THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER CHAPTER 21 Đây là một tác phẩm anh ngữ nổi tiếng với những từ vựng quen thuộc. Nhằm giúp các em và các bạn yêu thich tiếng anh luyện tập và củng cố thêm kỹ năng đọc tiếng anh . | THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER CHAPTER 21 VACATION was approaching. The school-master always severe grew severer and more exacting than ever for he wanted the school to make a good showing on Examination day. His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now -- at least among the smaller pupils. Only the biggest boys and young ladies of eighteen and twenty escaped lashing. Mr. Dobbins lashings were very vigorous ones too for although he carried under his wig a perfectly bald and shiny head he had only reached middle age and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle. As the great day approached all the tyranny that was in him came to the surface he seemed to take a vindictive pleasure in punishing the least shortcomings. The consequence was that the smaller boys spent their days in terror and suffering and their nights in plotting revenge. They threw away no opportunity to do the master a mischief. But he kept ahead all the time. The retribution that followed every vengeful success was so sweeping and majestic that the boys always retired from the field badly worsted. At last they conspired together -203- and hit upon a plan that promised a dazzling victory. They swore in the sign painter s boy told him the scheme and asked his help. He had his own reasons for being delighted for the master boarded in his father s family and had given the boy ample cause to hate him. The master s wife would go on a visit to the country in a few days and there would be nothing to interfere with the plan the master always prepared himself for great occasions by getting pretty well fuddled and the sign-painter s boy said that when the dominie had reached the proper condition on Examination Evening he would manage the thing while he napped in his chair then he would have him awakened at the right time and hurried away to school. In the fulness of time the interesting occasion arrived. At eight in the evening the schoolhouse was brilliantly lighted and adorned with wreaths and festoons of .
