poor and proud-第14章

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〃The　mayor　told　me　to　ask　you　to　call　and　see　him　again；〃　said　Mrs。　Gordon。　〃He　is　very　much　interested　in　you。〃

〃He　is　very　kind；〃　and　she　bade　them　good…by。

Katy　felt　highly　honored　by　the　notice　the　mayor　had　taken　of　her。　Like　Master　Simon　Sneed；　she　felt　almost　like　calling　him　her　friend　the　mayor；　but　she　resolved　to　call　upon　him　on　her　way　home。　He　received　her　very　kindly；　told　her　what　a　mistake　she　had　made　in　giving　the　pawnbroker　his　note；　who　had　never　delivered　it　to　the　marshal；　and　promised　to　buy　lots　of　candy　when　she　came　with　her　tray。

When　she　returned　home　she　found　a　message　there　from　Tommy　Howard；　requesting　to　see　her　that　afternoon。　She　did　not　feel　like　spending　any　more　time　in　idleness；　when　she　had　so　much　candy　to　sell；　but　Tommy's　request　was　not　to　be　neglected；　and；　taking　her　tray；　she　called　at　his　house　as　she　passed　up　to　the　court。

Tommy　had　been　talking　for　a　year　about　going　to　sea；　and　had　been　for　some　time　on　the　lookout　for　a　chance　as　a　cabin…boy　or　a　reefer。　He　had　told　her　his　plans；　how　he　intended　to　be　a　good　sailor　and　work　his　way　up　to　be　captain　of　some　fine　ship。　She　suspected；　therefore；　that　he　had　found　a　chance　to　go　to　sea；　and　wanted　to　tell　her　all　about　it。

She　found　him　at　home；　waiting　her　expected　visit；　but　a　feeling　of　sadness　came　over　her　when　she　saw　his　manly　face；　and　thought　how　badly　she　should　feel　if　he　should　go　off　on　the　ocean；　and；　perhaps；　be　drowned　in　its　vast　depths。　He　had　been　her　friend　and　protector。　Johnny　Grippen　hardly　dared　to　look　at　her　since　the　flogging　he　had　given　him；　and　Katy　thought；　perhaps；　if　he　went　away；　that　she　should　have　no　one　to　defend　her。

〃I　am　going　to…morrow；　Katy；〃　said　he；　after　he　had　given　her　a　seat　by　the　window。

〃To　sea？〃　asked　Katy；　gloomily。

〃Yes；　I　have　got　a　first…rate　ship；　and　she　sails　to…morrow。〃

〃I　am　so　sorry　you　are　going！〃

〃O；　never　mind　it；　Katy；　I　shall　be　back　one　of　these　days。　I　wanted　to　tell　you　if　Johnny　Grippen　gives　you　any　impudence；　to　let　me　know　and　I'll　lick　him　when　I　come　back。〃

〃I　guess　he　won't。〃

〃He　may；　if　he　does；　you　had　better　tell　his　father。〃

〃But　where　are　you　going；　Tommy？〃

〃To　Liverpool。〃

Katy　started。　Her　grandfather　lived　there。　After　a　moment's　thought　she　conceived　a　plan　which　made　her　heart　bound　with　emotion。　She　could　send　word　to　her　grandfather；　by　Tommy；　that　she　and　her　mother　were　in　Boston；　and　then　he　would　send　over　after　them；　and　they　could　live　in　his　fine　house；　and　she　should　be　as　happy　as　a　queen。　Then　she　and　her　mother　might　be　passengers　in　Tommy's　shipand　wouldn't　they　have　great　times　on　the　passage！　And　as　her　grandfather　was　a　merchant；　and　owned　ships；　she　might　be　able　to　do　something　for　Tommy。

Under　the　seal　of　secrecy　she　related　to　her　young　sailor　friend　all　the　particulars　of　her　mother's　history；　and　he　wrote　down　the　names　she　gave　him。　Tommy　promised　to　hunt　all　over　Liverpool　till　he　found　her　grandfather；　and　to　insure　him　a　good　reception；　Katy　wrote　a　short　letter　to　him；　in　which　she　stated　the　principal　facts　in　the　case。

〃Now；　good…by；　Tommy；〃　said　she；　wiping　away　a　tear；　〃I　shall　think　of　you　every　day；　and　pray　for　you　too。　I　hope　there　won't　be　any　storms　to　sink　your　ship。〃

〃We　shan't　mind　the　storms。　Good…by；　Katy。〃

She　felt　very　badly　all　the　rest　of　the　day；　and　her　sales　were　smaller　than　usual；　for　her　energy　was　diminished　in　proportion　to　the　sadness　of　her　heart。



CHAPTER　XIII。

KATY　EMPLOYS　AN　ASSISTANT。


As　winter　approached；　Katy　realized　that　the　demand　for　molasses　candy　was　on　the　increase；　and　she　found　it　necessary　to　make　a　much　larger　quantity。　Mrs。　Colvin　still　rendered　her　assistance　〃for　a　consideration；〃　and　the　supply　was　thus　made　to　correspond　with　the　demand。

