The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1876-07-26
Tom Sawyer's Diplomacy.
Frnm Mark TwaIn,s Kew Work.

From HlNlh AHAiH y NF# H"tHh
Tom Sawyer, having offended his
sole guardian, Aunt Polly, is by that
sternly aifectionate dame punished by
being set to whitewash the fence in
front of the garden. The world
seemed a hellow monkey to Tom, who
had planned fun for that day, and who
knew that he would he the laughing
stock of all the boys rs they came past
and saw him, set to work like mig
ger" But great inspiration burst
upon him and he went TRANQUILITY 10
;a.rk. What that inspiration was will
the boys, DurrsletgvGittlIi is's,s,t5., Oyps- zff
pauses, eating particularly fine ar-
ple. Tom does not sec him. Ben
stared moment and then snid:
"Hiyil You're up stump, amt
your" ,,
No answer. Tom surveyed his last
touch with the eye of an artist, then
he gave another gentle sweep, and
surveyed the result as before. Ben
ranged up alongside of him. Toms
mouth watered for the apple, but he
stuck TO his work. Bon said;
Hello, old chap. You got to york,
hey !"
ticing.' ,
"Say, I'm going in a swimming. !
am. Don't you wish you couldY But
of course you'd druther work, wouldn't
you7 Course you would +
Tom contemplated the boy bit and
said
"What do you call work 2"
"Why, ain't that work p
Tom resumed his withdrawing, and
answered carelessly: =.
We'll. maybe it is, and nmy be 1t
amt. All / know is, it suits Tom
Sawyer"
"Oh, come now, you don't mean to
LET on that YOU like itT
The brush continued to move.
"Jike itY Well, don't see why |
ouuhtn't TO like it. Does boy get q
chance to whitewash fence every
day2" -.
That put the thing in new light
Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom
swept bis brush daintily back ard
forth; stepped back TO note the effect
added q touch here and there; crit
cised the effect again, Ben watching
Ievery move, and getting more anf
more interested, more and more ab
lsorbed. Presently he said
"stg, Tom, let me whitewash a llt
tie"
Tom considered was about to con
sent. but he altered bis mind.
!" No. no. / reckon it would hardl,
| do, Ben. You see, Aunt PoIly's awfl
particular about this fence ce-right her
On the street you know-hut # it wa
the back fence ! wouldn't mind, an'
she wouldn't. Yes, she's awful ptr
ticular about this fence. Its got t
be done very careful. | reckon ther
amt one b,y in thousand, mayb
two thousand, that can do it In tn
way it's got to be DONE
i Eo--is that go? Oh, come now
lemme just try, only just a little. i
let YOU. if you was me, Tom.
q Ben. Fdlike to, honest IDiun bu
kunt Polly--well, Jim wanted to d
Il but she wouldn't let him. 81
, wanted to do it, but she would let Sic
! Now. don't ytu see how | am fixed
If YOU was to tackle this fence, an
/, /, anysliilp was to happen to it -
Oh. shueks III be just as Garrett
Now iemme try. Say-Fll give 20
the core of my apple. !.
Well, here. No, Ben; now don't
I'm afeard s
"I'll give ell Of it
Tom gave up the brush with reiu
! lance IN his faee, but alacrity in b
|, heart. And while Ben worked az
! sweated in the sun, the retired arti
sat on a barrel III the shade close b
dangling his legs, munehed bis appl
and planned the slaughter Of more ]
! nocents. There was no lack Of mat
rialy boys happened along every litt