Page 98 - Lavender-B-6

Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said: ‘What do you call work?’

‘Why, ain’t that work?’
What would
Tom resumed his whitewashing and answered carelessly: ‘Well, you have done if

maybe it is and maybe it ain’t. All I know is, it suits Tom Sawyer.’ you got a similar
Let’s connect
punishment like Tom?
‘Oh come, now, you don’t mean to let on that you like it?’

‘Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence
every day?’

That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom swept his brush
daintily back and forth—stepped back to note the effect—added a touch here and
there—Ben watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more
absorbed. Presently he said: ‘Say, Tom, let me whitewash a while.’

Tom considered, was about to consent; but he altered his mind. ‘No—no—I reckon it

wouldn’t hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly’s awful particular about this fence —right
here on the street, you know—but if it was the back fence I wouldn’t mind and she
wouldn’t. Yes, she’s awful particular about this fence; it’s got to be done very careful; I
reckon there ain’t one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it the way it’s
got to be done.’

‘No—is that so? Oh come, now—lemme just try. Only just a little. I’ll be careful. Now

lemme try. Say—I’ll give you the core of my apple.’

‘Well, here—No, Ben, now don’t. I’m afeard—’

‘I’ll give you all of it!’

Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face,
but alacrity in his heart. And while the late
steamer Big Missouri worked and sweated in the
sun, the retired artist sat on a barrel in the shade
close by, dangled his legs, and munched his

apple, and planned the slaughter of more

contemplated: observed carefully
ain’t: (here) short form of ‘is not’
daintily: slowly and gracefully
consent: to agree to do something
altered: changed
reckon: to think or believe
lemme: short form of ‘let me’
afeard: afraid
reluctance: an unwillingness to do something
alacrity: speed and interest

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