Huck Finn by Mark Twain. Chapter 9

 

CHAPTER 9

 

Soon, Huck was at the Phelps’ plantation. It was a quiet, peaceful place. He saw a big, white farmhouse, and a garden. Further away he saw the cabins where the slaves lived. Then he saw a woman walking towards him. She was about forty, with several children behind her, and she had a huge smile on her face. This was Sally Phelps.

     ^“Tom!” she called out before Huck had a chance to say a thing .

 I am so glad you are here!" She gave him a big hug. “Finally! It’s great to meet my sister’s son!”

   "Yes, ma’am,"said Huck.

    Don’t say ma'am,” said the woman, “say Aunt Sally.”

    Before he knew it, Huck was inside the house, and Aunt Sally was treating him just like one of the family.

    ‘She thinks I’m somebody else,’ Huck thought. ‘But who?’ Then a man walked in - obviously Sally’s husband.

“Silas!” cried Sally. “This is Tom Sawyer!” Huck almost laughed. They were the aunt and Uncle of his best friend Tom! And they thought he was Tom! And they thought he was Tom. Huck knew lots of things about Tom, so it wasn’t that hard to pretend to be him. But when was the real Tom coming?

     “Aunt  Sally,” said Huck, “I’m going outside for a walk."

    "Certainly dear,” said Aunt Sally.

    "Just don’t be late for lunch. 

Huck waited for the real Tom to arrive.

  ‘They were waiting for him, so he will be here any minute’, | thought Huck. Huck could meet him first and explain everything  to him. Soon, he saw a wagon coming, and Tom was on the wagon. ; The two boys were very excited to see each other again. They had  many adventures together before Huck left St Petersburg. Tom found Huck’s story about faking his own murder great.

    ‘But how would Tom feel about stealing a slave? Would he say I it was wrong?’ thought Huck. And then he told Tom about Jim.

   “Huck! I’ll help you free Jim!” said Tom. “I’ll pretend that I’m my brother Sid. And we’ll plan an amazing escape. People will talk about it for years!”

    Huck was surprised, but he was glad because Tom wanted to help. Jim was locked in a slave cabin. Silas Phelps had the key! “We’ll dig a tunnel into the cabin,” said Tom. “Then Jim can get out. But he has to wear a disguise. We’ll steal one of Aunt Sally’s nightgowns for him to wear.”

“No, let’s just steal the key from Uncle Silas,” said Huck “I will take too long to dig a hole. And if we steal a nightgown,  aunt  Sally will wonder about it.”        

 

 “Huck, we have to do this right,” said Tom. “Even if it takes a  long time, that’s fine with me! And Aunt Sally won’t even notice the nightgown, because she’ll have other things to think about.” Tom didn’t just want to help Jim escape. He wanted to cause a sensation. It was true - Aunt Sally did soon have plenty to worry about.    

 

CHAPTER 9

Comprehension

1)  Read Chapter 9 and match the two halves of the sentences.

 

1.      The Phelps’ plantation had 2.      A woman with several children 3.      Huck waited for 4.      Tom and Huck 5.      Tom wanted

a)     got out to meet Huck. b)     talked about Jim. c)      the real Tom to arrive. d)     to cause a sensation e)     a big, white farmhouse with a garden

 

 

2) Read the sentences. Write T for True or F for False in the boxes.

1.                  Sally was a forty-year-old slave.

2.                  Silas was Tom Sawyer’s father.

3.                  Tom’s brother’s name was Sid.

4.                  Tom and Huck had many adventures in St Petersburg.

5.                  Jim was wearing a nightgown.

 

 

Vocabulary

3) Choose the correct answer.

1.      My uncle always gives me a very friendly hug / disguise every time we meet.

2.      Cowboys used to travel in cabins / wagons.

3.      The train makes a loud noise before it goes into the hole / tunnel.

4.      Are you faking / treating a headache to miss school this morning?

5.      The small park is a peaceful / real place to walk in with your family.

 

4) Complete the phrases using the verbs in the box.

pretend  have  treat  walk  take  wear

1.___________ someone like one of the family

2.  ____________  to be someone else

3 ._____________ a disguise

4 ._____________ towards somebody/a place

5 ._____________ too long

6 ._____________ a chance

Follow-up activities

5 Discuss.

1.            Why do you think the slaves and the Phelps family live in different parts of the plantation?

2.            Aunt Sally was excited to see Huck / Tom. Do you have cousins or uncles and aunts who live a long way from you? How often do you see them? What do you do together?

3.            Tom and Huck did not tell Aunt Sally the truth. Were they right to do that? In what situations is it OK to tell a lie?

4.            Do you think the boys^’ plan to help Jim will work?

6) Huck and Tom Sawyer write a short letter to Jim, informing him about their plan to rescue him. (60-80 words)