Mark Twain's novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is the story of a boy, Huck Finn, who runs away from home and travels down the river Mississippi with a "runaway nigger" named Jim. Huck's father, Pap, is a drunkard who doesn't seem to care about his son. He comes from a poor, troubled family and is not very educated, which he seems to embrace. “Huck Finn runs away not only from an abusive father but also from his well-meaning guardian, Miss Watson, who tries to civilize Huck, educate him, and make him a Christian” (Sienkewicz). Whether he knows it or not, his journey down the river isn't just an escape, it's a learning experience. Huck learns some life lessons from dealing with his conscience, to friendship and equality, to trust and realizing that he is not as alone as he thought he was. Throughout the entire story Huck struggles with his conscience and chooses between what is right and what is wrong. He doesn't always make the right decision, but he comes very close. He learns to follow his heart instead of his conscience when necessary. For example, while traveling down the river during a storm, he and Jim come across a stuck steamboat and decide to climb aboard to see what kinds of things they can find. It turns out that there are three men on the boat, two of whom are assassins who will kill the third. The killers have set up a small boat to leave the scene that Huck and Jim end up filming. Huck knows that these kids are up to no good, but in his heart he still feels the desire to help them. He tells someone that his family is on the boat and in trouble and to send some help (Twain 72-4). “Twain shows us that Huck's sympathy for the suffering of others can act as a restraint on his desires and as a... means of paper... a little "fun." Tom had Huck's one true friend killed and lied to him, which is just proof that you can't trust anyone and everyone. People do everything to please themselves without thinking of anyone else. Huck's long and eventful journey began as an escape but has turned into a huge learning experience, whether he wants to believe it or not. Twain shows us, through Huck and the events of the story, that there is always a lesson to be learned. Young people are the most influential group, but Huck shows us that it is possible to overcome difficulties and learn something new every day. The more time you spend with someone and the more time you invest in something, the more you will benefit from it. It might be hard to believe that that kid can accomplish and experience so much, but there is always something good that comes out of it.