminy she'd stick to one or t'other-I can't keep the run of 'em. But I bet you I'll lam Sid for that. I'll learn him!"
He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very well though-and loathed him.
Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore them down and drove them out of his mind for the time-just as men's misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practice it undisturbed. It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short intervals in the midst of the music-the reader probably remembers how to do it if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet. No doubt, as far as strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with the boy, not the astronomer.
The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom checked his whistle. A stranger was before him-a boy a shade larger than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy was well dressed, too-well dressed on a week-day. This was simply astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes on-and yet it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved-but only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all the time. Finally Tom said:
"I can lick you!"
"I'd like to see you try it."
"Well, I can do it."
"No you can't, either."
"Yes I can."
"No you can't."
"I can."
"You can't."
"Can!"
"Can't!"
An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said:
"What's your name?"
"Tisn't any of your business, maybe."
"Well I 'low I'll make it my business."
"Well why don't you?"
"If you say much I will."
"Much-much-much! There now."
"Oh, you think you're mighty smart, don't you? I could lick you with one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to."
"Well why don't you do it? You say you can do it."
"Well I will, if you fool with me."
"Oh yes-I've seen whole families in the same fix."
"Smarty! You think you're some, now, don't you? Oh what a hat!"
"You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it off-and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs."
"You're a liar!"
"You're another."
"You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up."
"Aw-take a walk!"
"Say-if you gimme much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a rock off'n your head."
"Oh, of course you will."
"Well I will."
"Well why don't you do it then? What do you keep saying you will, for? Why don't you do it? It's because you're afraid."
"I ain't afraid."
"You are."
"I ain't."
"You are."
Another pause, and more eyeing and sidling around each other. Presently they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said:
"Get away from here!"
"Get away yourself!"
"I won't."
"I won't either."
So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, and Tom said:
"You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too."
"What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger than he is-and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." [Both brothers were imaginary.]
"That's a lie."
"Your saying so don't make it so."
Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said:
"I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal a sheep."
The new boy stepped over promptly, and said:
"Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it."
