Tom Sawyer Still Teaches

Tom Sawyer Still Teaches

There is a story in Mark Twain’s classic book, Tom Sawyer that I think can teach us lesson today.  Here it is:

~ ~ ~

Tom is headed to Sunday School, against his will of course.  And so he goes anyway.

As he and Aunt Polly, Sid and Mary approach, Tom begins to lag behind a bit and he addressed a Sunday-dressed comrade.

“Say, Billy, got a yaller ticket?”

“What’ll you take for her?”

“Piece of likrish and a fish hook.”

“Less see ‘em.”

Tom exhibited.  They were satisfactory, and the property changed hands.  Then Tom traded a couple of white alleys (marbles) for three red tickets, and some small trifle or other for a couple of blue ones.  He waylaid other boys as they came, and went on buying tickets of various colors ten or fifteen minutes longer. 

The tickets were usually earned in Sunday School by successfully reciting passages of Scripture. 

Blue for two verses

Ten blues = one red ticket

Ten red = one yellow

Ten yellow = well that was the jackpot – the possessor of ten yellow tickets was awarded a very plainly bound Bible, worth forty cents in those easy times).

Tom’s sister, Mary, had acquired two Bibles in this way.  It took her two years, and yet she had earned two Bibles.

Well, they gathered all the children into the church building for they had a ceremony planned.  And it was some fine ceremony, let me tell you.  They even brought in a special guest.  

“The middle-aged man turned out to be a prodigious personage – not less a one than the county judge – altogether the most august creation these children had ever looked upon.  He was from Constantinople, twelve miles away – so he had travelled and seen the world.  And he had looked upon the county courthouse – which was said to have a tin roof. 

Mr. Walters, he was the Sunday School Superintendent, he was

flittering around, acting busy, acting important and all and probably trying to impress the Judge – Judge Thatcher. 

There was only one thing wanting to make Mr. Walter’s ecstasy complete, and that was a chance to deliver a Bible-prize and exhibit a prodigy.  Several pupils had a few yellow tickets, but none had enough – he had been around among the star pupils inquiring. 

And now, when all hope was dead, Tom Sawyer came forward with nine yellow tickets, nine red tickets, and ten blue ones, and demanded a Bible.  This was a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.  Mr. Walters was not expecting an application from this source for the next ten years.  But there was no getting around it – here were the certified checks, and they were good for their face.

The prize was delivered to Tom with as much effusion as the superintendent could pump up under the circumstances; but it lacked somewhat of the true gush, for the poor fellow ‘s instinct taught him that there was a mystery here that could not well bear the light.

Tom was introduced to the Judge.  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.”

“Oh, no, not Tom – it is –“

“Thomas.”

“Ah, that’s it.  I thought there was more to it, maybe.  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, some day,

Thomas, and then you’ll look back and say, “It’s all owing to the precious Sunday-school privileges of my boyhood – it’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 – no indeed you wouldn’t.

 And now would you mind telling all of us 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-hole and looking sheepish.  He blushed, and his eyes fell.  Mr. Walter’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?  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 us.  The names of the first two disciples were …”

“David and Goliah!”

Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene.

~ ~ ~

The point of this story …

Sometimes we accumulate prizes, gadgets, titles, banners and diplomas, yet did real learning and effort go into the gathering of those “awards”?

I could go out and buy a degree on line, or so I’m told, but for what end?  

I could be promoted to a high position, or I could run for an elected office and win the challenge, and then what?  Oh my, there are honors and accolades in such an accomplishment, but is there an increase in knowledge to go with this sudden windfall? 

This is a funny story from Mr. Twain.  Now, what is your take-a-way?

That is for each of us to consider.

This is my

morning reflection.

Morning Notes Blog Site

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration