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sea！ He would sit by it for hours and dream。 He would venture out on it
in a surreptitiously borrowed boat when he was barely strong enough to
lift an oar out of the water。 He learned to know all its moods and
phases。 He felt its kinship。 In some occult way he may have known it as
his prototypethat resistless tide of life with its ever…changing sweep；
its shifting shores； its depths； its shadows； its gorgeous sunset hues；
its solemn and tranquil entrance to the sea。
His hunger for the life aboard the steamers became a passion。 To be even
the humblest employee of one of those floating enchantments would be
enough； to be an officer would be to enter heaven； to be a pilot was to
be a god。
〃You can hardly imagine what it meant；〃 he reflected once； 〃to a boy in
those days； shut in as we were； to see those steamboats pass up and down；
and never to take a trip on them。〃
He had reached the mature age of nine when he could endure this no
longer。 One day； when the big packet came down and stopped at Hannibal；
he slipped aboard and crept under one of the boats on the upper deck。
Presently the signal…bells rang； the steamboat backed away and swung into
midstream； he was really going at last。 He crept from beneath the boat
and sat looking out over the water and enjoying the scenery。 Then it
began to raina terrific downpour。 He crept back under the boat； but
his legs were outside； and one of the crew saw him。 So he was taken down
into the cabin and at the next stop set ashore。 It was the town of
Louisiana； and there were Lampton relatives there who took him home。
Jane Clemens declared that his father had got to take him in hand； which
he did； doubtless impressing the adventure on him in the usual way。
These were all educational things； then there was always the farm； where
entertainment was no longer a matter of girl…plays and swings； with a
colored nurse following about； but of manlier sports with his older boy
cousins； who had a gun and went hunting with the men for squirrels and
partridges by day； for coons and possums by night。 Sometimes the little
boy had followed the hunters all night long and returned with them
through the sparkling and fragrant morning fresh； hungry； and triumphant
just in time for breakfast。
So it is no wonder that at nine he was no longer 〃Little Sam；〃 but Sam
Clemens； quite mature and self…dependent； with a wide knowledge of men
and things and a variety of accomplishments。 He had even learned to
smokea littleout there on the farm； and had tried tobacco…chewing；
though that was a failure。 He had been stung to this effort by a big
girl at a school which； with his cousin Puss； he sometimes briefly
attended。
〃Do you use terbacker？〃 the big girl had asked； meaning did he chew it。
〃No；〃 he said； abashed at the confession。
〃Haw！〃 she cried to the other scholars； 〃here's a boy that can't chaw
terbacker。〃
Degraded and ashamed； he tried to correct his fault； but it only made him
very ill； and he did not try again。
He had also acquired the use of certain strong； expressive words； and
used them； sometimes； when his mother was safely distant。 He had an
impression that she would 〃skin him alive〃 if she heard him swear。 His
education had doubtful spots in it； but it had provided wisdom。
He was not a particularly attractive lad。 He was not tall for his years；
and his head was somewhat too large for his body。 He had a 〃great ruck〃
of light； sandy hair which he plastered down to keep it from curling；
keen blue…gray eyes； and rather large features。 Still； he had a fair；
delicate complexion； when it was not blackened by grime or tan； a gentle；
winning manner； a smile that； with his slow； measured way of speaking；
made him a favorite with his companions。 He did not speak much； and his
mental attainments were not highly regarded； but； for some reason；
whenever he did speak every playmate in hearing stopped whatever he was
doing and listened。 Perhaps it would be a plan for a new game or lark；
perhaps it was something droll； perhaps it was just a commonplace remark
that his peculiar drawl made amusing。 Whatever it was； they considered
it worth while。 His mother always referred to his slow fashion of
speaking as 〃Sammy's long talk。〃 Her own speech was still more
deliberate； but she seemed not to notice it。 Henrya much handsomer lad
and regarded as far more promisingdid not have it。 He was a lovable；
obedient little fellow whom the mischievous Sam took delight in teasing。
For this and other reasons the latter's punishments were frequent enough；
perhaps not always deserved。 Sometimes he charged his mother with
partiality。 He would say：
〃Yes； no matter what it is； I am always the one to get punished〃； and his
mother would answer：
〃Well； Sam； if you didn't deserve it for that； you did for something
else。〃
Henry Clemens became the Sid of Tom Sawyer； though Henry was in every way
a finer character than Sid。 His brother Sam always loved him； and fought
for him oftener than with him。
With the death of Benjamin Clemens； Henry and Sam were naturally drawn
much closer together； though Sam could seldom resist the temptation of
tormenting Henry。 A schoolmate； George Butler （he was a nephew of
General Butler and afterward fought bravely in the Civil War）； had a
little blue suit with a leather belt to match； and was the envy of all。
Mrs。 Clemens finally made Sam and Henry suits of blue cotton velvet； and
the next Sunday； after various services were over； the two sauntered
about； shedding glory for a time； finally going for a stroll in the
woods。 They walked along properly enough； at first； then just ahead Sam
spied the stump of a newly cut tree； and with a wild whooping impulse
took a running leap over it。 There were splinters on the stump where the
tree had broken away； but he cleared them neatly。 Henry wanted to match
the performance； but was afraid to try； so Sam dared him。 He kept daring
him until Henry was goaded to the attempt。 He cleared the stump； but the
highest splinters caught the slack of his little blue trousers； and the
cloth gave way。 He escaped injury； but the precious trousers were
damaged almost beyond repair。 Sam； with a boy's heartlessness； was
fairly rolling on the ground with laughter at Henry's appearance。
〃Cotton…tail rabbit！〃 he shouted。 〃Cotton…tail rabbit！〃 while Henry；
weeping； set out for home by a circuitous and unfrequented road。 Let us
hope； if there was punishment for this mishap； that it fell in the proper
locality。
These two brothers were of widely different temperament。 Henry； even as
a little boy； was sturdy； industrious； and dependable。 Sam was volatile
and elusive； his industry of an erratic kind。 Once his father set him to
work with a hatchet to remove some plaster。 He hacked at it for a time
well enough； then lay down on the floor of the room and threw his hatchet
at such areas of the plaster as were not in easy reach。 Henry would have
worked steadily at a task like that until the last bit was removed and
the room swept clean。
The home incidents in 'Tom Sawyer'； most of them； really happened。 Sam
Clemens did clod Henry for getting