The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-07
TOM SAWYER'S PRIZE BIBLE.
BY MARK TWAIN.

By MARK TWAIN.
Sabbath school hours were from until
half past 10, and then church service. Two of
the children always remained for the sermon
voluntarily, and the other always remained
too-for stronger reasons. The church s
high backed, uncushioned pews would seat
about 800 persons The edifice was but a
small, plain affair, with a sort of pine board
tree-box on top of it for a steeple. At the
door Tom dropped back step and accosted
Sunday dressed cOmrade:
Say, Billy, got yaller ticketT'
yes"
"What'l you take for her."
'What'll you give?"
'Piece of lickrish ard fsh-hook."
LESS see EN-"
80 Tom exhibited. They were satisfactory and
the property changed hands. Then Tom
traded a couple of white alleys for three red
tickets, and some trife or other for a couple
of blue ones He waylaid other boys as they
came and went on buying tickets of various
colors ten or fifteen minutes longer. He en-
tered the church, now, with swarm Of
clean and noisy boys and girls, proceeded TO
his seat and started quarrel with the first
boy that came handy. The teacher, grave,
elderly man, interferred; then turned his
back a moment and Tom pulled boys hair
in the next bench, and was absorbed in his
book when the boy turned around; stuck a
pin in another boy, presently, in order to
reprimand from his teacher. Toms
whole class were OF. pattern : rest,
less noisy and troublesome When they
came to recite their lessons, not one
of them knew his verses perfectly, but had
to be prompted along. However, they wor-
ried through, and each got his reward in
small blue tickets each with a passage of
Scripture on it; each blue ticket was pay for
two verses of the recitation. Ten blue tick
els equaled AIRED one, and could be ex-
changed for it; ten red tickets equaled yell
low one; for ten yellow tickets the superin-
tendent gave very plainly bound Bible
worth forty cents in those easy timesi to
the pupil. How many of my readers would
have the industry and application to memo
rize two thousand verses, even for a Dore
Bible? And yet-Mary had acquired two
Bibles in this way-it was the patient work
of two years-and a boy of German parent
age had won four or five. He once recited
three thousand verses without stopping, but
the strain upon his mental faculties was too
great, and he was little better than an idiot
from that day forth-a grievous misfortune
for the school, for on great occasions before
company, the superintendent las Tom ex-
pressed it) had always made this boy come
out and spread himself"
Only the older pupils managed to keep
their tickets and stick to their tedious work
long enough to get Bible, and so the de-
livery of one of these prizes was a rare and
noteworthy circumstance; the successful pu-
pill was so great and conspicuous for that
day that on the spot every scholars heart
was fired with fresh ambition that often
lasted couple of weeks. 1t is possible that
Toms mental stomach had never re ally
hungered fer one of those prizes, but un-
questionably his entire being had for many
adsy longed for the glory and eclat that
came with it.
In due course the superintendent stood up
in front of the pulpit, with closed hymn
book in his hand and his forefnger inserted
between its leaves, ssd commanded atten-.
ton. When Sunday school supennten-
dent makes his customary little speech,
hymn'bcok In the hand is as necessary as
the inevitable sheet of music in the hand of
singer who stands forward on the platform
and sings a solo at a CONGREGATIONAL why is
amystery, for neither the hvmn-book nor the
sheet of music is ever referred 10 by the
4 sufferer. This superintendent was slim
creature of IS, with sandy goatee and
short sandy hair; he wore a outstanding
collar whose upper edge almost reached his
ears and whose sharp points curved forward
abreast the corners of his mouths fence
that compelled straight lookout ahead. and
turning of the whole body when a side
view was required; his chin was propped on
spreading cravat, which was as broad and
as long as a bank note, and had fringed ends;
his boot toes were turned sharply up, in the
fashion of the day, like sleigh runners-an
effect patiently and laboriOusly produced by
the young men sitting with their toes pressed
against wall for hours together Mr.. Wal
tiers was very earnest of mien and very sin
scere and honest at heart; and he held sacred
things and places in such reverence, and so
separated them from worldly matters, that
unconsciously to himself his Sunday-school
voice had acquired q peculiar intsnation
which was wholly absent on week days. He
began after this fashion:
Now children, | want you all to sit up
just as straight and pretty as you can. and
give me all your attention for aminute or
two. There-that is the way good little
boys and girls should do. Il see one little
girl who is looking out of the window.
am afraid she thinks am out there some
where-perhaps up in one OF the trees max
ing a speech to the little birds. [Applaus-
i've filters want to tell you how good il
makes me feel to see so many bright, clean
little faces assembled in place like this,
learning to do right and be good" And so
forth and so on. 1t Is not necessary to set
down the rest of the Grafton. 1t was of a
pattern which does not vary. and so it is ia
miliar to us all The latter third of the
speech was marred by the resumption of
fights and other recreations among certain
of the bad boys, and by hgetings and whis-
perings that extended far and wide. wash
ing even 10 the bases OF isolated and incor-
ruptible rocks like Sid and Mary. But now
every sound ceased suddenly, with the SUBJ
sidence Of Mr.. Walters voice, and the con-
clusion of the speech was received with q
burst of silent gratitude.
good part Of the whispering had been
occasioned by an event which was more OF
less rare-the entrance of visitors: Lawyer
Thatcher accompanied by a very feeble and
aged man: q thin, portly, middle-aged
gentleman with iron-gray hair; and digni-
fed lady who was doubtle the latters wife.
The lady was leading a child. Tom had
been restless and full Of chafngs and rein.
ings; conscience smitten. too-he could not
meet Amv Laurence's eve he could not