For works with similar titles, see Tom Sawyer.
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (published 1876) is a very well-known and popular story concerning American youth. Mark Twain's lively tale of the scrapes and adventures of boyhood is set in St. Petersburg, Missouri, where Tom Sawyer and his friend Huckleberry Finn have the kinds of adventures many boys can imagine: racing bugs during class, impressing girls, especially Becky Thatcher, with fights and stunts in the schoolyard, getting lost in a cave, and playing pirates on the Mississippi River. 
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Mark Twain7037The Adventures of Tom Sawyer1876Tom Sawyer - bookcover (cropped).jpg
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THE
ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER.
THE ADVENTURES
OF
TOM SAWYER
BY
MARK TWAIN.
THE AMERICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY,
HARTFORD, CONN.: CHICAGO, ILL.: CINCINNATI, OHIO.
A. ROMAN & CO., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
1876.
COPYRIGHT
By Samuel L. Clemens.
1875
All Rights Reserved.
To
MY WIFE
This Book
is
Affectionately Dedicated.
Hartford, 1876.
PREFACE.
Most of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but not from an individual—he is a combination of the characteristics of three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order of architecture.
The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children and slaves in the West at the period of this story—that is to say, thirty or forty years ago.
Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in.The Author.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. - Y-o-u-u Tom—Aunt Polly Decides Upon her Duty—Tom Practices Music—The Challenge—A Private Entrance................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
17 CHAPTER II. - Strong Temptations—Strategic Movements—The Innocents Beguiled................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
26 CHAPTER III. - Tom as a General—Triumph and Reward—Dismal Felicity—Commission and Omission................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
33 CHAPTER IV. - Mental Acrobatics—Attending Sunday-School—The Superintendent—"Showing off"—Tom Lionized................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
42 CHAPTER V. - A Useful Minister—In Church—The Climax................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
53 CHAPTER VI. - Self-Examination—Dentistry—The Midnight Charm—Witches and Devils—Cautious Approaches—Happy Hours................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
60 CHAPTER VII. - A Treaty Entered Into—Early Lessons—A Mistake Made................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
72 CHAPTER VIII. - Tom Decides on his Course—Old Scenes Re-enacted................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
79 CHAPTER IX. - A Solemn Situation—Grave Subjects Introduced—Injun Joe Explains................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
85 CHAPTER X. - The Solemn Oath—Terror Brings Repentance—Mental Punishment................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
93 CHAPTER XI. - Muff Potter Comes Himself—Tom's Conscience at Work................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
101 CHAPTER XII. - Tom Shows his Generosity—Aunt Polly Weakens................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
107 CHAPTER XIII. - The Young Pirates—Going to the Rendezvous—The Camp-Fire Talk................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
113 CHAPTER XIV. - Camp-Life—A Sensation—Tom Steals Away from Camp................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
121 CHAPTER XV. - Tom Reconnoiters—Learns the Situation—Reports at Camp................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
128 CHAPTER XVI. - A Day's Amusements—Tom Reveals a Secret—The Pirates take a Lesson—A Night Surprise—An Indian War................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
134 CHAPTER XVII. - Memories of the Lost Heroes—The Point in Tom's Secret................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
144 CHAPTER XVIII. - Tom's Feelings Investigated—Wonderful Dream—Becky Thatcher Overshadowed—Tom Becomes Jealous—Black Revenge................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
148 CHAPTER XIX. - Tom Tells the Truth................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
158 CHAPTER XX. - Becky in a Dilemma—Tom's Nobility Asserts Itself.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
161 CHAPTER XXI. - Youthful Eloquence—Compositions by the Young Ladies—A Lengthy Vision—The Boy's Vengeance Satisfied................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
167 CHAPTER XXII. - Tom's Confidence Betrayed—Expects Signal Punishment................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
176 CHAPTER XXIII. - Old Muff's Friends—Muff Potter in Court—Muff Potter Saved................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
181 CHAPTER XXIV. - Tom as the Village Hero—Days of Splendor and Nights of Horror—Pursuit of Injun Joe................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
189 CHAPTER XXV. - About Kings and Diamonds—Search for the Treasure—Dead People and Ghosts................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
191 CHAPTER XXVI. - The Haunted House—Sleepy Ghosts—A Box of Gold—Bitter Luck................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
199 CHAPTER XXVII. - Doubts to be Settled—The Young Detectives................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
208 CHAPTER XXVIII. - An Attempt at No.—Two Huck Mounts Guard................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
212 CHAPTER XXIX. - The Pic-nic—Huck on Injun Joe's Track—The "Revenge" Job—Aid for the Widow................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
217 CHAPTER XXX. - The Welchman Reports—Huck Under Fire—The Story Circulated—A New Sensation—Hope Giving Way to Despair................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
226 CHAPTER XXXI. - An Exploring Expedition—Trouble Commences—Lost in the Cave—Total Darkness—Found but not Saved................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
236 CHAPTER XXXII. - Tom tells the Story of their Escape—Tom's Enemy in Safe Quarters................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
247 CHAPTER XXXIII. - The Fate of Injun Joe—Huck and Tom Compare Notes—An Expedition to the Cave—Protection Against Ghosts—"An Awful Snug Place"—A Reception at the Widow Douglas's,................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
252 CHAPTER XXXIV. - Springing a Secret—Mr. Jones' Surprise a Failure................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
264 CHAPTER XXXV. - A New Order of Things—Poor Huck—New Adventures Planned................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
268 - ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
275
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE - Tom Sawyer................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Frontispiece - Tom at home................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
17 - Aunt Polly Beguiled................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
18 - A Good Opprtunity................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
19 - Who's Afraid................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
23 - Late Home................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
25 - Jim................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
26 - 'Tendin to Business................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
28 - Aint that Work?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
30 - Amusement................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
32 - Becky Thatcher................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
33 - Paying Off................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
34 - After the Battle................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
35 - "Showing Off"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
36 - Not Amiss................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
38 - Mary................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
39 - Tom Contemplating................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
39 - Dampened Ardor................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
40 - Youth................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
41 - Boyhood................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
42 - Using the "Barlow"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
44 - The Church................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
45 - Necessities................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
47 - Tom as a Sunday-School hero................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
51 - The Prize................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
52 - At Church................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
53 - The Model Boy................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
54 - The Church Choir................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
55 - A Side Show................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
57 - Result of Playing in Church................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
58 - The Pinch-bug.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
59 - Sid................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
60 - Dentistry................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
63 - Huckleberry Finn................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
64 - Mother Hopkins................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
67 - Result of Tom's Truthfulness................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
69 - Tom as an Artist................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
70 - Interrupted Courtship................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
71 - The Master................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
72 - Vain Pleading................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
77 - Tail Piece................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
78 - The Grave in the Woods................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
