To say that Tom Sawyer was an average young boy growing up in Illinois would be an understatement. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", written by Mark Twain is an absolutely enchanting book. Set in the old Southwest in an almost poverty stricken shabby village called St. Petersburg. The whole town knows one another, and of course they know each other's business. Sunday was the holy day when everyone would gather at the church to compare notes on the past weeks events. The children had to rely on making good clean fun from meager surroundings. Swimming, fishing, picnicking, and playing "Hide n' seek" in the long hot summer days were all good ways to pass the time. But Tom was more venturesome than that, and with his best friend Huckleberry Finn, he lived everyday to its fullest. Tom had a little more schooling than Huck, but Huck was growing up on the streets and surviving just fine considering that his father was a drunk. Tom had a good home, being raised by his Aunt Polly, (his mother died so her sister took him in). He also lived with his half-brother, Sid, whom's main objective in life was to make Tom's miserable by ratting him out all the time, and his quiet cousin Mary. His antics were ingenious though. The way that he turned whitewashing the fence as a punishment into a grand experience for all of the boys in town who couldn't wait to hold the brush and paint. Tom was not a bad boy, just an inquisitive one who's mind never rested... always dreaming, and making his dreams sound so good, he could always rope Huck Finn into his escapades. Tom couldn't lie, and he couldn't see someone suffer for the sins of another, as seen when he tells the truth about the murder of Dr. Robinson. It took real guts to point the finger at "Injun Joe", the half-breed, who was also one of the most despicable scoundrels in the town. Tom was also loyal to his friends, and showed
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