Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-23
IT WASN'T WORK.
In Fact, it Was Better Than Going
in Swimming.
How Tom Sawyer Got His Fence
WhiIewashed.


.a deep melancholy settled down upC
his spirit. Thirty yards of boal
fence nine feet high. Life to hi
seemed hollew, and existence but
burden. Signing he dipped his brus
and passed it along the topmost planl
repeated it; did 1t again; compare
the Insignificant whitewashed strea
with the far reaching continent of III
whitewashed fence and sat down on
tree box discouraged.
He began to think of the fun b
had planned for this day, and his sol
rows multiplied. Soon the free boy
would come tripping along on a.
sorts Of delicious expeditions, an
they would make a world of fun 9
him for having to work-the YER
thought of it burnt him like fire. H
got out his worldly wealth and exam
ined it-hts of toys, marbles an,
trash; enough to buy an exchange O
work, maybe, but not half enough Il
purchase so much as half an hour O
pure freedom. So he returned hi
Strengthened means to his pocket, anC
gave up the idea of trying to buy the
boys. AT this dark aud hopeless mo
ment an inspiration burst upon him
Nothing less than great, magnificent
inspiration.
He took up his brush and went
TRANQUILITY to work. Ben Rogers hove
in sight presently-the very boy, Of
all boys, whose ridicule he had been
dreading. Ben's gait was the hop,
skip and jump-proof enough that his
heart was light and his anticiparions
high. He was eating an apple, and
giving a long melodious whoop at in
teryals, followed by a deep tom
ed ding dong dong, ding dong
dong, for he was personating
steamboat. As he drew near he
slackened speed, took the middle of the
street, leaned far over the starboad
and rounded to ponderously aud with
laborious pomp and circumstance for
he was personating the big Nilsson
ri, and considered himself to be
drawing nine feet of water. He was
boat. and Captain, and engine bells
combined, so be had to imagine him
self standing on his own hurricane
deck giving the orders and executing
them:
Stop her, sir Ting>a>ling-linQl'
The Roadway ran almost out and he
drew up slowly toward the side
walk.
ship up to back Ting-a-ling linpl"
His arms Strengthened and sliffened
down bis sides.
set her back on the starboardI
Ting a. ling lingl Chow CHI chow WOW!
CbOWl" His right hand, meantime,
describing stately circles-for it was
representing fOrty-ioot wheel.
Let her 90 back on tie labboardl
Ting ling lingl Che ch-chow chowl"
The left hand began to described
circles.
stop the stabboardl Ting a ling
lingl Stop the labboardl Come ahead
Oh the STAFFORD Stop herl Let
four outside turn over slowl Ting a
ling lingl Chow ow owl Get out that
head line. Lively nowl Come-out
with your spring line-what're you
about therel Take a turn around
that stump with the blight Of i'll
Stand By that stage, now-let her 70!
Done with the engines, sir Ting a
ling lingl Shit shit shit" Crying
the gauge cocks.)
Tom went on whitewashing-paid
no attention to the steamboat. Ben
stared q moment and then said:
Hi pill you're stump, amt you?"
No answer. Tom surveyed his last
touch with the eye Of an artist; then |
be gave his brush another gentle |
sweep and surveyed the result as be-
fore. Ben ranged up alongside of |
him. Toms mouth watered Tor the |
apple, but he stuck to his work. Ben
aid:
Hello, old chap; you got to work,
ley?"
Tom wheeled suddenly and said:
Why, it is you, Ben; | warn't no
icing"
Say. I'm going in a swimming, |
IN. Don't you wish you cOuld2 But,
It course, you'd rather work, wouldn't |
'ouP Course you would"
Tom contemplated the boy a bit,
md said:
What do you call work."
Why, amt that work."
Tom resumed his whitewashing, |
md answered carelessly.
well, maybe it is. and maybe it |
int. All | know is, it suits Tom |
sawyer"
"Oh, come nov, you don't mean to |
ct on that you like III"
Like III Well, / don't see why | |
,ughtn't to like it. Does a boy get |
,haoee to whitewash a fence every |
lay7"
That put the thing in a new light |
Ben stopped nlbbling his apple. Tom
swept bis brush daintly back and |
Iorth stepped back to note the
sfect-added touch here and
the effect again, Ben
watching every move, and getting
more and more interested, more and
more absorbed. Presently he said.
Say, Tom, let me whitewash a
little"
Tom considered; was about to con.
sent. but he altered his mind. mo,
noi | reckon it wouldn't hardly do,
Ben: og see, Aunt Polly's awful
particular about this fence, right here
on the street, You know but if it was
the back fence | wouldn't mind, and
she wouldn't. Yes, she's awful par
ticular about this fence; it's got to be
done very careful; | reckon there
ANT one boy in thousand, mavbe
TWO thousand, that can do Il in the
way it's got to be done"