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Interpretation: A Journal of Political Philosophy

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Tom Sawyer: Hero <strong>of</strong> Middle America 211<br />

authority, even as he rejects hermiting. Whereas Huck would reject the<br />

hermit's life because it makes no sense even though it comes closer to<br />

his own style <strong>of</strong> living than to Tom's Tom rejects it because it is out <strong>of</strong><br />

fashion. Yet if it were in fashion, Tom would see no way for departing<br />

from the authoritative version <strong>of</strong> hermiting. Tom cannot conceive <strong>of</strong> an<br />

alteration or variation from an authoritative model except if it be founded<br />

upon an equal or superior authority. All Tom's defiances <strong>of</strong> authority are<br />

based, like Euthyphro's,<br />

authority<br />

he seems to defy.<br />

upon a higher and more esoteric version <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Let us then return to the churchly consummation <strong>of</strong> Tom's piratical<br />

Christianity. "When the Sunday-school hour was finished . . . the<br />

began to toll, instead <strong>of</strong> ringing in the usual<br />

bell<br />

way."<br />

The villagers gathered<br />

in the hushed atmosphere induced by the presence <strong>of</strong> the mystery <strong>of</strong><br />

death. "None could remember when the little church had been so full<br />

before."<br />

The congregation rises reverently as the bereaved families enter.<br />

Amidst muffled sobs the minister spreads his hands and prays. "A moving<br />

hymn was sung, and the text followed: 'I am the Resurrection and the<br />

Life.' "<br />

Little could the congregation guess that, but a week before, the<br />

central figure <strong>of</strong> the present drama, sitting in their midst, had lusted after<br />

the glory <strong>of</strong> the httle child who should lead them. They had seen in the<br />

. . [and episodes] that at the time had<br />

departed only "faults and flaws .<br />

cowhide."<br />

seemed rank rascalities, well deserving <strong>of</strong> the<br />

These same<br />

incidents are now related by the minister in such a way as to illustrate<br />

the sweet, generous natures <strong>of</strong> the departed. And the congregation,<br />

conscious that heret<strong>of</strong>ore they had been persistently blinded to the truth<br />

about the lost lads, felt the pangs <strong>of</strong> conscience compounding their grief.<br />

"The congregation became more and more moved,<br />

went on, till at last the whole company broke down,"<br />

the preacher himself. At this moment,<br />

as the pathetic tale<br />

including<br />

in the end<br />

when the pathos <strong>of</strong> the occasion<br />

had reached its extremity, there is a rustle in the gallery. A moment later<br />

the astounding event occurs, as the three boys come up the aisle, Tom in<br />

the lead, Joe behind, and Huck in his tattered rags slinking miserably in<br />

the rear. In the pandemonium that follows, two incidents are remarkable.<br />

As their families throw themselves upon Tom and Joe, Tom laid hold <strong>of</strong><br />

Huck and said, "Aunt PoUy, it ain't fair. Somebody's got to be glad to<br />

see Huck."<br />

As Aunt PoUy responds with her warm humanity, the<br />

minister's voice thunders out, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow<br />

SING! and put your hearts in it!"<br />

"And they did. Old Hundred swelled<br />

up with a triumphant burst, and whUe it shook the rafters Tom Sawyer<br />

the Pirate looked around upon the envying juveniles about him and con<br />

fessed in his heart that this was the proudest moment <strong>of</strong> his life."<br />

We are told by<br />

they said they would almost be willing<br />

Old Hundred sung like that once<br />

the author that "As the 'sold'<br />

congregation trooped out<br />

to be made ridiculous again to hear<br />

more."<br />

This puts us in mind <strong>of</strong> the<br />

missionary piracy <strong>of</strong> the king, as he worked the camp meeting in Poke-<br />

ville, in Huckleberry Finn, as well as reminding us <strong>of</strong> how the king and

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