poor and proud-第1章

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Poor　and　Proud；　or　The　Fortunes　of　Katy　Redburn

by　Oliver　Optic




A　STORY　FOR　YOUNG　FOLKS




TO　ALICE　MARIE　ADAMS；　This　Book　IS　AFFECTIONATELY　DEDICATED　BY　HER　FATHER。





Poor　and　Proud。



PREFACE。　

Bobby　Bright　and　Harry　West；　whose　histories　were　contained　in　the　last　two　volumes　of　the　〃Library　for　Young　Folks；〃　were　both　smart　boys。　The　author；　very　grateful　for　the　genial　welcome　extended　to　these　young　gentlemen；　begs　leave　to　introduce　to　his　juvenile　friends　a　smart　girl；Miss　Katy　Redburn；　whose　fortunes；　he　hopes；　will　prove　sufficiently　interesting　to　secure　their　attention。

If　any　of　my　adult　readers　are　disposed　to　accuse　me　of　being　a　little　extravagant；　I　fear　I　shall　have　to　let　the　case　go　by　default；　but　I　shall　plead；　in　extenuation；　that　I　have　tried　to　be　reasonable；　even　where　a　few　grains　of　the　romantic　element　were　introduced；　for　Baron　Munchausen　and　Sindbad　the　Sailor　were　standard　works　on　my　shelf　in　boyhood；　and　I　may　possibly　have　imbibed　some　of　their　peculiar　spirit。　But　I　feel　a　lively　satisfaction　in　the　reflection　that；　whatever　exaggerations　the　critic　may　decide　I　have　perpetrated　in　this　volume；　I　have　made　the　success　of　Katy　Redburn　depend　upon　her　good　principles；　her　politeness；　her　determined　perseverance；　and　her　overcoming　that　foolish　pride　which　is　a　snare　to　the　feet。　In　these　respects　she　is　a　worthy　exemplar　for　the　young。

Pride　and　poverty　do　not　seem　to　agree　with　each　other；　but　there　is　a　pride　which　is　not　irreconcilable　with　the　humblest　station。　This　pride　of　character　finds　an　illustration　in　the　life　of　my　heroine。

Thanking　my　young　friends　again　for　the　pleasant　reception　given　to　my　former　books　I　submit　this　volume　in　the　hope　that　Katy　Redburn　will　prove　to　be　a　worthy　and　agreeable　companion　for　their　leisure　hours。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WILLIAM　T。　ADAMS。　DORCHESTER；　Sept。　29；　1858。　


CONTENTS。　　CHAPTER。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　I。　Katy　Redburn　and　Others　Are　Introduced　II。　The　History　of　the　Silver　Watch　III。　Katy　and　Master　Simon　Sneed　Visit　the　Pawnbroker's　Shop　IV。　Katy　Matures　a　Magnificent　Scheme　V。　Katy　Visits　Mrs。　Gordon；　and　Gets　Rid　of　Dr。　Flynch　VI。　Katy　Prepares　a　Stock　of　Merchandise　VII。　Katy　Makes　a　Large　Sale　VIII。　Katy　Sells　Out；　and　Visits　the　Mayor　IX。　Katy　talks　with　the　Mayor；　and　Recovers　the　Watch　X。　Katy；　in　Distress；　finds　a　Champion　XI。　Katy　Meets　with　Extraordinary　Success　XII。　Katy　Pays　Her　Debts；　and　Tommy　Goes　to　Sea　XIII。　Katy　Employs　an　Assistant　XIV。　Master　Simon　Sneed　Makes　a　Mistake　XV。　Katy　Gets　a　Letter　from　Liverpool　XVI。　Ann　Grippen　Plays　Tricks　upon　Travelers　XVII。　The　Sun　Sets；　and　the　Night　Comes　On　XVIII。　Katy　Struggles　Bravely　through　a　Series　of　Trials　XIX。　Katy　Resorts　to　a　Loan　XX。　Mrs。　Gordon　Feels　Faint；　and　Katy　Enters　a　New　Sphere　XXI。　Katy　Goes　to　Church；　and　Has　a　Birthday　Party