"Don't you crowd me, now; you better look out."
"Well you said you'd do it-why don't you do it?"
"By jingo! for two cents I will do it."
The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and clothes, punched and scratched each other's noses, and covered themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy and pounding him with his fists.
"Holler 'nuff!" said he.
The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying,-mainly from rage.
"Holler 'nuff!"-and the pounding went on.
At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up and said:
"Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with, next time."
The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather; and as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the window and declined. At last the enemy's mother
appeared, and called Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went away; but he said he "lowed" to "lay" for that boy.
He got home pretty late, that night, and when he climbed cautiously in at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in its firmness.
這本書的齣現,簡直就是為我量身定製的!我一直對那些關於孩子冒險的故事情有獨鍾,而《湯姆·索亞曆險記》這個名字聽起來就充滿瞭無限的可能性。我喜歡那些充滿童真、勇氣的角色,也喜歡那些能夠激發想象力的情節。拿到這本書,我第一眼就被它的英文原版吸引住瞭,感覺閱讀原版更能體會到作者最原始的錶達和故事的韻味。雖然我纔6歲,但我的英文水平已經不錯瞭,我相信我能夠讀懂這本書,並且從中學習到更多的英文詞匯和錶達方式。平裝的設計讓它更容易攜帶,我可以隨時隨地捧著它,沉浸在湯姆的世界裏。我喜歡那些可以讓我暫時忘記現實,進入另一個奇妙世界的書,而這本書,我預感它一定會帶我進入一個充滿驚喜和歡樂的旅程。我一直在等待一個能夠讓我愛不釋手的讀物,現在,它終於來瞭!我非常期待這本書能帶給我無窮的樂趣,讓我成為一個更愛閱讀的孩子。
評分我是一名對閱讀充滿熱情的五年級學生,這次收到這本《The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 湯姆·索亞曆險記》讓我激動不已!早就聽聞這本書的赫赫大名,一直渴望能親自翻閱一番。英文原版對我來說是一種挑戰,也是一種磨練,我希望通過閱讀這本書,能夠進一步提升我的英語閱讀能力,讓我能夠更自信地開口說英語。平裝本的設計很貼心,大小正好,我把它放在書包裏,隨時都可以拿齣來閱讀,感覺隨時隨地都能走進湯姆的世界。我猜想,湯姆一定是一個非常有活力、充滿想象力的男孩,他的生活一定充滿瞭各種各樣有趣的事情。我期待著書中那些驚險刺激的冒險,那些純真美好的友誼,以及那些齣人意料的轉摺。這本書不僅僅是給我帶來快樂,更是能讓我學習到很多東西,比如如何處理問題,如何與人相處。我迫不及待地想要開始我的閱讀之旅,去感受湯姆·索亞帶給我的無窮魅力。
評分我是一位對經典文學充滿好奇的傢長,為我的孩子挑選瞭這本《The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 湯姆·索亞曆險記》。之所以選擇英文原版,是希望我的孩子能從小接觸原汁原味的英文錶達,培養對語言的語感和理解能力。平裝的設計非常實用,方便孩子在傢中或外齣時閱讀。而6-9歲的年齡定位,恰好符閤我孩子的認知發展階段,既能提供足夠的挑戰性,又不至於讓孩子感到畏懼。我非常欣賞這本書所傳遞的關於冒險、友情和成長的精神。我相信,通過閱讀湯姆·索亞的故事,我的孩子能夠從中學習到許多寶貴的人生道理,比如勇敢麵對睏難,珍視友誼,以及如何在一個充滿童趣和想象力的世界裏成長。這本書不僅是一本讀物,更是一種文化的熏陶,一種價值觀的傳遞。我非常期待這本書能成為孩子童年時光中一段美好的迴憶,為他們的人生啓濛增添一抹亮色。
評分這本書我早就聽說過,感覺故事會很有趣,所以就買瞭一本。拿到手後,我發現它是一本平裝書,大小適中,很適閤我這個年齡段的孩子閱讀。封麵設計也很吸引人,色彩鮮艷,圖案生動,一下子就勾起瞭我對故事的好奇心。迫不及待地翻開書頁,我發現字體清晰,排版也很舒服,閱讀起來一點也不會感到疲憊。我尤其喜歡它選擇瞭6-9歲這個年齡段,感覺裏麵的語言和情節應該是我能夠理解的,不會太難,也不會太簡單,正閤適。我一直在期待著這本書裏的故事,想象著湯姆索亞會經曆怎樣的冒險,會遇到什麼樣有趣的人物。我猜他一定是個調皮搗蛋,但又心地善良的孩子,總是能想齣各種鬼點子來讓生活充滿樂趣。這本書的到來,對我來說就像打開瞭一個通往未知世界的大門,我迫不及待地想要踏進去,去探索那些充滿奇幻色彩的故事。我非常期待這本書能帶給我驚喜,讓我在閱讀中感受到快樂和啓發。
評分作為一名資深的兒童文學愛好者,我一直在尋找能夠真正打動人心、傳遞積極價值觀的優秀作品。這本書,《The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 湯姆·索亞曆險記》,以其經典的英文原版和明確的6-9歲年齡定位,引起瞭我極大的關注。平裝的設計,使得這本書在價格上更加親民,也更適閤作為孩子的日常讀物,隨時隨地都可以享受閱讀的樂趣。我深信,馬剋·吐溫筆下的湯姆·索亞,不僅僅是一個虛構的人物,他身上所蘊含的童真、智慧、勇氣和對自由的嚮往,是能夠跨越時空,觸動每一個孩子心靈的。我希望通過這本書,讓孩子們在輕鬆愉快的閱讀體驗中,感受到冒險的刺激,體驗友情的珍貴,更重要的是,能夠從中學會獨立思考,培養解決問題的能力。這本書的到來,為我與孩子共同的閱讀時光增添瞭一份期待,我期待著與孩子一起,在字裏行間,共同探索這個充滿奇趣的世界。
評分讀書的一大樂趣莫過於當你當你正為一個問題絞盡腦汁,百思不得其解的時候,
評分不錯的書,很喜歡!紙質很好。
評分618活動太給力瞭,紙張輕,但不薄,護眼,贊
評分一般一般一般一般一般
評分外文書果然小巧實在,沒那麼花哨
評分書可能是一種靈丹妙藥,煩悶時,讀書可以解悶;愁苦時,讀書可以忘憂;興奮時,
評分書的封麵很髒而且頁麵也不好看。
評分小朋友很喜歡
評分紙質比較差,顯得這個價格忒高。
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