The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-09-20
How Tom Sawyer Got His Fence
Whitewashed.

ION sawyer having offended his sole
guardian, Aunt Polly. is by that sternly
afieotionate dame punished by being set
TO whitewash the fence in front OF the
garden. The world seemed . hollow
mockery 10 Tom. who had planned fun
for that day. and who knew that he
would be the laughing stock of all
other boys when they came past and
saw him set to work like a "nigger :"
But great inspiration burst upon hi;a
and he went TRANQUILITY To work. What
that inspiration was will appear from
what follows. One of the boys, Ben.
Rogers. comes by and pauses. eating a
particularly fine apple Tom does not
see him. Ben stared moment and then
said
H-yi' You're up = s,um.,. 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
along side Of him Toms mouth wa
tered for the apple. but he stuck to his
work Ben said:
Hello, old chap. you got to work,
hey I"
Why, is i, you. Bon: wasn't motto
ing"
Say, I'm going in swimming. |
am. Don't you wish you could But.
OF course, you'd rather work, wouldn't
you! Course you would"
Tom contemplated the boy bit. and
said
What do you call work 7"
"Why. amt that work"
Tom resumed his whi.ewashing and
answered carelessly:
well. may be II is. and may be IT
Amt. All | know is. i, suits Tom Saw
yer"
"Oh. come now. you don't mean to
let on that YOU like it.''
The brush continued TO move
Like it Well. don't SEQ why |
oughtn't to like it, Does boy get a
chance 10 whi,ewash fence every
day."
That put the thing in new light.
Ben stopped nibbling bis apple Tom
swept his brush daintily back and
forih-stepped back 10 note the effect
added touch here and there-cri,icised
the effect again, Ben watching every
move. and getting mere aud more inter
es'ed, more and more absorbed Pres
emily he said
Say. Tom. le. me whitewAsh = lit
tie"
Tom considered WAS about 10 consent
bu. changed his mind:
Ne. no. reckon il wouldn't hard
ly do, Ben. You. see. Aunt Polly's
awful particular about this fenoe-right
here on the street. you X kaow-out II i,
WAS . back fence, l wouldn't mind. aud
she wouldn't Yes, shes awful particu-
lar abou, this feuce it's so, 10 be dons
very careful; l reckon there sin't one
/ hoy IN thousand. may be two thou
sand. thu, can do i, IN the way it's got
To le done.
Nos that sot Oh. come now. lem-
me jus, try, only jus; little I'd LEI
YOU. If you vas me. Tom"
! " Ben. Ia like 10. honest injun but
Aun, Polly-~ell. Jim wanted 10 DO il,
( but she wouldn't 30 il. Now don't you
Ssa how 1 AlI UAcN ~ yoA Nss u
tackle this fence. and anything WAS tc
happen IN it
.Oh. shucks III be JUS; rs careful
Now lemme try. SAy-Il give you
the core Of my sppie-
Welt here. No. Ben now don I
I'm Sfearei--
"Ill give sll Of II
Tom gave up the bush with reiac'
tanoe in his face bat alacr'y IN hi'
heart. Aud while Ben worked and
.weased in the sun. the retired artist So
on a barrel in the shade close BY. dang
ling his legs, munched his apple. and
planned the slaughter Of more snno
cents. There was no lack of material
boys happened along every little while