Tom Sawyer joined a new group called the Cadets of Temperance. He liked their regalia (special clothes for a group). He promised he would not smoke. He promised he would not use bad words.
But soon, Tom Sawyer wanted to smoke very much. He wanted to use bad words, too. He only stayed in the group because he wanted to wear the red sash in a parade.
Tom Sawyer waited for a big parade. He hoped Judge Frazer would die soon. The Judge was a very important man and he was very sick. If the Judge died, there would be a big funeral with a parade.
Tom Sawyer checked the news every day. Sometimes the Judge was worse. Sometimes the Judge was better. Tom Sawyer was angry because the Judge did not die.
Tom Sawyer left the group. He gave back his regalia (special clothes for a group). That night, Judge Frazer died. Tom Sawyer was very upset.
The funeral was very big. The Cadets of Temperance walked in the parade. Tom Sawyer was not with them. But Tom Sawyer was a free boy now.
He could smoke and use bad words again. But now, Tom Sawyer did not want to do those things. He only wanted to do them when they were against the rules.
Vacation was boring for Tom Sawyer. He tried to write a diary (a book where you write what happens every day). But nothing happened for three days. So, Tom Sawyer stopped writing.
A music show came to town. Tom Sawyer and Joe Harper started a band for two days. They were happy for a short time.
The Fourth of July was not a good day. It rained very hard. There was no parade. Tom Sawyer saw a famous man named Senator Benton. Tom Sawyer thought the man would be very tall, but he was not.
Later, a circus came to town. The boys played circus for three days. They used old carpets for tents. They charged three pins to let other boys inside.
Becky Thatcher was not in town. She went to her home in Constantinople for the vacation. Tom Sawyer was very sad without her.
Tom Sawyer also thought about the murder. He remembered Injun Joe and Dr. Robinson. The secret made him feel terrible every day.
Then, Tom Sawyer got the measles (a sickness that gives you red spots and a fever). He stayed in bed for two weeks. He was very ill and did not care about the world.
When he felt better, he went outside. Everything was different. Many people in the town became very religious while Tom Sawyer was sick. Even the children were different.
Tom Sawyer looked for a friend. He saw Joe Harper, but Joe Harper was reading the Bible. He saw Ben Rogers, but Ben Rogers was helping poor people.
He saw Jim Hollis. Jim Hollis said the measles (a sickness that gives you red spots and a fever) were a warning from God. Tom Sawyer felt very sad.
Finally, Tom Sawyer saw Huckleberry Finn. But Huckleberry Finn said a prayer from the Bible. Tom Sawyer felt very lonely. He felt like the only bad person in the whole town.
That night, there was a big storm. There was loud thunder and bright lightning. Tom Sawyer was very afraid. He covered his head with a blanket.
Tom Sawyer thought the storm was a punishment for him. He thought God was angry with Tom Sawyer. But the storm ended and Tom Sawyer was still alive.
The next day, Tom Sawyer was sick again. He stayed in bed for three more weeks. Finally, he was well enough to walk outside.
He walked down the street and saw Jim Hollis. Jim Hollis was the judge in a fake court. They were playing a game with a cat and a bird.
He saw Joe Harper and Huckleberry Finn in an alley. They were eating a stolen melon. His friends were not acting "good" anymore. Tom Sawyer was happy because he was not alone.