poor and proud-第16章

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

〃In　a　word；　Katy；　I　want　you　to　ask　him　for　me。　You　will　do　me　a　great　favor。〃

〃I　will；〃　replied　Katy；　promptly。

〃The　mayor　is　a　very　fine　man；　kind…hearted；　and　willing　to　help　everybody　that　deserves　help；　and　if　he　were　not　my　friend；　I　should　feel　no　delicacy　in　asking　him　myself。　You　can　state　the　case；　and　inform　him　who　I　am；　and　what　I　am；　that　you　know　me　to　be　honest　and　faithful。　You　can　tell　him；　too；　that　I　am　a　gentlemanly　person；　of　pleasing　address。〃

〃But　I　can't　remember　all　that；〃　interposed　Katy。

〃Tell　him　what　you　can　recollect；　then。　He　is　an　easy；　good…natured　man；　and　will　give　you　the　testimonial　at　once。〃

〃Suppose　you　write　a　paper；　just　such　as　you　want；　Master　Simon。　Then　he　can　copy　it。〃

〃Well　I　will　do　that。〃

Simon　seated　himself　at　a　table；　and；　after　considerable　effort；　produced　the　following　piece　of　elegant　composition；　which　he　read　to　Katy：

〃To　whom　it　may　concern：

〃This　may　certify　that　I　have　been　for　some　time　acquainted　with　my　friend　Mr。　Simon　Sneed；　and　I　believe　him　to　be　an　honest　and　faithful　young　man；　of　gentlemanly　bearing；　pleasing　address；　and　polite　manners；　who　will　be　an　honor　and　an　ornament　to　any　establishment　that　may　be　so　fortunate　as　to　secure　his　valuable　services；　and　I　cheerfully　recommend　him　to　any　person　to　whom　he　may　apply　for　a　situation。　Mayor　of　Boston。〃

〃I　have　left　a　blank　space　for　his　honor's　signature；〃　continued　Master　Simon；　when　he　had　read　the　modest　document。　〃What　do　you　think　of　it；　Katy？〃

〃It　is　very　fine。　What　a　great　scholar　you　must　be！　I　should　think　you'd　write　a　book。〃

〃Perhaps　I　may　one　of　these　days。〃

〃I　will　go　right　up　to　the　mayor's　house　now；〃　said　Katy；　as　she　bade　him　good　afternoon。

Before　she　went；　she　returned　home　and　nicely　enclosed　six　sticks　of　candy　in　white　paper　as　a　present　for　Freddie；　the　mayor's　little　son。　On　her　way　up　to　Park　Street　she　opened　Simon's　paper；　and　read　it。　It　sounded　funny　to　her；　with　its　big　words　and　fine　sentences；　and　then　what　a　puffing　Master　Simon　had　given　himself！　She　even　began　to　wonder　if　there　was　not　something　about　her　gentlemanly　friend　which　was　not　all　right。

She　reached　the　mayor's　house；　and　as　it　was　his　time　to　be　at　home；　she　was　conducted　to　the　library。

〃Ah；　Katy；　I　am　glad　to　see　you；〃　said　he；　taking　her　hand。

〃Thank　you；　sir。　I　have　brought　this　candy　for　Master　Freddie。〃

〃You　are　very　good；　and　I　suppose　you　are　so　proud　that　I　must　not　offer　to　pay　you　for　it。〃

〃If　you　please；　don't；　sir；〃　replied　Katy；　unconsciously　taking　Master　Simon's　testimonial　from　her　pocket。　〃I　don't　want　you　to　pay　me　in　money；　but　you　may　pay　me　in　another　way；　if　you　please。〃

〃May　I？　What　have　you　in　your　hand？〃

〃A　paper；　sir。　You　remember　Master　Simon　Sneed？〃

〃No；　I　don't。〃

〃The　young　man　at　Sands　&　Co。's。〃

〃O；　yes；　the　young　gentleman　that　uses　so　many　long　words。〃

〃He　has　left　his　place；　and　wants　to　get　another。〃

〃He　has　left　it？　Why　was　that？〃

〃He　asked　for　more　wages。　He　has　found　another　place；　which　he　can　have　if　he　can　get　a　testimonial。〃

〃Let　him　ask　Sands　&　Co。〃

〃They　won't　give　him　one；　because　they　are　so　angry　with　him　for　leaving　them。〃

〃That　indeed！〃

〃Master　Simon　wants　you　to　give　him　one；〃　continued　Katy；　who；　in　her　confusion　was　jumping　at　the　conclusion　of　the　matter　rather　too　hastily；　and　before　she　had　produced　a　proper　impression　in　regard　to　her　hero's　transcendent　character　and　ability。

〃Does　he；　indeed；〃　laughed　the　mayor。　〃He　is　very　modest。〃

〃He　said；　as　you　are　his　friend；　you　would　not　object　to　giving　him　one。〃

〃What　have　you　in　your　hand；　Katy？　Has　he　written　one　to　save　me　the　trouble？〃　laughed　the　mayor。