79 - Tom Meditates................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
81 - Robin Hood and his Foe................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
83 - Death of Robin Hood................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
84 - Midnight................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
85 - Tom's Mode of Egress................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
86 - Tom's Effort at Prayer................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
88 - Muff Potter Outwitted................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
91 - The Graveyard................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
92 - Forewarnings................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
93 - Disturbing Muff's Sleep................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
98 - Tom's Talk with his Aunt................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
100 - Muff Potter................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
101 - A Suspicious Incident................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
102 - Injun Joe's two Victims................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
103 - In the Coils................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
106 - Peter................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
107 - Aunt Polly seeks Information................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
108 - A General Good Time................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
110 - Demoralized................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
112 - On Board Their First Prize................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
117 - The Pirates Ashore................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
118 - Wild Life................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
121 - The Pirate's Bath................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
123 - The Pleasant Stroll................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
124 - The Search for the Drowned................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
125 - The Mysterious Writing................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
127 - River View................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
128 - What Tom Saw................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
130 - Tom Swims the River................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
133 PAGE - Taking Lessons................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
134 - The Pirates' Egg Market................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
135 - Tom Looking for Joe's Knife................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
139 - The Thunder Storm................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
141 - Terrible Slaughter................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
143 - The Mourner................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
144 - Tom's Proudest Moment................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
147 - Amy Lawrence................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
148 - Tom tries to Remember................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
150 - The Hero................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
152 - A Flirtation................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
154 - Becky Retaliates................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
155 - A Sudden Frost................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
156 - Counter-irritation................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
157 - Aunt Polly................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
158 - Tom Justified................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
160 - The Discovery................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
161 - Caught in the Act................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
163 - Tom Astonishes the School................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
165 - Literature................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
166 - Tom Declaims................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
167 - Examination Evening................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
168 - On Exhibition................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
170 - Prize Authors................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
173 - The Master's Dilemma................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
174 - The School House................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
175 - The Cadet................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
176 - Happy for Two Days................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
177 - Enjoying the Vacation................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
178 - The Stolen Melons................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
180 - The Judge................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
181 - Visiting the Prisoner................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
184 - Tom Swears................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
186 - The Court Room................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
188 - The Detective................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
189 - Tom Dreams................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
190 - The Treasure................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
191 - The Private Conference................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
192 - A King; Poor Fellow!................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
194 - Business................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
195 - The Ha'nted House................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
198 - Injun Joe................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
199 - The Greatest and Best................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
200 - Hidden Treasures Unearthed................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
205 - The Boy's Salvation................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
207 - Room No. 2................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
208 - The Next Day's Conference................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
209 - Treasures................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
211 - Uncle Jake................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
212 - Huck at Home................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
213 - The Haunted Room................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
214 - "Run for Your Life"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
216 - McDougal's Cave................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
217 - Inside the Cave................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
220 - Huck on Duty................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
221 - A Rousing Act................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
224 - Tail Piece................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
225 - The Welchman................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
226 - Result of a Sneeze................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
227 - Cornered................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
229 - Alarming Discoveries................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
232 - Tom and Becky stir up the Town................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
233 - Tom's Marks................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
234 - Huck Questions the Widow................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
235 - Vampires................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
236 - Wonders of the Cave................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
237 - Attacked by Natives................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
238 - Despair................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
240 - The Wedding Cake................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
242 - A New Terror................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
245 - Daylight................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
247 - "Turn Out" to Receive Tom and Becky................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
248 - The Escape from the Cave................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
249 - Fate of the Ragged Man................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
251 - The Treasures Found................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
252 - Caught at Last................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
253 - Drop after Drop................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
254 - Having a Good Time................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
255 - A Business Trip................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
257 - "Got it at Last!"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
261 - Tail Piece................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
263 - Widow Douglas................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
264 - Tom Backs his Statement................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
266 - Tail Piece................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
267 - Huck Transformed................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
268 - Comfortable Once More................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
271 - High up in Society................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
273 - Contentment................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
274
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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