Tom Sawyer and Muff Potter

Tom Sawyer and Muff Potter are bound by a relationship that begins in shared tragedy and ends in a dramatic courtroom reversal. Potter, the town drunkard, is a hapless, good-natured outcast who has mended Tom's kites and knitted hooks onto his fishing line. Tom, in turn, is one of the few people in St. Petersburg who shows Potter any kindness, a fact that weighs heavily on the boy's conscience after he witnesses Potter being framed for murder.

The Weight of a Deadly Secret

On the night of the graveyard murder, Tom and Huckleberry Finn witness Injun Joe stab Doctor Robinson and then place the murder weapon—a spring-knife—into the unconscious Muff Potter's hand. The boys swear a blood oath never to reveal what they saw, terrified of Injun Joe's vengeance. This secret becomes a chronic misery for Tom. He suffers from nightmares, talks in his sleep, and is tormented by guilt as the town quickly condemns Potter. The boys' fear of the "half-breed devil" keeps them silent even as they watch Potter being led away in chains, his face haggard and his eyes full of fear.

Secret Acts of Kindness

Despite his terror, Tom's conscience drives him to act. Every day or two during the period of Potter's imprisonment, Tom watches his opportunity and goes to the little grated jail-window, smuggling small comforts to the accused man. Potter's gratitude cuts deeper than any punishment. When the boys bring him tobacco and matches, Potter tells them they have been "mighty good" to him, better than anyone else in town. He recalls how he used to mend their kites and show them the best fishing places, and he says that their friendly faces are a "prime comfort" to a body in such trouble. These words make Tom feel "cowardly and treacherous to the last degree."

The Courtroom Reversal

The relationship reaches its climax at Potter's murder trial. As the prosecution builds an airtight case and Potter's own lawyer offers no defense, the courtroom is packed with villagers expecting a swift conviction. Then, in a stunning move, the defense counsel calls Thomas Sawyer to the stand. Tom, badly scared and looking wild, takes his place. He describes hiding behind the elms at the graveyard and watching the fight. When he reaches the critical moment, he shouts out: "—and as the doctor fetched the board around and Muff Potter fell, Injun Joe jumped with the knife and—" Before he can finish, Injun Joe crashes through a window and escapes. Tom's testimony saves Potter's life.

Aftermath and Gratitude

In the aftermath, Tom becomes a glittering hero, but his nights remain seasons of horror, haunted by the fear that Injun Joe will return. Daily, Muff Potter's gratitude makes Tom glad he spoke; nightly, he wishes he had sealed up his tongue. The fickle world takes Potter back to its bosom, lavishing him with the same affection it had previously withheld. The relationship between the boy and the drunkard is thus one of profound moral consequence: Tom's initial cowardice and his eventual courage define his transition from a guilt-ridden child to a boy capable of a noble, self-sacrificing act.