POOR　AND　PROUD；　OR；　THE　FORTUNES　OF　KATY　REDBURN。　　　　CHAPTER　I。

KATY　REDBURN　AND　OTHERS　ARE　INTRODUCED。


〃Give　me　a　flounder；　Johnny？〃　said　a　little　girl　of　eleven；　dressed　in　coarse　and　ragged　garments；　as　she　stooped　down　and　looked　into　the　basket　of　the　dirty　young　fisherman；　who　sat　with　his　legs　hanging　over　the　edge　of　the　pier。

〃I'll　bet　I　won't；〃　replied　Johnny；　gruffly；　as　he　drew　the　basket　out　of　the　reach　of　the　supplicant。　〃You　needn't　come　round　here　tryin'　to　hook　my　fish。〃

〃You　hooked　'em；〃　said　another　juvenile　angler　who　sat　on　the　capsill　of　the　pier　by　Johnny's　side。

〃Who　says　I　hooked　'em？〃　blustered　Johnny；　whose　little　dirty　paws　involuntarily　assumed　the　form　of　a　pair　of　fists；　scientifically　disposed　and　ready　to　be　the　instruments　of　the　owner's　vengeance　upon　the　traducer　of　his　character。

〃I　say　so；〃　added　Tommy　Howard；　who　did　not　seem　to　be　at　all　alarmed　at　the　warlike　attitude　of　his　fellow…angler。

〃Say　it　again；　and　I'll　smash　your　head；〃　continued　Johnny；　jumping　up　from　his　seat。

〃Didn't　you　hear　me？　Once　is　enough。〃

Tommy　coolly　hauled　up　a　large　flounder　at　that　moment；　and　threw　the　fish　into　his　basket。　It　was　rather　refreshing　to　see　how　regardless　he　was　of　that　pair　of　menacing　fists。

〃Jest　you　say　that　once　more；　and　see　what　I'll　do；〃　persisted　Johnny。

〃I　won't　do　it。〃

〃You　dasn't　say　it　again。〃

〃Perhaps　I　dasn't；　at　any　rate；　I　shan't。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　I　hooked　them　fish？〃　exclaimed　Johnny；　desperately；　for　it　seemed　as　though　he　must　do　something　to　vindicate　his　injured　honor。

〃That's　just　what　I　did　say。〃

But　Tommy　was　so　confoundedly　cool　that　his　fellow…angler　had　some　doubts　about　the　expediency　of　〃pitching　into　him。〃　Probably　a　vision　of　defeat　flashed　through　his　excited　brain　and　discretion　seemed　the　better　part　of　valor。　Yet　he　was　not　disposed　to　abandon　his　position；　and　advanced　a　pace　or　two　toward　his　provoking　companion；　a　movement　which；　to　an　unpracticed　eye；　would　indicate　a　purpose　to　do　something。

〃Don't　fight；　Tommy；〃　said　the　little　ragged　girl。

〃I　don't　mean　to　fight；　Katy；〃Johnny；　at　these　words；　assumed　an　artistic　attitude；　ready　to　strike　the　first　blow；〃only　if　Johnny　hits　me；　I　shall　knock　him　into　the　middle　of　next　week。〃

Johnny　did　not　strike。　He　was　a　prudent　young　man。

〃Don't　fight；　Johnny；〃　repeated　the　girl；　turning　to　the　excited　aspirant　for　the　honors　of　the　ring。

〃Do　you　suppose　I'll　let　him　tell　me　I　hooked　them　fish？〃　blustered　Johnny。

〃He　didn't　mean　anything。〃

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　interposed　Tommy。　〃He　caught　'em　on　a　hook；　so　of　course　he　hooked　em。　I　hooked　mine　too。〃