Mrs。　Redburn's　health　which　had　begun　to　improve　with　the　advent　of　their　prosperity；　now　enabled　her　to　sit　up　nearly　the　whole　day；　and　to　render　much　aid　in　the　household　affairs；　and　especially　in　the　manufacturing　of　the　candy。　The　good　fortune　that　had　attended　Katy's　efforts　brought　many　additional　comforts　to　their　humble　dwelling；　indeed；　they　had　everything　that　they　needed；　and　everything　that　any　poor　person　would　have　required。　But　the　fond　mother　had　never　been　able　to　reconcile　herself　to　the　business　which　Katy　followed。　She　dreaded　every　day　lest　the　temptations　to　which　it　constantly　exposed　her　might　lead　her　astray。　She　loved　her　daughter　with　all　her　heart；　and　she　would　rather　have　died　in　poverty　and　want　than　have　had　her　corrupted。　She　had　every　reason　to　believe　that　Katy　was　the　pure　and　innocent　child　she　had　always　been；　but　she　feared；　as　she　grew　older；　that　some　harm　might　befall　her。　She　would　rather　bury　her　than　see　her　become　a　bad　person；　and　she　hoped　soon　to　be　able　to　resume　her　own　labors；　and　let　Katy　abandon　her　dangerous　business。

Mrs。　Redburn　often　talked　with　her　about　the　perils　that　lay　in　her　path；　but　Katy　spoke　like　one　who　was　fortified　by　good　resolutions　and　a　strong　will。　She　declared　that　she　knew　what　dangers　were　in　her　way；　and　that　she　could　resist　all　the　temptations　that　beset　her。　Whatever　views　the　mother　had；　there　seemed　to　be　no　opportunity　to　carry　them　out；　for　by　Katy's　labors　they　were　fed；　clothed；　and　housed。　She　was　her　mother's　only　support；　and　the　candy　trade；　perilous　as　it　was；　could　not　be　given　up。

Katy　did　not　desire　to　abandon　the　business　she　had　built　up；　for　she　was　proud　of　her　achievement。　She　was　resolved　to　be　good　and　true；　and　to　her　it　did　not　seem　half　so　perilous　as　to　others。　She　had　even　indulged　some　thoughts　of　enlarging　her　business。　Why　could　she　not　have　a　shop；　and　sell　candy　on　a　counter　as　well　as　in　the　street？　She　mentioned　this　idea　to　her　mother；　who　was　sure　the　shop　could　not　succeed；　for　she　was　aware　that　her　daughter's　winning　manners　were　more　than　half　her　stock　in　trade；　and　that　her　large　sales　resulted　from　carrying　the　candy　to　hundreds　of　people　who　did　not　want　it　enough　to　go　after　it。　Therefore　Katy　gave　up　the　shop　at　once；　but　she　did　not　abandon　the　idea　of　enlarging　her　business；　though　she　did　not　exactly　see　how　it　could　be　done。　One　day　an　accident　solved　the　problem　for　her；　and　at　that　time　commenced　a　new　era　in　the　candy　trade。

One　pleasant　morning　in　November；　as　she　walked　up　the　court；　she　met　Ann　Grippen；　a　sister　of　Johnny　who　stopped　to　talk　with　her。　The　Grippen　family　consisted　of　eleven　persons。　The　father　was　a　day　laborer；　and　as　his　wages　were　small；　and　he　had　a　great　many　mouths　to　feed；　they　were；　of　course；　miserably　poor。　The　older　children　showed　no　ability　or　disposition　to　help　their　parents　but　spent　most　of　their　time　in　strolling　about　the　streets。　Johnny　was　a　fair　specimen　of　the　boys；　as　Ann　was　of　the　girls。　She　might　have　been　seen　almost　any　day　with　a　well…worn　basket　on　her　arm；　exploring　the　streets　and　wharves　in　search　of　chips；　for　Johnny　was　too　vicious　to　do　the　work　which　more　properly　belonged　to　him。

〃You　sell　lots　of　candy　nowdon't　you？〃　said　Ann。

〃Yes；　a　great　deal；〃　replied　Katy；　who　was　not　disposed　to　spend　her　time　idly；　and　in　the　company　of　one　whose　reputation　in　the　neighborhood　was　not　very　good。

〃Stop　a　minutewon't　you？　I　want　to　speak　to　you。〃

〃I　will；　but　be　as　quick　as　you　can；　for　I　am　in　a　hurry。〃

〃Don't　you　think　I　could　sell　candy？〃　continued　Ann。

〃I　dare　say　you　could。　Why　don't　you　try；　if　you　want　to？〃

〃But　I　haven't　got　no　candy；　and　mother　can't　make　it；　as　you　can。　If　you　are　a　mind　to　let　me　have　some；　I　will　sell　it　for　you；　and　you　may　give　me　what　you　like。〃

