That drop was falling when the Pyramids were new when Troy fell when the foundations of Rome were laid when Christ was crucified when the Conqueror created the British empire when Columbus sailed when the massacre at Lexington was ‘news.’ It is falling now it will still be falling when all these things shall have sunk down the afternoon of history, and the twilight of tradition, and been swallowed up in the thick night of oblivion. The captive had broken off the stalagmite, and upon the stump had placed a stone, wherein he had scooped a shallow hollow to catch the precious drop that fell once in every three minutes with the dreary regularity of a clock-tick - a dessert spoonful once in four and twenty hours.
Twain can infuse a smoldering candle with intense suspense.
A moment later she was reading Tom’s piece of bark through flowing tears and saying: ‘I could forgive the boy, now, if he’d committed a million sins!'” Aunt Polly, after catching Tom in what she thought was his latest lie, which actually turned out to be the truth. Once more she ventured, and this time she fortified herself with the thought: ‘It’s a good lie - it’s a good lie - I won’t let it grieve me.’ So she sought the jacket pocket. Twice she put out her hand to take the garment again, and twice she refrained.
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Quoted after Tom tricks his church authorities into thinking he has studied the New Testament in order to get a free Bible.