〃Is　that　what　you　meant？〃　asked　Johnny；　a　broad　grin　overspreading　his　dirty　face；　and　his　fists　suddenly　expanding　into　dirty　paws　again。

〃That's　just　what　I　meant；　and　your　skull　is　as　thick　as　a　two…inch　plank；　or　you　would　have　seen　what　I　meant。〃

〃I　see　now。〃

Johnny　was　not　disposed　to　resent　this　last　insinuation　about　the　solidity　of　his　cranium。　He　was　evidently　too　glad　to　get　out　of　the　scrape　without　a　broken　head　or　a　bloody　nose。　Johnny　was　a　bully；　and　he　had　a　bully's　reputation　to　maintain；　but　he　never　fought　when　the　odds　were　against　him；　and　he　had　a　congressman's　skill　in　backing　out　before　the　water　got　too　hot。　On　the　whole；　he　rather　enjoyed　the　pun；　and　he　had　the　condescension　to　laugh　heartily；　though　somewhat　unnaturally；　at　the　jest。

〃Will　you　give　me　a　flounder；　Tommy？〃　said　the　little　ragged　girl；　as　she　glanced　into　his　well…filled　basket。

〃What　do　you　want　of　him；　Katy？〃　asked　Tommy　turning　round　and　gazing　up　into　her　sad；　pale　face。

Katy　hesitated；　her　bosom　heaved；　and　her　lips　compressed；　as　though　she　feared　to　answer　the　question。

〃To　eat；〃　she　replied；　at　last；　in　a　husky　tone。

〃What's　the　matter；　Katy？〃

The　face　of　the　child　seemed　to　wear　a　load　of　care　and　anxiety；　and　as　the　young　fisherman　gazed　a　tear　started　from　her　eye；　and　slid　down　her　cheek。　Tommy's　heart　melted　as　he　saw　this　exhibition　of　sorrow。　He　wondered　what　could　ail　her。

〃My　mother　is　sick；〃　replied　Katy；　dashing　away　the　tell…tale　tear。

〃I　know　that；　but　what　do　you　want　of　flounders？〃

〃We　have　nothing　to　eat　now；〃　said　Katy；　bursting　into　tears。　〃Mother　has　not　been　able　to　do　any　work　for　more　than　three　months：　and　we　haven't　got　any　money　now。　It's　all　gone。　I　haven't　had　any　breakfast　to…day。〃

〃Take　'em　all；　Katy！〃　exclaimed　Tommy；　jumping　up　from　his　seat　on　the　capsill　of　the　pier。　〃How　will　you　carry　them？　Here；　I　will　string　'em　for　you。〃

Tommy　was　all　energy　now；　and　thrust　his　hands　down　into　the　depths　of　his　pockets　in　search　of　a　piece　of　twine。　Those　repositories　of　small　stores　did　not　contain　a　string；　however；　but　mixed　up　with　a　piece　of　cord；　a　slate　pencil；　an　iron　hinge；　two　marbles；　a　brass　ring；　and　six　inches　of　stovepipe　chain；　were　two　cents；　which　the　owner　thereof　carefully　picked　out　of　the　heap　of　miscellaneous　articles　and　thrust　them　into　the　hand　of　Katy。

〃Here；　take　them；　and　as　you　go　by　the　grocery　at　the　corner　of　the　court；　buy　a　two…cent　roll；〃　whispered　he。　〃Got　a　bit　o'　string；　Johnny？〃　he　added　aloud；　as　Katy　began　to　protest　against　taking　the　money。

〃Hain't　got　none；　but　I'll　give　you　a　piece　of　my　fish　line；　if　you　want；〃　replied　the　bully；　who　was　now　unusually　obliging。

〃There's　a　piece　of　spunyarn；　that's　just　the　thing　I　want；〃　and　Tommy　ran　half　way　up　the　pier　to　the　bridge；　picked　up　the　line；　and　commenced　stringing　the　flounders　on　it。

