Love Sick and Patent Medicine — The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tom forgets the murder for a while because Becky Thatcher stops coming to school. He thinks she might die, and nothing fun matters anymore. He puts away his hoop and bat and mopes around her father's house at night, hoping for news.

Aunt Polly decides Tom needs curing. She drowns him with cold water, wraps him in wet sheets, feeds him oatmeal, and tries hot baths. When that fails she discovers Pain-killer, a burning medicine that makes her feel useful. Tom pretends to love it so she will leave him alone, then pours doses into a crack in the sitting-room floor until the bottle is almost empty.

He gives some to the cat Peter as a joke. Peter goes wild, flips over furniture, and flies out the window. Aunt Polly catches Tom and thumps his head, but his speech about pity makes her soften and stop the medicine. Becky finally returns to school. Tom shows off with stunts to impress her, but she only says some people think they are mighty smart and turns away with her nose in the air. Tom is crushed and does not understand what he did wrong. He goes home feeling like the unluckiest boy in Missouri.