Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-08-07
sHREwD TOMMY SAWYER.

Tom Sawyer. having offended his sole
guardian, Aunt Polly, is by that sternly
afectionate dame punished by being set
to whitewash the fence in front of the
garden. The world seemed a hollow
mockery to Tom, who had planned fun
for that day, and who knew that he
would be the laughing stock of all the
boys as they came past and set to work
like 'nigger" But great inspira-
ton burst upon him, and he went tran
gully to work. What that inspiration
was, will appear from what follows. One
of the boys, Ben Rogers, comes by and
pauses, eating particular fine apple.
Tom does not see him. Ben stared q
moment and then said:
"Hi-yil You're up a stump, amt
you ?"
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.
Ben said:
"Hello, old chap; you got to work,
hey ?"
"Why, it's you, Ben; wasn't motto
ing"
"Say, I'm going in a-swimming, |
am. Don't you wish you could ? But.
of course, you'd druther work. wouldn't
you? Course you would p
Tom contemplated the boy bit, and
said:
"What do you call work p
"Why, amt that work ?"
Tom resumed his whitewashing, and
answered, carclessly:
"Well, maybe it is, and maybe it is
not. ALI know is, it suits Tom Saw
yer"
"Oh, come now, you don't mean tc
let on that you like it ?"
The brush continued to move.
"Like il? Well, | don't see why ]
Oughtn't to like it. Does boy get .
chance to whitewash fence every day p
That put the thing N a new light
Tom swept his brush daintily back and
forth, stepped back to note the effect
added touch here and there, criticised
the effect again, Ben watching every
move and getting more and more inter
ested, more and more absorbed. Pres
emily he said:
"Say, Tom, let me wkiteWash a little.
Tom considered was about to con
sent but be altered his mind "No. no
] reckon it would hardly do. Ben. Yol
see, Aunt Polly's awful particular about
this fence-right here on the street, yol
know-but if it was the back fence
wouldn't mind and she wouldn't Yes
she's awful particular about this fence
its got to be done very careful | reck
on there amt one boy in a thousand
may be two thousand, that can do it Ia
way it's got 10 be done"
''No-is that 50 oh. come now
lemme just try only just little. II
let you if you was me. Tom.
Ben, I'd like to. honest Injun bu
Aunt Polly-well. Jim wanted 70 do il
but she wouldn't let him. Sid sante'
70 do it. but she wouldn't let Sid. Now
don't you see how I'm fixed If 20
was to tackle this fence. and anythinI
was to happen % it,"
.'Oh. shueks I'll Be just a. careful
Now. lemme try. say--I'll give 20
the core Of my apple.
well. here. No, Ben now don't
I'm afeared-"
Ell give you all Of it,
Tom gave up the brush with reluei
aBee IN bis face. but alaerity 10 hi
heart. And, while Ben worked 40
sKeated in the sun, the retired artist a
on barrel in the shade close By. dang
ling bis legs. munehed his apple an
planned the slaughter Of more iHnoeentl
There vas 10 lack Of material boy
happened along every little while; the
came 70 jeer. but remained % whiteWasl
By the time Ben was tagged out ToI