poor and proud-第15章

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〃I　don't　know　about　that；〃　replied　Ann；　doubtfully；　for　it　was　contrary　to　the　Grippen　philosophy　to　be　very　civil　to　any　one；　much　less　to　those　who　were　not　civil　to　them。

〃When　any　one　buys　any　candy　of　you；　you　must　always　say；　‘Thank　you'；　and　then　the　next　time　you　meet　the　person　he　will　buy　again。〃

〃How　much　you　going　to　give　me　for　selling？〃　demanded　Ann；　abruptly　cutting　short　the　instructions。

〃Mother　thinks　you　ought　to　have　four　cents　a　dozen。〃

〃Four　cents？　My　mother　says　I　ought　to　have　half；　and　I　ain't　going　to　sell　your　candy　for　no　four　cents　a　dozen。〃

〃Very　well；　you　needn't　if　you　don't　wish　to　do　so；〃　and　Katy　removed　the　sheet　of　white　paper　she　had　placed　over　the　dirty　tray。

〃You　ought　to　give　me　half　I　get；〃　added　Ann；　rather　softened　by　Katy's　firmness　and　decision。

〃Four　cents　is　enough。　I　often　sell　a　hundred　sticks　in　a　day。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　care；　I　will　try　it　once。〃

〃If　we　find　we　can　afford　to　pay　any　more　than　four　cents；　we　will　do　so。〃

Katy　covered　the　tray　again；　and　arranged　two　dozen　sticks　on　it　in　an　attractive　manner。　After　giving　Ann　some　further　instructions　in　the　art　of　selling　candy；　she　permitted　her　to　depart　on　her　mission。　She　was　not　very　　confident　in　regard　to　her　success　for　Ann　was　too　coarse　and　ill…mannered　for　a　good　sales…woman。　She　hoped　for　the　best；　however；　and　after　preparing　her　own　tray；　she　went　out　to　attend　to　business　as　usual。　In　the　court　she　saw　Master　Simon　Sneed；　who　was　sitting　on　his　father's　doorstep。　She　noticed　that　he　looked　sad　and　downhearted；　and　when　he　spoke　to　her　the　tones　of　his　voice　indicated　the　same　depression　of　spirits。

〃Have　you　seen　the　Mayor　lately；　Katy？〃　asked　Simon；　as　he　approached。

〃Not　very　lately〃

〃I　should　like　to　see　him；〃　added　he；　raising　his　eyes　to　her。

〃Why　don't　you　call　upon　him？　You　know　where　he　livesdon't　you？〃

〃Yes；　but〃

Master　Simon　paused；　as　though　he　did　not　like　to　explain　the　reason。　Katy　waited　for　him　to　proceed；　but　as　he　did　not；　she　remarked　that　he　looked　very　sad；　and　she　hoped　nothing　had　happened。

〃Something　has　happened；〃　replied　he；　gloomily。

〃Nothing　bad；　I　hope。〃

〃I　have　left　my　place　at　Sands　&　Co。's。

〃Left　it？　Why；　how　can　they　possibly　get　along　without　you？〃　exclaimed　Katy。

〃It　is　their　own　fault；　and　though　I　say　it　who　should　not　say　it；　they　will　never　find　another　young　man　who　will　do　as　much　for　them　as　I　have　done。〃

〃I　shouldn't　think　they　would　have　let　you　go。〃

〃Nor　I；　but　some　men　never　know　when　they　are　well　used。〃

〃How　did　it　happed？〃

〃I　asked　them　for　an　increase　of　salary；　and　told　them　I　could　stay　no　longer　unless　they　did　so。　And　what　do　you　think　they　did？〃

〃I　don't　know；　I　should　suppose　they　would　have　raised　your　salary。〃

〃No；　Katy；〃　added　Simon；　bitterly。　〃Mr。　Sands　told　me　I　might　go；　he　wouldn't　have　me　at　any　rate。　Wasn't　that　cool？　Well；　well；　if　they　don't　know　their　own　interest；　they　must　bear　the　consequences。　If　they　fail；　or　lose　all　their　trade；　they　can't　blame　me　for　it。　Now　I　have　nothing　to　do；　and　I　was　just　thinking　whether　my　friend　the　mayor　couldn't　help　me　into　a　situation。〃

〃I　dare　say　he　can。　Why　don't　you　call　and　see　him　at　once？〃

〃I　don't　like　to　do　so。　He　sees　so　many　persons　that　I　really　don't　think　he　would　recollect　me。　I　must　get　something　to　do；　though；　for　my　father　is　sick；　and　winter　is　coming　on。〃

〃How　much　salary　did　you　get；　Master　Simon？〃　asked　Katy；　who　highly　approved　his　determination　not　to　be　a　burden　upon　his　father。

〃Two　dollars　and　a　half　a　week。〃

〃Is　that　all！〃

〃Yes；　they　ought　to　have　given　me　ten。　Even　that　was　better　than　nothing。〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　something；　Master　Simon；〃　said　Katy；　after　a　pause。