〃I　asked　him　to　do　so。　You　can　copy　it　off；　if　you　please；　sir。〃

The　mayor　took　the　testimonial　and　proceeded　to　read　it。　Katy　had　already　concluded　from　his　manner　that　the　business　was　not　all　correct；　and　she　wished　herself　out　of　the　scrape。　He　finished　the　reading；　and　then　burst　into　a　violent　fit　of　laughter。

〃Your　friend　is　very　modest；　Katy；my　friend　Mr。　Simon　Sneed。〃

〃I　hope　I　haven't　done　anything　wrong；　sir？〃　stammered　Katy。

〃No；　Katy；　you　have　been　imposed　upon　by　a　silly　young　man。　You　meant　to　do　him　a　kindnessin　your　heart　you　had　nothing　but　kindnessand　I　think　the　more　of　you　for　what　you　have　done；　and　the　less　of　Simon　for　what　he　has　done。　Did　he　think　I　would　recommend　him；　when　I　know　nothing　about　him？　He　is　a　conceited　puppy；　and；　in　my　opinion；　a　worthless　fellow。　One　of　these　days　he　will　be　‘an　honor　and　an　ornament'　to　the　workhouse；　if　he　does　business　in　this　manner。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　exclaimed　Katy；　frightened　at　the　remarks　of　the　mayor。

〃Now；　Katy；　we　will　go　to　the　store　of　the　Messrs。　Sands　&　Co。；　and　find　out　about　this　young　man。　I　will　meet　you　there　at　half…past　four。　Good…by；　Katy。　Freddie　thinks　ever　so　much　of　you　now；　and　in　his　behalf　I　thank　you　for　the　candy。〃

Katy　did　not　know　exactly　what　to　make　of　her　position　but　at　the　time　fixed；　she　was　at　the　store　of　Sands　&　Co。；　where　the　mayor　soon　joined　her。

〃Now；　Katy；　you　shall　hear　what　his　employers　say　of　Master　Simon；〃　said　he；　and　she　followed　him　into　the　store。

The　mayor　stated　his　business；　and　inquired　concerning　the　character　of　Simon。

〃He　is　honest；　and　did　his　work　very　well；〃　replied　Mr。　Sands。

Katy　was　pleased　to　hear　this；　and　the　mayor　confessed　his　surprise。

〃But　he　was　an　intolerable　nuisance　about　the　store；〃　continued　Mr。　Sands。　〃With　only　a　small　amount　of　modesty；　he　would　have　done　very　well；　as　it　was；　he　was　the　biggest　man　in　our　employ。　Our　customers　were　disgusted　with　him；　and　we　had　been　thinking　of　getting　rid　of　him　for　a　long　time。　When　he　asked　for　more　wages；　impudently　declaring　he　would　leave　if　we　did　not　accede　to　his　demand；　we　discharged　him。　In　a　word；　I　wouldn't　have　him　round　the　store　at　any　price。〃

〃As　I　supposed；〃　replied　the　mayor；　as　he　showed　Mr。　Sands　the　recommendation　Simon　had　written。

〃This　sounds　just　like　him。〃

Katy　pitied　poor　Simon　now　that　she　understood　him；　and　she　went　home　determined　to　tell　him　all　that　had　passed　between　the　mayor　and　herself。



CHAPTER　XV。

KATY　GETS　A　LETTER　FROM　LIVERPOOL。


Master　Simon　Sneed　sat　at　the　window　when　Katy　returned；　and　she　had　to　tell　him　all　about　it。　She　pitied　him；　poor　fellow；　and　she　hoped　the　lesson　would　do　him　good。　She　did　not　like　to　tell　him　so　many　unpleasant　things；　for　they　would　wound　his　pride。

〃Well；　Katy；　what　did　my　friend　the　mayor　say？〃　asked　Simon；　as　he　joined　her　on　the　sidewalk。

〃I　am　afraid　you　will　not　call　him　your　friend　after　this；〃　replied　Katy。

〃Why？　He　had　not　the　effrontery　to　refuse　my　reasonable　request？〃

〃The　what？　Please　to　use　words　that　I　can　understand；〃　said　she；　for　she　was　not　a　little　disgusted　with　Simon's　big　words；　now　she　knew　how　much　mischief　they　had　done　him。

〃Didn't　he　give　you　the　paper？〃

〃He　did　not。〃

〃I　didn't　think　that　of　him。　It　was　shabby。〃

〃He　said　he　did　not　know　you。　But　I　showed　him　your　paper；　in　which　you　had　written　down　what　you　thought　of　yourself。〃

〃Well；　what　did　he　say　to　that？〃　asked　Simon；　eagerly。

〃I　thought　he　would　split　his　fat　sides　laughing。　He　didn't　seem　to　believe　a　word　of　it。〃

〃He　didn't？　I　am　surprised　at　that。〃

〃He　said　you　were　a　conceited　puppy。〃

〃I　always　took　the　mayor　for　a　sensible　fellow；　I　see　I　have　been　mistaken。〃

〃He　didn't　like　it　because　you　sent　me　to　him　upon　such　an　errand。　He　said　you　had　imposed　upon　me。〃

