andtherehewouldsitwatchingtheschooldoor，andspeculatingonthepossibilityofturningtheelmintoadwelling-placeforhimselfandfriends，afterthemanneroftheSwissFamilyRobinson。ButtheschoolhourswerelongandTom’spatienceshort，sothathesoonbegantodescendintothestreet，andgoandpeepinattheschooldoorandthewheelwright’sshop，andlookoutforsomethingtowhileawaythetime。Nowthewheelwrightwasacholericman，andonefineafternoon，returningfromashortabsence，foundTomoccupiedwithoneofhispetadzes，theedgeofwhichwasfastvanishingunderourhero’scare。AspeedyflightsavedTomfromallbutonesoundcuffontheears；butheresentedthisunjustifiableinterruptionofhisfirstessaysatcarpentering，andstillmorethefurtherproceedingsofthewheelwright，whocutaswitch，andhungitoverthedoorofhisworkshop，threateningtouseituponTomifhecamewithintwentyyardsofhisgate。SoTom，toretaliate，commencedawarupontheswallowswhodweltunderthewheelwright’seaves，whomheharassedwithsticksandstones；
　　andbeingfleeteroffootthanhisenemy，escapedallpunishment，andkepthiminperpetualanger。Moreover，hispresenceabouttheschooldoorbegantoincensethemaster，astheboysinthatneighbourhoodneglectedtheirlessonsinconsequence；andmorethanonceheissuedintotheporch，rodinhand，justasTombeatahastyretreat。Andheandthewheelwright，layingtheirheadstogether，resolvedtoacquainttheSquirewithTom’safternoonoccupations；butinordertodoitwitheffect，determinedtotakehimcaptiveandleadhimawaytojudgmentfreshfromhisevildoings。Thistheywouldhavefoundsomedifficultyindoing，hadTomcontinuedthewarsingle-handed，orrathersingle-footed，forhewouldhavetakentothedeepestpartofPebblyBrooktoescapethem；but，likeotheractivepowers，hewasruinedbyhisalliances。PoorJacobDoodle-calfcouldnotgototheschoolwiththeotherboys，andonefineafternoon，aboutthreeo’clocktheschoolbrokeupatfour，Tomfoundhimamblingaboutthestreet，andpressedhimintoavisittotheschool-porch。Jacob，alwaysreadytodowhathewasasked，consented，andthetwostoledowntotheschooltogether。Tomfirstreconnoitredthewheelwright’sshop；
　　andseeingnosignsofactivity，thoughtallsafeinthatquarter，andorderedatonceanadvanceofallhistroopsupontheschoolporch。Thedooroftheschoolwasajar，andtheboysseatedonthenearestbenchatoncerecognizedandopenedacorrespondencewiththeinvaders。Tom，waxingbold，keptputtinghisheadintotheschoolandmakingfacesatthemasterwhenhisbackwasturned。PoorJacob，notintheleastcomprehendingthesituation，andinhighgleeatfindinghimselfsoneartheschool，whichhehadneverbeenallowedtoenter，suddenly，inafitofenthusiasm，pushedbyTom，andamblingthreestepsintotheschool，stoodthere，lookingroundhimandnoddingwithaself-approvingsmile。Themaster，whowasstoopingoveraboy’sslate，withhisbacktothedoor，becameawareofsomethingunusual，andturnedquicklyround。TomrushedatJacob，andbegandragginghimbackbyhissmock-frock，andthemastermadeatthem，scatteringformsandboysinhiscareer。Evennowtheymighthaveescaped，butthatintheporch，barringretreat，appearedthecraftywheelwright，whohadbeenwatchingalltheirproceedings。Sotheywereseized，theschooldismissed，andTomandJacobledawaytoSquireBrownaslawfulprize，theboysfollowingtothegateingroups，andspeculatingontheresult。
　　TheSquirewasveryangryatfirst，buttheinterview，byTom’spleading，endedinacompromise。Tomwasnottogoneartheschooltillthreeo’clock，andonlythenifhehaddonehisownlessonswell，inwhichcasehewastobethebearerofanotetothemasterfromSquireBrown；andthemasteragreedinsuchcasetoreleasetenortwelveofthebestboysanhourbeforethetimeofbreakingup，togooffandplayintheclose。Thewheelwright’sadzesandswallowsweretobeforeverrespected；