〃What；　Katy？〃

〃I　make　four　or　five　dollars　a　week。〃

〃Is　it　possible！〃

〃If　you　have　a　mind　to　sell　candy；　I　will　furnish　you　all　you　want；　so　that　you　can　make　at　least　three　dollars　a　week。〃

The　lip　of　Master　Simon　slowly　curled；　till　his　face　bore　an　expression　of　sovereign　contempt。　He　rose　from　his　seat；　and　fixed　his　eyes　rather　sternly　upon　the　little　candy　merchant；　who　began　to　think　she　had　made　a　bad　mistake；　though　all　the　time　she　had　intended　to　do　a　kind　act。

〃What　have　I　done；　Katy；　that　you　should　insult　me？　Do　you　think　I　have　sunk　so　low　as　to　peddle　candy　about　the　streets？〃　said　he；　contemptuously。

〃Do　you　think　I　have　sunk　very　low；　Master　Simon？〃　asked　Katy；　with　a　pleasant　smile　on　her　face。

〃Your　business　is　very　low；〃　he　replied；　more　gently。

〃Is　that　business　low　by　which　I　honestly　make　money　enough　to　support　my　sick　mother　and　myself？〃

〃It　would　be　low　for　me；　my　ideas　run　a　little　higher　than　that；〃　answered　Simon；　rather　disposed　to　apologize　for　his　hard　words；　for　Katy's　smile　had　conquered　him；　as　a　smile　oftener　will　conquer　than　a　hard　word。

〃You　know　best；　but　if　I　can　do　anything　for　you；　Master　Simon；　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　do　so。〃

〃Thank　you；　Katy；　you　mean　right；　but　never　speak　to　me　about　selling　candy　again。　I　think　you　can　help　me。〃

〃Then　I　will。〃

〃I　will　see　you　again　when　I　get　my　plan　arranged。　In　the　meantime；　if　you　happen　to　meet　my　friend　the　mayor；　just　speak　a　good　word　for　me。〃

〃I　will；〃　and　Katy　left　him。



CHAPTER　XIV。

MASTER　SIMON　SNEED　MAKES　A　MISTAKE。


Contrary　to　the　expectations　of　Katy　and　her　mother；　Ann　Grippen　returned　at　noon　with　her　tray　empty；　having　sold　the　whole　two　dozen　sticks。

〃Well；　Ann；　how　do　you　like　the　business？〃　asked　Katy。

〃First　rate。　Here　is　twenty…four　cents；〃　replied　Ann；　and　it　was　evident；　from　her　good…natured　laugh；　that　she　was　much　encouraged　by　her　success。

〃You　may　give　me　sixteen；　the　other　eight　belong　to　you。〃

〃I　think　I　can　do　something　at　it；〃　added　Ann；　as　she　regarded　with　much　satisfaction　the　first　money　she　had　ever　earned　in　her　life。

〃You　can；　if　you　work　it　right；　but　you　must　be　very　gentle　and　patient；　you　must　keep　yourself　clean　and〃

〃Well；　I　guess　I　know　all　about　that；〃　interrupted　Ann；　who　did　not　like　this　style　of　remark。

〃Katy；〃　said　her　mother；　who　was　sitting　in　her　rocking…chair；　by　the　fire。

〃What；　mother？〃

〃Come　here　a　moment。〃

Katy　crossed　the　room　to　her　mother；　to　hear　what　she　wished　to　say。

〃You　must　not　talk　to　her　in　that　style；〃　said　Mrs。　Redburn；　in　a　tone　so　low　that　Ann　could　not　hear　her。

〃Why　not；　mother？　I　was　only　telling　her　how　to　do。〃

〃But　you　speak　in　that　tone　of　superiority　which　no　one　likes　to　hear。　You　are　but　a　child；　as　she　is；　and　she　will　not　listen　to　such　advice　from　you。〃

Katy　wondered　what　her　mother　would　have　thought　if　she　had　heard　what　she　said　to　Ann　the　day　before。　Yet　she　was　conscious　that　she　had　〃put　on　airs；〃　and　talked　like　a　very　old　and　a　very　wise　person。

〃I　suppose　you　would　like　to　go　out　again　this　afternoon；〃　resumed　Katy；　joining　her　assistant　again。

〃I　don't　care　if　I　do。〃

〃Well；　come　this　afternoon；　and　you　shall　have　some　more　candy；〃　and　Ann　ran　home　to　get　her　dinner。

〃I　think　my　plan　will　work　well；　mother；〃　said　Katy；　when　she　had　gone。

〃It　has　so　far；　but　you　must　not　be　too　sure。〃

〃I　mean　to　go　out　after　dinner　and　hunt　up　some　more　girls；　for　you　see　I　shall　have　no　candy　to　sell　myself　this　afternoon；　when　I　have　given　Ann　two　dozen　sticks。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　not　attempt　to　lecture　them　as　you　did　her。〃