〃Go　on；　Katy；　I　may　expect　anything　after　what　you　have　said；〃　replied　Simon；　with　all　the　coolness　and　indifference　he　could　command。

〃He　said　he　believed　you　were　a　worthless　fellow。　Then　he　told　me　to　meet　him　at　the　store　of　the　Messrs。　Sands　&　Co。；　and　he　would　inquire　about　you。〃

〃Then　you　went　to　the　store？〃

〃We　did；　and　when　the　mayor　asked　Mr。　Sands　about　you；　he　said　you　were　honest；　and　did　your　work　well；　but〃

〃Notice　that　remark　particularly。　I　hope　you　called　the　mayor's　attention　to　it；〃　interrupted　Master　Simon。　〃What　else　did　he　say？〃

〃He　said　you　were　a　nuisance〃

〃Observe　how　far　his　prejudices　carried　him。　That　man　believed；　if　I　stayed　in　the　store；　that　I　should　supplant　him　and　his　partner。　You　see　how　far　he　carried　his　spite。〃

〃But　he　said　all　the　good　he　could　of　you　Simon；〃　said　Katy。　〃He　said　you　were　honest　and　did　your　work　well。〃

〃Can　a　nuisance　be　honest；　and　do　work　well？　Hath　not　a　Jew　eyes？〃　queried　Mr。　Simon；　with　dramatic　fervor。

〃He　didn't　say　anything　about　Jews。〃

〃I　was　quoting　Shakspeare；　the　immortal　bard　of　Avon。　Katy；　Sands　knew　that　I　was　securing　the　respect　and　esteem　of　all　his　customers；　and　he　knew　very　well　if　I　should　step　into　a　rival　establishment；　I　should　take　half　his　trade　with　me；〃　continued　the　injured　Sneed。

〃He　said　his　customers　were　disgusted　with　you。　You　talked　so　big　and　thought　so　much　of　yourself；　he　would　not　have　you　in　the　store　at　any　price。　But　I　should　think　that　Runn　&　Reed　would　be　glad　to　have　you　if　you　can　carry　so　much　trade　with　you。〃

〃They　cannot　know　till　I　have　had　a　chance　to　show　them　what　I　can　do。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　soon　have　such　a　chance。〃

〃There　is　one　thing　about　it；　when　I　do；　Sands　&　Co。　will　see　the　mistake　they　have　made。　I　think　the　ladies　that　visit　their　store　will　miss　a　familiar　face。　They　used　to　insist　upon　my　waiting　upon　them；　though　it　was　not　exactly　in　the　line　of　my　duty　to　sell　goods。　Often　was　I　called　away　from　the　bundle　department　to　attend　them。　No　one　seemed　to　suit　them　but　me。　Why；　it　was　only　the　day　before　I　left　that　an　elegant；　aristocratic　lady　from　Beacon　Street　made　me　go　clear　home　with　her。〃

〃Why；　what　for？〃

〃To　carry　her　bundle；　but　that　was　all　a　pretense。〃

〃Did　she　invite　you　to　tea；　Master　Simon？〃　asked　Katy；　who　could　hardly　help　laughing　in　his　face。

〃No；　but　she　kept　me　quarter　of　an　hour　at　the　door。〃

〃What　did　she　say？〃

〃She　was　trying　to　make　it　out　that　I　had　brought　the　wrong　bundle；　and　so　she　opened　it；　in　the　entry；　but　it　was　only　to　keep　me　there。〃

〃You　think　she　was　smitten？〃　laughed　Katy。

〃I　have　an　opinion；〃　replied　Simon；　sagely。　〃There　are　a　good　many　fine　ladies　will　miss　my　face。〃

Katy　didn't　think　any　fine　lady　could　be　much　charmed　with　that　thin；　hatchet　face；　and　she　realized　now　that　Master　Simon　was　a　great　heap　of　vanity。　She　never　thought　before　that　he　could　be　so　silly。　She　wanted　to　tell　him　that　he　was　a　great　fool；　for　she　feared　he　would　never　find　it　out　himself；　but　he　was　older　than　she　was；　and　she　did　not　think　it　quite　proper　to　do　so。

〃I　must　go　now；〃　said　Katy。　〃If　you　don't　find　anything　you　like　better；　you　can　sell　candy；　you　know。〃

〃Katy！〃　exclaimed　Simon；　sternly。

〃I　am　poor　and　proud；　Master　Simon；　I　am　too　proud　to　be　dependent；　or　do　anything　mean　and　wicked；　but　I　am　not　too　proud　to　sell　candy。〃

〃I　am；〃　replied　Simon；　with　dignity。

〃Then　yours　is　a　foolish　pride；〃　replied　Katy；　with　a　smile　to　soften　the　hard　words；　and　she　walked　away　toward　her　own　house。

She　felt　thankful　that　she　had　no　such　pride　as　Simon's；　and　she　had　reason　to　be　thankful　for　when　any　person　is　to