　　andthatheroandthemasterwithdrewtotheservants’halltodrinktheSquire’shealth，wellsatisfiedwiththeirday’swork。
　　ThesecondactofTom’slifemaynowbesaidtohavebegun。Thewarofindependencehadbeenoverforsometime:noneofthewomennow——notevenhismother’smaid——daredoffertohelphimindressingorwashing。Betweenourselves，hehadoftenatfirsttoruntoBenjyinanunfinishedstateoftoilet。Charityandtherestofthemseemedtotakeadelightinputtingimpossiblebuttonsandtiesinthemiddleofhisback；buthewouldhavegonewithoutnetherintegumentsaltogether，soonerthanhavehadrecoursetofemalevaleting。Hehadaroomtohimself，andhisfathergavehimsixpenceaweekpocket-money。
　　AllthishehadachievedbyBenjy’sadviceandassistance。Butnowhehadconqueredanotherstepinlife——thestepwhichallrealboyssolongtomake:hehadgotamongsthisequalsinageandstrength，andcouldmeasurehimselfwithotherboys；helivedwiththosewhosepursuitsandwishesandwayswerethesameinkindashisown。
　　Thelittlegovernesswhohadlatelybeeninstalledinthehousefoundherworkgrowwondrouslyeasy，forTomslavedathislessons，inordertomakesureofhisnotetotheschoolmaster。
　　SotherewereveryfewdaysintheweekinwhichTomandthevillageboyswerenotplayingintheirclosebythreeo’clock。
　　Prisoner’sbase，rounders，high-cock-a-lorum，cricket，football-hewassooninitiatedintothedelightsofthemall；andthoughmostoftheboyswereolderthanhimself，hemanagedtoholdhisownverywell。Hewasnaturallyactiveandstrong，andquickofeyeandhand，andhadtheadvantageoflightshoesandwell-fittingdress，sothatinashorttimehecouldrunandjumpandclimbwithanyofthem。
　　Theygenerallyfinishedtheirregulargameshalfanhourorsobeforetea-time，andthenbegantrialsofskillandstrengthinmanyways。SomeofthemwouldcatchtheShetlandponywhowasturnedoutinthefield，andgettwoorthreetogetheronhisback，andthelittlerogue，enjoyingthefun，wouldgallopoffforfiftyyards，andthenturnround，orstopshortandshootthemontotheturf，andthengrazequietlyontillhefeltanotherload；othersplayedatpeg-topormarbles，whileafewofthebiggeronesstoodupforaboutatwrestling。Tomatfirstonlylookedonatthispastime，butithadpeculiarattractionsforhim，andhecouldnotlongkeepoutofit。
　　Elbowandcollarwrestling，aspractisedinthewesterncounties，was，nexttoback-swording，thewaytofamefortheyouthoftheVale；andalltheboysknewtherulesofit，andweremoreorlessexpert。ButJobRudkinandHarryWinburnwerethestars——theformerstiffandsturdy，withlegslikesmalltowers；thelatterpliantasindiarubberandquickaslightning。
　　Dayafterdaytheystoodfoottofoot，andofferedfirstonehandandthentheother，andgrappledandclosed，andswayedandstrained，tillawell-aimedcrookoftheheelorthrustofthelointookeffect，andafairback-fallendedthematter。AndTomwatchedwithallhiseyes，andfirstchallengedoneofthelessscientific，andthrewhim；andsoonebyonewrestledhiswayuptotheleaders。
　　Thenindeedformonthshehadapoortimeofit；itwasnotlongindeedbeforehecouldmanagetokeephislegsagainstJob，forthatherowasslowofoffence，andgainedhisvictorieschieflybyallowingotherstothrowthemselvesagainsthisimmovablelegsandloins。ButHarryWinburnwasundeniablyhismaster；