〃Why；　mother；　I　know　all　about　the　business　and　they　don't　know　anything。〃

〃I　doubt　not　you　are　competent　to　advise　them；　but　the　manner　in　which　you　address　them　is　more　offensive　than　the　matter。　Your　knowledge　of　the　business　makes　you　treat　them　as　inferiors。　You　must　not　think　too　much　of　yourself；　Katy。〃

〃No　danger　of　that；　mother。〃

〃I　am　afraid　there　is。　Persons　in　authority；　who　are　gentle　and　kind；　and　do　not　act　like　superiors；　are　more　promptly　obeyed；　and　more　loved　and　respected；　than　those　who　are　puffed　up　by　their　office；　and　tyrannical　in　their　manners。〃

〃But　I　am　not　a　person　in　authority；　mother；〃　laughed　Katy。

〃You　will　be；　if　you　employ　a　dozen　girls　to　sell　candy　for　you。〃

After　Katy　had　eaten　her　dinner；　and　fitted　out　Ann　Grippen；　she　left　the　house　in　search　of　some　more　assistants。　She　was　well　known　to　all　the　boys　and　girls　in　the　neighborhood；　and　when　she　stated　her　object　to　one　and　another　of　them；　she　was　readily　understood。　To　help　her　cause；　it　had　begun　to　be　known　that　Ann　Grippen　had　been　seen　with　a　clean　face；　selling　candy　in　the　street。　She　had　no　difficulty；　therefore；　in　procuring　the　services　of　half　a　dozen　girls；　who　were　delighted　with　the　plan　especially　when　Katy　informed　them　of　Ann's　success。

On　her　return　home；　she　found　that　Simon　Sneed　had　called　to　see　her；　and　she　immediately　hastened　to　his　house。　When　she　knocked；　he　came　to　the　door　and　invited　her　into　the　palor。

〃Well；　Katy；　I　have　hit　upon　something；〃　said　he。

〃I　am　glad　you　have。〃

〃I　went　down　town　after　I　saw　you；　and　hearing　of　a　place　in　Tremont　Row；　I　went　to　apply　for　it。〃

〃Did　you　get　it？〃

〃Not　yet；　but　I　hope　to　get　it。　They　agreed　to　give　me　three　dollars　a　week　if　everything　proved　satisfactory；　but　they　wanted　a　recommendation　from　my　last　employers。〃

〃Of　course　they　will　give　you　one。〃

〃No；　they　would　not；　they　were　offended　because　I　left　them。〃

〃Then　you　asked　them？〃

〃Yes；　I　went　after　one　this　afternoon；　and　they　would　not　give　it　to　me。　I　did　not　much　expect　they　would；　and　so　I　informed　Messrs。　Runn　&　Reed；　the　firm　to　which　I　have　applied　for　an　engagement。　I　told　them　exactly　how　the　case　stood；　that　I　had　demanded　higher　wages；　and　the　Messrs。　Sands　were　angry　with　me　for　doing　so；　and　for　that　reason　refused　the　testimonial。　They　saw　through　it　all；　and　understood　my　position。　When　I　spoke　to　them　about　my　friend　the　mayor；　they　looked　surprised；　and　said　a　recommendation　from　him　would　satisfy　them。　So　you　see　just　how　I　am　situated。〃

〃Why　don't　you　go　to　him　at　once；　and　ask　him　for　the　recommendation？〃　said　Katy　wondering　why　he　hesitated　at　so　plain　a　case。

But　Master　Simon　had　some　scruples　about　doing　so。　He　was　old　enough　to　know　that　it　was　rather　a　delicate　business　to　ask　a　man　in　a　high　official　station　for　a　testimonial　on　so　slight　an　acquaintance。　The　mayor　was　interested　in　Katy；　though　she　did　not　presume　to　call　him　her　friend。　She　had　twice　called　upon　him；　and　she　might　again。

〃I　don't　like　to　ask　him；　Katy。　I　feel　some　delicacy　about　doing　so。〃

〃I　should　just　as　lief　ask　him　as　not；　if　I　were　you。　I　am　afraid　you　are　too　proud；　Master　Simon。〃

〃I　am　proud；　Katy：　that's　just　it。　I　was　born　to　be　a　gentleman；　but　I　submit　to　my　lot。　I　am　willing　to　sell　my　talents　and　my　labor　for　money。　If　I　can　once　get　in　at　Runn　&　Reed's；　I　am　sure　they　will　appreciate　me；　and　consider　it　a　lucky　day　on　which　they　engaged　me。〃

〃If　you　want　me　to　go　to　the　mayor's　house　with　you；　I　will；〃　said　Katy；　who　did　not　clearly　comprehend　Simon's　wishes。

〃Well；　I　think　I　will　not　go　myself；〃　replied　Simon。

〃Why　not？〃

〃I　do　not　like　to　place　myself　in　a　humiliating　posture　before　great　men。　If　I　were　mayor　of　Boston；　I　should　like　to　do　him　the　favor　which　I　ask　for　myself。　When　I　am〃

〃You　haven't　asked　him；　Master　Simon。〃

〃In　a