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next a dim suspicion came and went-came again; she watched; a furtive glance
told her worlds-and then her heart broke, and she was jealous, and angry, and
the tears came and she hated everybody. Tom most of all, (she thought.) Tom
was introduced to the judge; but his tongue was tied, his breath would hardly
come, his heart quaked-partly because of the awful greatness of the man, but
mainly because he was her parent. He would have liked to fall down and
worship him, if it were in the dark. The judge put his hand on Tom’s head and
called him a fine little man, and asked him what his name was. The boy
stammered, gasped, and got it out: “Tom.” “O, no, not Tom-it is-” “Thomas.”
“Ah, that’s it. I thought there was more to it, maybe. That’s very well. But you’ve
another one I daresay, and you’ll tell it to me, won’t you?” “Tell the gentleman
your other name, Thomas,” said Walters, “and say sir.You mustn’t forget your
manners.” “Thomas Sawyer-sir.” “That’s it! That’s a good boy. Fine boy. Fine,
manly little fellow. Two thousand verses is a great many-very, very great many.
And you never can be sorry for the trouble you took to learn them; for
knowledge is worth more than anything there is in the world; it’s what makes
great men and good men; you’ll be a great man and a good man yourself,
someday, Thomas, and then you’ll look back and say, It’s all owing to the
precious Sunday-school privileges of my boyhoodit’s all owing to my dear
teachers that taught me to learn-it’s all owing to the good Superintendent, who
encouraged me, and watched over me, and gave me a beautiful Bible-a splendid
elegant Bible, to keep and have it all for my own, always it’s all owing to right
bringing up! That is what you will say, Thomas-and you wouldn’t take any
money for those two thousand verses then-no indeed you wouldn’t.

And now you wouldn’t mind telling me and this lady some of the things you’ve
learned-no, I know you wouldn’t-for we are proud of little boys that learn.
Now no doubt you know the names of all the twelve disciples. Won’t you tell us
the names of the first two that were appointed?” Tom was tugging at a button
and looking sheepish. He blushed, now, and his eyes fell. Mr. Walters’s heart
sank within him. He said to himself, It is not possible that the boy can answer
the simplest question-why did the judge ask him? Yet he felt obliged to speak
up and say; “Answer the gentleman, Thomas-don’t be afraid.” Tom still hung
fire.

“Now I know you’ll tell me” said the lady. “The names of the first two disciples
were-” “DAVID AND GOLIATH!” Let us draw the curtain of charity over the
rest of the scene.