　　fromthefirstclutchofhandswhentheystoodup，downtothelasttripwhichsenthimontohisbackontheturf，hefeltthatHarryknewmoreandcoulddomorethanhe。LuckilyHarry’sbrightunconsciousnessandTom’snaturalgoodtemperkeptthemfromquarrelling；andsoTomworkedonandon，andtrodmoreandmorenearlyonHarry’sheels，andatlastmasteredallthedodgesandfallsexceptone。ThisonewasHarry’sownparticularinventionandpet；hescarcelyeveruseditexceptwhenhardpressed，butthenoutitcame，andassureasitdid，overwentpoorTom。Hethoughtaboutthatfallathismeals，inhiswalks，whenhelayawakeinbed，inhisdreams，butalltonopurpose，untilHarryonedayinhisopenwaysuggestedtohimhowhethoughtitshouldbemet；andinaweekfromthattimetheboyswereequal，saveonlytheslightdifferenceofstrengthinHarry’sfavour，whichsomeextratenmonthsofagegave。Tomhadoftenafterwardsreasontobethankfulforthatearlydrilling，andaboveall，forhavingmasteredHarryWinburn’sfall。
　　Besidestheirhomegames，onSaturdaystheboyswouldwanderallovertheneighbourhood；sometimestothedowns，oruptothecamp，wheretheycuttheirinitialsoutinthespringyturf，andwatchedthehawkssoaring，andthe“peert“bird，asHarryWinburncalledthegrayplover，gorgeousinhisweddingfeathers；andsohome，racingdowntheMangerwithmanyarollamongthethistles，orthroughUffingtonWoodtowatchthefoxcubsplayinginthegreenrides；sometimestoRosyBrook，tocutlongwhisperingreedswhichgrewthere，tomakepan-pipesof；
　　sometimestoMoorMills，wherewasapieceofoldforestland，withshortbrowsedturfandtuftedbramblythicketsstretchingundertheoaks，amongstwhichrumourdeclaredthataraven，lastofhisrace，stilllingered；ortothesand-hills，invainquestofrabbits；andbird-nestingintheseason，anywhereandeverywhere。
　　ThefewneighboursoftheSquire’sownrankeverynowandthenwouldshrugtheirshouldersastheydroveorrodebyapartyofboyswithTominthemiddle，carryingalongbulrushesorwhisperingreeds，orgreatbundlesofcowslipandmeadow-sweet，oryoungstarlingsormagpies，orotherspoilofwood，brook，ormeadow；andLawyerRed-tapemightmuttertoSquireStraight-backattheBoardthatnogoodwouldcomeoftheyoungBrowns，iftheywereletrunwildwithallthedirtyvillageboys，whomthebestfarmers’sonsevenwouldnotplaywith。Andthesquiremightreplywithashakeofhisheadthathissonsonlymixedwiththeirequals，andneverwentintothevillagewithoutthegovernessorafootman。But，luckily，SquireBrownwasfullasstiffbackedashisneighbours，andsowentonhisownway；andTomandhisyoungerbrothers，astheygrewup，wentonplayingwiththevillageboys，withouttheideaofequalityorinequalityexceptinwrestling，running，andclimbingeverenteringtheirheads；asitdoesn’ttillit’sputtherebyJackNastysorfineladies’maids。
　　Idon’tmeantosayitwouldbethecaseinallvillages，butitcertainlywassointhisone:thevillageboyswerefullasmanlyandhonest，andcertainlypurer，thanthoseinahigherrank；andTamgotmoreharmfromhisequalsinhisfirstfortnightataprivateschool，wherehewentwhenhewasnineyearsold，thanhehadfromhisvillagefriendsfromthedayheleftCharity’sapron-strings。
　　Greatwasthegriefamongstthevillageschool-boyswhenTomdroveoffwiththeSquire，oneAugustmorning，tomeetthecoachonhiswaytoschool。Eachofthemhadgivenhimsomelittlepresentofthebestthathehad，andhissmallprivateboxwasfullofpeg-taps，whitemarblescalled“alley-taws“intheVale，screws，birds’eggs，whip-cord，jews-harps，andothermiscellaneousboys’wealth。PoorJacobDoodle-calf，infloodsoftears，hadpresseduponhimwithsplutteringearnestnesshislamepethedgehoghehadalwayssomepoorbroken-downbeastorbirdbyhim；butthisTomhadbeenobligedtorefuse，bytheSquire’sorder。Hehadgiventhemallagreatteaunderthebigelmintheirplayground，forwhichMadamBrownhadsuppliedthebiggestcakeeverseeninourvillage；andTomwasreallyassorrytoleavethemastheytolosehim，buthissorrowwasnotunmixedwiththeprideandexcitementofmakinganewstepinlife。