The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer — an illustrated literature story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Novels.

Page 1

Tom Sawyer lived with his Aunt Polly. She wasn't really his aunt, but she was all the family he had left. 'Thomas!' she called, her voice sharp. 'Thomas, where are you?' A moment later, she spotted him trying to sneak into the jam closet. 'I might've known it,' she sighed, grabbing him by the ear. 'Idle hands are the devil's workshop, as my dear departed husband used to say. You'll be whitewashing that fence today, young man!'
Page 2

Tom looked at the long, daunting fence. It stretched on and on, baking in the sun. He dipped his brush in the white paint and made a feeble stroke. 'This is terrible,' he groaned. Just then, Ben Rogers skipped merrily down the street, eating an apple. Tom knew he needed a plan. 'Aunt Polly makes me whitewash, but I like it,' Tom said, feigning enthusiasm. 'It's not every boy who gets to whitewash a fence, you know.'
Page 3

'Like it?' Ben asked, his eyes widening. 'You don't say!' Tom carefully applied another stroke. 'Well, maybe I do, maybe I don't,' he teased. 'All I know is, Aunt Polly is very particular about this fence. It has to be just right.' Ben watched him for a moment, then sighed. 'Tom, let me whitewash a little bit.' Tom hesitated. 'No, no...I don't think so, Ben.'
Page 4

Ben pleaded with Tom. 'Please, Tom! I'll give you my apple!' Tom pretended to consider the offer. 'Hmm...' he said. 'That's a mighty fine apple.' Soon, Ben was happily whitewashing the fence, and Tom was enjoying the apple. Before long, other boys came by, and Tom traded the chance to whitewash for kites, marbles, and even a dead rat. He was rich!
Page 5

That evening, Tom walked past the new girl's house. Her name was Becky Thatcher. He felt a strange fluttering in his chest. He saw her in the garden. 'Hello,' he said, trying to sound casual. Becky turned, her blue eyes sparkling. 'Hello,' she replied, a faint smile playing on her lips. Tom gulped. 'What's your name?'
Page 6

'Becky,' she said, 'Becky Thatcher. What's yours?' Tom puffed out his chest. 'Tom Sawyer,' he announced proudly. 'I can do all sorts of things. I can stand on my head, I can whistle, and I can even...' He hesitated, then whispered, 'I can even steal apples when Aunt Polly isn't looking.' Becky giggled. Tom's heart soared. He was in love. But then she pointed, her eyes wide. 'Oh no, here comes Alfred Temple!'
Page 7

Alfred Temple, a new boy in town, sauntered up with a sneer on his face. He shoved Tom aside. 'Out of my way, Sawyer,' he sneered. 'Becky, I brought you a flower.' Tom, furious, balled his fists. 'You think you're so tough?' he shouted. 'I'll show you!' Becky gasped. 'Tom, don't! Please don't fight!'
Page 8

Later, Tom, heartbroken and rejected, wandered into the woods. He met his friend Huck Finn. 'What's wrong, Tom?' Huck asked. Tom explained about Becky and Alfred. Huck listened patiently. 'Well, I always say, 'It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all,' as Tennyson said. Life's too short to be sad!' Tom sighed. 'You're right, Huck. Let's do something adventurous!'
Page 9

They stumbled upon a dark cave. 'Let's explore it!' Huck exclaimed. Tom hesitated. 'Are you sure?' Huck grinned. 'What's life without a little adventure? Come on!' Inside, they found tunnels twisting and turning. Deeper and deeper they went. Suddenly, they heard a voice. 'Well, well, well,' a gruff voice echoed. 'Look what we have here!' It was Injun Joe!
Page 10

Injun Joe lunged, but Tom remembered something he'd read in a book about escaping caves. 'Huck, remember what that explorer said? 'When lost, always follow the flow of air!' The breeze is stronger this way!' They turned and ran, following the air current, deeper into the darkness. They found another opening and scrambled out, leaving Injun Joe trapped inside. 'We did it!' Tom shouted, relieved. 'Bravery isn't the lack of fear, but acting in spite of it.'
About this story
- Audience: general readers