"Don't talk about it, Tom.I've tried it, and it don't work; it don't work, Tom.It ain't for me; I ain't used to it.The widder's good to me, and friendly; but I can't stand them ways.She makes me get up just at the same time every morning; she makes me wash, they comb me all to thunder; she won't let me sleep in the woodshed; I got to wear them blamed clothes that just smothers me, Tom; they don't seem to any air git through 'em, somehow; and they're so rotten nice that I can't set down, nor lay down, nor roll around anywher's; I hain't slid on a cellar-door for -- well, it 'pears to be years; I got to go to church and sweat and sweat -- I hate them ornery sermons! I can't ketch a fly in there, I can't chaw.I got to wear shoes all Sunday.The widder eats by a bell; she goes to bed by a bell; she gits up by a bell -- everything's so awful reg'lar a body can't stand it.""Well, everybody does that way, Huck."
"Tom, it don't make no difference.I ain't everybody, and I can't stand it.It's awful to be tied up so.And grub comes too easy -- I don't take no interest in vittles, that way.I got to ask to go a-fishing; I got to ask to go in a-swimming -- dern'd if I hain't got to ask to do everything.Well, I'd got to talk so nice it wasn't no comfort -- I'd got to go up in the attic and rip out awhile, every day, to git a taste in my mouth, or I'd a died, Tom.The widder wouldn't let me smoke; she wouldn't let me yell, she wouldn't let me gape, nor stretch, nor scratch, before folks --" [Then with a spasm of special irritation and injury] -- "And dad fetch it, she prayed all the time! I never see such a woman! I HAD to shove, Tom -- I just had to.And besides, that school's going to open, and I'd a had to go to it -- well, I wouldn't stand THAT, Tom.Looky-here, Tom, being rich ain't what it's cracked up to be.It's just worry and worry, and sweat and sweat, and a-wishing you was dead all the time.Now these clothes suits me, and this bar'l suits me, and I ain't ever going to shake 'em any more.Tom, I wouldn't ever got into all this trouble if it hadn't 'a' ben for that money; now you just take my sheer of it along with your'n, and gimme a ten-center sometimes -- not many times, becuz I don't give a dern for a thing 'thout it's tollable hard to git -- and you go and beg off for me with the widder.""Oh, Huck, you know I can't do that.'Tain't fair; and besides if you'll try this thing just a while longer you'll come to like it.""Like it! Yes -- the way I'd like a hot stove if I was to set on it long enough.No, Tom, I won't be rich, and I won't live in them cussed smothery houses.I like the woods, and the river, and hogsheads, and I'll stick to 'em, too.Blame it all! just as we'd got guns, and a cave, and all just fixed to rob, here this dern foolishness has got to come up and spile it all!"Tom saw his opportunity --