TOMjoinedtheneworderofCadetsofTemperance, beingattractedbytheshowycharacteroftheir "regalia." Hepromisedtoabstainfromsmoking, chewing, andprofanityaslongasheremained a mem- ber. Nowhefoundout a newthing -- namely, thattopromisenottodo a thingisthesurestwayintheworldtomake a bodywanttogoanddothatverything. Tomsoonfoundhimselftormentedwith a desiretodrinkandswear; thedesiregrewtobesointensethatnothingbutthehopeof a chancetodis- playhimselfinhisredsashkepthimfromwithdrawingfromtheorder. FourthofJulywascoming; buthesoongavethatup -- gaveitupbeforehehadwornhisshacklesoverforty-eighthours -- andfixedhishopesuponoldJudgeFrazer, justiceofthepeace, whowasapparentlyonhisdeathbedandwouldhave a bigpublicfuneral, sincehewassohighanofficial. Dur- ingthreedaysTomwasdeeplyconcernedabouttheJudge's conditionandhungryfornewsofit. Some- timeshishopesranhigh -- sohighthathewouldventuretogetouthisregaliaandpractisebeforethelooking- glass. ButtheJudgehad a mostdiscouragingwayoffluctuating. Atlasthewaspronounceduponthemend -- andthenconvalescent. Tomwasdisgusted; andfelt a senseofinjury, too. Hehandedinhisres- ignationatonce -- andthatnighttheJudgesuffered a relapseanddied. Tomresolvedthathewouldnevertrust a manlikethatagain.
1
Thefuneralwas a finething. TheCadetsparadedin a stylecalculatedtokillthelatememberwithenvy. Tomwas a freeboyagain, however -- therewassome- thinginthat. Hecoulddrinkandswear, now -- butfoundtohissurprisethathedidnotwantto. Thesimplefactthathecould, tookthedesireaway, andthecharmofit.
2
Tompresentlywonderedtofindthathiscovetedvacationwasbeginningtohang a littleheavilyonhishands.
3
Heattempted a diary -- butnothinghappeneddur- ingthreedays, andsoheabandonedit.
4
Thefirstofallthenegrominstrelshowscametotown, andmade a sensation. TomandJoeHarpergotup a bandofperformersandwerehappyfortwodays.
5
EventheGloriousFourthwasinsomesense a failure, foritrainedhard, therewasnoprocessionincon- sequence, andthegreatestmanintheworld (asTomsupposed), Mr. Benton, anactualUnitedStatesSenator, provedanoverwhelmingdisappointment -- forhewasnottwenty-fivefeethigh, norevenanywhereintheneighborhoodofit.
6
A circuscame. Theboysplayedcircusforthreedaysafterwardintentsmadeofragcarpeting -- ad- mission, threepinsforboys, twoforgirls -- andthencircusingwasabandoned.
7
A phrenologistand a mesmerizercame -- andwentagainandleftthevillagedulleranddrearierthanever.
Thedreadfulsecretofthemurderwas a chronicmisery. Itwas a verycancerforpermanencyandpain.
11
Thencamethemeasles.
12
DuringtwolongweeksTomlay a prisoner, deadtotheworldanditshappenings. Hewasveryill, hewasinterestedinnothing. Whenhegotuponhisfeetatlastandmovedfeeblydown-town, a melancholychangehadcomeovereverythingandeverycreature. Therehadbeen a "revival," andeverybodyhad "gotreligion," notonlytheadults, buteventheboysandgirls. Tomwentabout, hopingagainsthopeforthesightofoneblessedsinfulface, butdisappointmentcrossedhimeverywhere. HefoundJoeHarperstudy- ing a Testament, andturnedsadlyawayfromthede- pressingspectacle. HesoughtBenRogers, andfoundhimvisitingthepoorwith a basketoftracts. HehuntedupJimHollis, whocalledhisattentiontothepreciousblessingofhislatemeaslesas a warning. Everyboyheencounteredaddedanothertontohisdepression; andwhen, indesperation, heflewforrefugeatlasttothebosomofHuckleberryFinnandwasreceivedwith a Scripturalquotation, hisheartbrokeandhecrepthomeandtobedrealizingthathealoneofallthetownwaslost, foreverandforever.
13
Andthatnighttherecameon a terrificstorm, withdrivingrain, awfulclapsofthunderandblindingsheetsoflightning. Hecoveredhisheadwiththebedclothesandwaitedin a horrorofsuspenseforhisdoom; forhehadnottheshadowof a doubtthatallthishubbubwasabouthim. Hebelievedhehadtaxedtheforbearanceofthepowersabovetotheextremityofenduranceandthatthiswastheresult. Itmighthaveseemedtohim a wasteofpompandammunitiontokill a bugwith a batteryofartillery, butthereseemednothingincon- gruousaboutthegettingupsuchanexpensivethunder- stormasthistoknocktheturffromunderaninsectlikehimself.