I read this story in Mississippi Writings from the Library of America Collection. Fantastic story-telling and gets us right into the adventure with Tom, although we can see how mischievous and extravagant or excessive he is in his fantastical actions, which are influenced by his being a little "emo." I remember feeling the same way that Tom did, though, with the wish to run away in order to avenge your good name after being reprimanded for something unfairly. The hope was to have people miss you so much that they'd feel guilty about reprimanding you and then would see you as a blessing instead of a curse. I did love Tom's spin on the fence whitewashing! Twain depicted the actions and thoughts of young people so accurately--their absorption in a novelty and turning anything into a game, their resourcefulness, their attachment to superstitions from stories told by adults or overheard from adults, their childish romances and ideas of romance.

"The children fastened their eyes upon the bit of candle and watched it melt slowly and pitilessly away; saw the half inch of wick stand alone at last; saw the feeble flame rise and fall, rise and fall, climb the thin column of smoke, linger at its top a moment, and then--the horror of utter darkness reigned!" pg. 192 (I love this description of the candle burning out and the children's accompanying emotions--great illustrative writing)

"Huck Finn's wealth and the fact that he was now under the widow Douglas's protection, introduced him into society--no, dragged him into it, hurled him into it--and his sufferings were almost more than he could bear. The widow's servants kept him clean and neat, combed and brushed, and they bedded him nightly in unsympathetic sheets that had not one little spot or stain which he could press to his heart and know for a friend." pg. 211 (I love how close we get to Huck Finn here)

Book: borrowed from Skyline College library.