THE ORIGINAL OF TOM SAWYER.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 119, 15 November 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE ORIGINAL OF TOM SAWYER.

The Rev. Henry Wharlon. describing in the Century for September, a vi«it to Hannibal, on the Mississippi, where Maik -Twain spent his boyhood, says: — It is generally believed iii Hannibal 1 hat Aunt Polly (in "Tom Sawyer") was Twain's own mother, and that Tom Sawyer was Mark Twain himself. An old resident, who "knoweel Ram Clemens when he was a boy," said : — "He was a printer's devil— l think that's what tlrey called Lini. Ho had lots of mischief in him. .We boj's used to go of a Sunday down to the cave and git into all kinds of rascality. Sam was very good on a joke." One of their favourite amusements was to start the loose rocks down a steep hillside near an old mill, and watch them go crashing into the water. On one occasion their rock struck the mill, and made a hole 'through it 'like the path of a. thirtypounder. The miller ran out, and lifting up his voice in praj'er, besought Heaven to spare him. aud his properly, promising if the prayer were answeied never to nsk anothev favour of the Almighty as long as — lived. Huck Finn is a real personage, who slept in barrels and covered himself with such rags as might fall to his lot. Becky Thatcher was a beautiful and accomplished girl, the pride and belle of the village, known as Laura Hawkins ; she is now married and is happily engaged on a work of charity. She was Mark Twain's firsfc sweetheart. Colonel Sellers was a wellknown neighbour of the Cieniens's family in Hannibal..