Tomappearedonthesidewalkwithabucketofwhitewashandalong-handledbrush.HestoppedbythefenceinfrontofthehousewherehelivedwithhisauntPolly.Helookedatit,andalljoylefthim.Thefencewaslongandhigh.Heputthebrushintothewhitewashandmoveditalongthetopofthefence.Herepeatedtheoperation.Hefelthecouldnotcontinueandsatdown.

Heknewthathisfriendswouldarrivesoonwithallkindsofinterestingplansfortheday.Theywouldwalkpasthimandlaugh.TheywouldmakejokesabouthishavingtoworkonabeautifulsummerSaturday.Thethoughtburnedhimlikefire.

Heputhishandintohispocketsandtookoutallthatheowned.Perhapshecouldfindsomewaytopaysomeonetodothewhitewashingforhim.Buttherewasnothingofvalueinhispockets—nothingthatcouldbuyevenhalfanhouroffreedom.Soheputthebitsoftoysbackintohispocketsandgaveuptheidea

Atthisdarkandhopelessmoment,awonderfulideacametohim.Itfilledhismindwithagreat,brightlight.Calmlyhepickedupthebrushandstartedagaintowhitewash.

WhileTomwasworking,BenRogersappeared.Benwaseatinganappleashewalkedalongthestreet.Ashewalkedalong,hewasmakingnoiseslikethesoundofariverboat.Firstheshoutedloudly,likeaboatcaptain.Thenhesaid“Ding-Dong-Dong”,“Ding-Dong-Dong”againandagain,likethebellofariverboat.Andhemadeotherstrangenoises.WhenhecameclosetoTom,hestopped.

Tomwentonwhitewashing.HedidnotlookatBen.Benstaredamomentandthensaid:“Hello!I’mgoingswimming,butyoucan’tgo,canyou?”

Noanswer.Tommovedhisbrushcarefullyalongthefenceandlookedattheresultwiththeeyeofanartist.Bencamenearer.Tom’smouthwateredfortheapple,buthekeptonworking.

Bensaid,“Hello,oldfellow,you’vegottowork,hey?”

Tomturnedsuddenlyandsaid,“Why,it’syou,Ben!Iwasn’tnoticing.”

“Say—I’mgoingswimming.Don’tyouwishyoucould?Butofcourseyou’dratherwork—wouldn’tyou?Ofcourseyouwould.”

Tomlookedattheboyabit,andsaid“Whatdoyoucallwork?”

“Why,isn’tthatwork?”

Tomwentbacktohiswhitewashing,andansweredcarelessly.

“Well,maybeitis,andmaybeitisn’t.AllIknowis,itsuitsTomSawyer.”

“Ohcome,now,youdon’tmeantosaythatyoulikeit?”

Thebrus