Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday BOY'S CINEMA l3 The adventures of a fearless youngster and his harum-scarum friend. Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain's famous story as a film. Torn and Huckleberry Finn. AROUND-FACED boy of fourteen frowned over his task—tlie cover- ing of jam-jars for liis Aunt Polly. Of course, lie ought to be pleased to do an\thiiig to help his aunt, because the kindly old soul had under- taken the upbringing of the three orphaned children of her dead sister. and she had been thorough. Too thorough sometimes when .she used the birch, though she always said it hurt her more than Tom. Tom's sister Mary was sixteen, and a model of virtue and kiudrjess. and yet though she was so good nnd helpful Aunt Polly had to admit that Tom was her favourite, in spite of the fact that lie was the " wickedest-ever." Sid was eight, very stiulious, clean, but labelled MS a "tell-tale." Tom frowned this glorious sunny day because he hated jam-jars, and he wanted to go fishing with his buddy. Huckleberry Finn. A startled look came to the blue eyes as he heard the hoot of an owl. "Fancy an owl at this time of the day." Aunt Polly, busy with a rolling- pin, peered over her spectacles; her sharp eyes studied 'rom. because .she was ever on the watch for mischief. "Don't go sticking voiir fingers into the jam, Tom." "No. aunt." meekly answered Tom. and tried to jieer out of the window^ Huckleberry had given him the signal, "Sid tells nie you were out yesterday with Huckleberry Finn." Aunt Polly gave the dough a vigorous punch. "Must you liring grey hairs to my h(>ad by associating with the son of tlie village black sheep?" Sid. in a neat velvet suit, gave his brother an anxious glance round the edge of a book—Tom would swear vengeance—and Mary shook her curls becau.se, though she was a good girl, she hated tale-telling. "May I go out and play, aunt?" Tom asked as he finished the l*st jam-jar. Well, I have some more that should be done," Aunt Polly peered over her spectacles and .saw his dismal look. "All right, go out and play; but don't go with that there Huckleberry." Tom had grabbed up an old straw hat and was already out of the door. His aunt shook her head. "I never did sec the like of that boy !" Down near the banks of the river Tom found his friend. Huckleberry was a year older, his clothes were in rags, his face dirty, and he w^-is smoking a corn cob pipe. One brace supported ragged trousers, his flannel shirt was in tatters, his straw hat was a disgrace, and yet the grin on his lean face won your hoart. His father never bothered about the boy. and Huckleberry usually slept under a hedge or in a barn at nights, and was alwajs playing truant from .school. A tall, thin youngster against whom all mothers warned their children, and did not appreciate that Huckleberry, for all his grime, had his heart in the right jjlace, "Say, what you got in there?" Tom pointed to a sack, "Dead cat." was the answer. "Bought him from a boy down at the slaughter house for an old knife. Cats is mighty good for warts." "Playing with frogs brings warts," answered Tom. "What's your way of curing warts, Huck?" "You got to go to the graveyard «it midnight." Huckleberry was very serious. ''You got to go there after someone wicked has been buried. At mitlnight a devil will come, and yon heave the oat at him and say :'Devil follow corpse, cat follow devil, wart follow oat. I'm done with ye !' That'll fetch any wart. They buried Ho>s Williams, the worst rascal in years, on Saturday, and " "But to-day is Monday." "Devils don't slosh around much on Sundays," argued Huck. "Are you game to try it out to-night?" "I ain't afeard. ' cried Tom. "You meow and I'll meow back." "Don't keep me meowing round too long." grumbled Huckleberry. "Last time old Hays went throwing rocks at me and shouting : ' Dern that cat !' and I hove a brick through his window— but don't you tell !" "I'll meow quiet," decided Tom. "Aunt Polly sleeps with one ear open. Let's go fishing, Huck," Arm in arm the two made their w.iy towards the banks of the Mi.ssissippi. What Happened in the Churchyard. Tt>M had a happy knack of alwiiys getting into trouble. One bright day he decided that crab-apiiles would be bad for the tender digestion of Sid. and so the apples disappeared. Now it happened that Sid was accusing Tom of taking them when Aunt Polly, appeared and wanted to know what all the argument was about, then who should come along the road but tho doctor's wife. ' "Where are your manners, Tom?" reproved his aunt. "Take off your hat at once, sir !" Tom obeyed, and out tumbled the crab-apples from their hiding-place. When his aunt recovered from lier anger she ordered Tom to whitewash the fence. What a day of woe faced Tom ! But his brain was keen, and ho did thoj whitewashing with such gusto and evi- dent enjoyment that boys who came la watcli and jeer begged to be allowed to try their skill. By the time the ferie« was finished^in record time—Tom had collected a kite, a kitten, a Jew's harp, some marbles, a dog-collar, a key. a dog's tooth, a bat skin and other treasures. i His next adventure was to fall in love. The .school had a new pujiil in demure Becky Thatcher, and her .smile, curling ringlets of fair hair and pretty (Continned on page 16.) July »th, 1931.