The　idea　struck　the　little　merchant　very　favorably。　There　were　a　great　many　girls　just　like　Ann　Grippen；　who　were　wasting　their　time　about　the　streets；　and　learning　to　be　wicked。　Why　couldn't　she　employ　them　to　sell　candy？

〃I　will　try　you；〃　replied　Katy。

〃Well；　I'm　all　ready　to　begin。〃

〃Not　yet；〃　said　the　little　candy　merchant；　with　a　smile。

〃Yes；　I　am。〃

〃Your　face　and　hands　are　very　dirty。〃

〃What　odds　will　that　make？〃　asked　Ann；　rather　indignantly。

〃Do　you　suppose　anybody　would　eat　a　stick　of　candy　after　you　had　touched　it　with　those　dirty　fingers？　Your　customers　would　be　afraid　of　being　poisoned。〃

〃I　s'pose　I　can　wash　'em；〃　replied　Ann；　who　seemed　still　to　regard　it　as　a　very　unnecessary　operation。

〃It　would　be　a　good　plan；　and　while　you　are　about　it　you　must　not　forget　your　face。〃

〃I　ain't　a…going　to　touch　the　candy　with　my　face；〃　added　Ann；　triumphantly

〃Very　true；　but　if　people　saw　you　with　such　a　dirty　face；　they　would　be　afraid　your　candy　was　not　very　clean。〃

〃Any　way　you　like。　I　will　wash　my　face　and　hands　both；　if　that's　all。〃

〃But　that　isn't　all。　Your　dress　is　very　dirty　and　very　ragged。〃

〃I　can't　afford　to　dress　like　a　lady；〃　said　Ann；　who　had　some　of　her　brother's　disposition；　and　under　any　other　circumstances　would　have　resented　Katy's　plain　home　thrusts。

〃You　needn't　dress　like　a　lady；　but　the　neater　and　cleaner　you　are；　the　more　candy　you　will　sell。〃

〃I　will　fix　up　as　much　as　I　can。〃

〃Very　well；　if　you　will　come　to　my　house　to…morrow　morning；　I　will　let　you　have　some　candy。〃

〃How　much　will　you　give　me　for　selling　it？〃　asked　Ann。

〃I　can't　tell　now；　I　will　think　about　it；　and　let　you　know　when　you　come。〃

Katy　went　her　way；　turning　over　and　over　in　her　mind　the　scheme　which　Ann's　application　had　suggested　to　her。　She　might　employ　a　dozen　girls；　or　even　more　than　that；　and　pay　them　so　much　a　dozen　for　selling　the　candy。　She　might　then　stop　going　out　to　sell　herself；　and　thus　gratify　her　mother。　She　could　even　go　to　school；　and　still　attend　to　her　business。

When　she　returned　home　at　noon；　she　proposed　the　plan　to　her　mother。　Mrs。　Redburn　was　much　pleased　with　it；　though　she　suggested　many　difficulties　in　the　way　of　its　success。　The　girls　might　not　be　honest；　but　if　they　were　not；　they　could　be　discharged。　Many　of　them　were　vicious；　they　would　steal　or　be　saucy；　so　that　people　would　not　permit　them　to　enter　their　stores　and　offices；　and　the　business　would　thus　be　brought　into　disrepute。　Katy　determined　to　employ　the　best　girls　she　could　find；　and　to　tell　them　all　that　they　must　behave　like　ladies。

The　next　morning　Ann　Grippen　appeared　with　her　face　and　hands　tolerably　clean；　and　wearing　a　dress　which　by　a　liberal　construction　could　be　called　decent。　She　brought　a　dirty；　rusty　old　tray；　which　was　the　best　she　could　obtain；　yet　in　spite　of　all　these　disadvantages；　the　little　candy　merchant　looked　upon　it　as　a　hopeful　case。

〃Now；　Ann；　you　must　be　very　civil　to　everybody　you　meet；〃　said　Katy；　as　she　covered　the　rusty　tray　with　a　sheet　of　clean　white　paper。

〃I　hope　I　know　how　to　behave　myself；〃　replied　Ann；　rather　crustily。

〃I　dare　say　you　do；〃　and　she　might　have　hinted　that　there　was　some　difference　between　knowing　how　to　do　a　thing　and　doing　it。　〃I　was　only　going　to　tell　you　how　to　sell　candy。　If　you　don't　want　me　to　tell　you；　I　won't。〃

〃I　should　like　to　have　you　tell　me；　but　I　guess　I　know　how　to　behave。〃

〃You　must　be　very　civil　to　everybody；　even　when　they　don't　speak　very　pleasant　to　you。〃

〃I　don't　know　about　that；〃　replied　Ann；　doubtfully；　for　it　was　contrary　to　the　Grippen　philosophy　to　be　very　c