〃I　don't　want　them　all；　Tommy；　only　give　me　two　or　three。　I　never　shall　forget　you；　Tommy；〃　said　Katy；　her　eyes　suffused　with　tears　of　gratitude。

〃I'm　sorry　things　go　so　bad　with　you；　Katy；　and　I　wish　I　could　do　something　more　for　you。〃

〃I　don't　want　anything　more。　Don't　put　any　more　on　the　string。　There's　six。　We　can't　eat　any　more。〃

〃Well；　then；　I'll　bring　you　some　more　to…morrow；〃　replied　Tommy；　as　he　handed　her　the　string　of　fish。　〃Stop　a　minute；　here's　a　first…rate　tom…cod；　let　me　put　him　on；〃　and　he　took　the　string　and　added　the　fish　to　his　gift。

〃I　never　shall　forget　you；　Tommy；　I　shall　only　borrow　the　two　cents；　I　will　pay　you　again　some　time；〃　said　she；　in　a　low　tone；　so　that　Johnny　could　not　hear　her。

〃Never　mind　'em；　Katy。　Don't　go　hungry　again　for　a　minute。　Come　to　me；　and　I'll　help　you　to　something　or　other。〃

〃Thank　you；　Tommy；〃　and　with　a　lighter　heart　than　she　had　brought　with　her；　she　hastened　up　the　pier；　no　doubt　anticipating　a　rich　feast　from　the　string　of　fish。

The　pier　of　the　new　South　Boston　bridge　was　then；　as　now；　a　favorite　resort　for　juvenile　fishermen。　Flounders；　tom…cod；　and　eels；　to　say　nothing　of　an　occasional　sculpin；　which　boys　still　persist　in　calling　〃crahpies；〃　or　〃crahooners；〃　used　to　furnish　abundant　sport　to　a　motley　group　of　youngsters　wherein　the　sons　of　merchants　mingled　democratically　with　the　dirty；　ragged　children　of　the　〃Ten…footers〃　in　the　vicinity。　The　pier　was　neutral　ground；　and　Frederic　Augustus　made　a　friend　of　Michael　or　Dennis；　and　probably　neither　was　much　damaged　by　this　free　companionship；　for　Michael　or　Dennis　often　proves　to　be　more　of　a　gentleman　in　his　rags　and　dirty　face　than　Frederic　Augustus　in　his　broadcloth　and　white　linen。

Katy　walked　as　fast　as　her　little　feet　would　carry　her；　till　she　came　to　a　court　leading　out　of　Essex　Street。　The　bells　were　ringing　for　one　o'clock　as　she　entered　the　grocery　at　the　corner　and　purchased　the　two…cent　roll　which　Tommy　Howard's　bounty　enabled　her　to　add　to　her　feast。　Elated　with　the　success　of　her　mission；　she　quickened　her　pace　up　the　court　to　a　run；　rushed　into　the　house　and　up…stairs　to　her　mother's　room　with　as　much　enthusiasm　as　though　she　had　found　a　bag　of　gold；　instead　of　having　obtained　a　very　simple　dinner。

〃O；　mother；　I've　got　a　lot　of　flounders　and　some　bread　for　you！〃　exclaimed　she；　as　she　bolted　into　the　room。

〃Then　you　have　money；〃　said　a　cold　voice　in　the　chamber；　and　Katy　perceived；　standing　near　the　bed　on　which　her　mother　lay；　a　man　who　was　no　stranger　to　her。

It　was　Dr。　Flynch；　but　let　not　my　young　reader　make　a　mistake。　He　was　no　good　Samaritan；　who　had　come　to　pour　oil　and　wine　into　the　wounds　of　the　poor　sick　woman；　not　even　a　physician；　who　had　come　to　give　medicine　for　a　fee；　to　restore　her　to　health　and　strength。　It　is　true　he　was　called　a　doctor；　and　he　h