poor and proud-第18章

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〃Now；　don't　say　a　word；〃　he　continued。　〃I　have　a　counterfeit　half　dollar　in　my　pocket；　and　you　shall　see　how　it　is　done。〃

With　this　announcement　of　his　purpose；　he　accosted　Ann；　who　told　him　about　the　same　story　she　had　told　the　lady；　and　he　finally　gave　her　the　counterfeit　half　dollar；　which　Ann　did　not　suspect　was　a　bad　one。

〃How　abominably　wicked　she　is；〃　exclaimed　Katy；　as　she　followed　her　up　the　street。　〃But　I　will　soon　spoil　all　her　fun；　and　cut　off　her　profits。　I　will　teach　her　that　honesty　is　the　best　policy。〃

It　was　easier　for　Katy　to　resolve　what　to　do　than　it　was　to　do　it；　for　the　wicked　girl　could　easily　get　her　stock　through　another　person。　As　she　walked　up　the　street；　Ann　lightened　her　load　by　eating　the　pieces　of　broken　candy；　upon　which　she　seemed　to　feed　with　hearty　relish。　At　a　window　in　Court　Street；　Ann　stopped　to　look　at　some　pictures；　when　she　was　joined　by　another　of　the　candy　sellers；　and　they　walked　together　till　they　came　to　an　unfrequented　court；　which　they　entered。　Katy　could　hear　enough　of　their　conversation；　as　she　followed　them；　to　ascertain　that　they　were　talking　about　the　tricks　Ann　had　practiced。　In　the　court　they　seated　themselves　on　a　door…stone；　and　as　they　talked　and　laughed　about　the　deceit；　they　ate　the　pieces　of　candy。

〃There；〃　said　Ann；　〃I　have　made　a　dollar　and　ten　cents　this　afternoon。　You　don't　catch　me　walking　all　over　the　city　for　twenty…four　cents；　when　I　don't　get　but　eight　of　that。〃

〃I　ain't　so　smart　as　you；〃　modestly　replied　Julia　Morgan；　the　other　girl。

〃You'll　learn；〃　said　Ann；　as　she　took　out　her　money　and　exhibited　the　two　half　dollars。

〃I　don't　think　people　would　believe　me；　if　I　should　try　that　game。〃

〃Try　some　other。　I　think　I　shall；　for　I've　about　used　up　the　broken　candy　game。〃

〃What　other？〃

〃I　have　one；〃　replied　Ann；　prudently　declining　to　divulge　her　secret；　〃and　when　I've　tried　it；　I'll　tell　you　all　about　it。〃

〃Why　don't　you　try　it　now？〃

〃I　would　if　my　candy　wasn't　broken。〃

〃I　will　let　you　have　mine。〃

〃Then　I　will。〃

〃Give　me　fourteen　cents。〃

〃I　will　when　I've　done　with　it。〃

〃No；　you　don't；〃　laughed　Julia；　who　justly　inferred　that　if　Ann　would　cheat　one　person；　she　would　another。

But　Ann　was　so　much　interested　in　the　experiment　that　she　decided　to　give　the　fourteen　cents；　and　took　the　candy。　Katy　wondered　what　the　new　game　could　be；　and　wanted　to　see　her　carry　it　out；　though　her　conscience　smote　her　for　permitting　the　lady　to　be　deceived；　when　she　could　have　unmasked　the　deceit。　She　resolved　not　to　let　another　person　be　deceived；　and　followed　the　two　girls　into　State　Street；　as　much　for　the　purpose　of　exposing　Ann's　wickedness；　as　to　learn　the　trick　she　intended　to　play。

〃Now　you　go　away；〃　said　Ann　to　her　companion；　as　she　placed　herself　on　the　steps　of　the　Merchants…Bank。

It　was　nearly　dark　by　this　time；　and　as　there　were　but　few　persons　in　the　street；　Ann　did　not　commence　her　part　of　the　performance　till　she　saw　a　well…dressed　gentleman　approach；　whereupon　she　began　to　cry　as　she　had　done　twice　before　that　day。

〃Boo；　hoo；　hoo！　O；　dear　me！　I　shall　be　killed！〃　cried　she；　so　lustily；　that　the　well…dressed　gentleman　could　not　decently　avoid　inquiring　the　cause　of　her　bitter　sorrow。

〃I　haven't　sold　out；〃　sobbed　Ann。

〃What　if　you　haven't？　Why　need　you　cry　about　it？〃　asked　the　stranger。

〃My　mother　will　kill　me　if　I　go　home　without　half　a　dollar。〃

〃She　is　a　cruel　woman；　then。〃

〃Boo；　hoo；　hoo！　She'll　beat　me　to　death！　O；　dear　me！　I　only　got　ten　cents。〃

〃Why　don't　you　fly　round　and　sell　your　candy？〃　said　the　gentleman。

〃I　can't　now；　the　folks　have　all　gone；　and　it's　almost　dark。　O；　I　wish　I　was　dead！〃

〃Well；　well；　don't　cry　any　more；　I'll　give　you　half　a　dollar；　and　that　will　make　it　all　right；〃　and　he　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket　for　the　money。

〃Don't　give　it　to　her；〃　said　Katy；　stepping　out　of　the　lane　by　the　side　of　the　bank。　〃She　has　deceived　you；　sir。〃

〃Deceived　me；　has　she？〃　added　the　stranger　as　he　glanced　at　Katy。

〃Yes；　sir。　She　has　got　more　than　a　dollar　in　her　pocket　now。〃

〃Don't　you　believe　her；〃　sobbed　Ann；　still　prudently　keeping　up　the　appearance　of　grief　。

〃How　do　you　know　she　has　deceived　me？〃　asked　the　stranger；　not　a　little　piqued；　as　he　thought　how　readily　he　had　credited　the　girl's　story。

〃Because　I　saw　her　play　a　trick　just　like　this　twice　before　this　afternoon。　She　has　two　half　dollars　in　her　pocket　now；　though　one　of　them　is　counterfeit。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that；　Katy　Redburn？〃　demanded　Ann；　angrily；　and　now　forgetting　her　woe　and　her　tears。

〃You　speak　very　positively；〃　said　the　gentleman　to　Katy；　〃and　if　what　you　say　is　true；　something　should　be　done　about　it。〃

〃She　is　telling　lies！〃　exclaimed　Ann；　much　excited。

〃We　can　soon　determine；　for　here　comes　a　policeman；　and　I　will　refer　the　matter　to　him。

At　these　words；　Ann　edged　off　the　steps　of　the　bank；　and　suddenly　started　off　as　fast　as　she　could　run；　having；　it　seemed；　a　very　wholesome　aversion　to　policemen。　But　she　made　a　bad　mistake；　for；　not　seeing　in　what　direction　the　officer　was　approaching；　she　ran　into　the　very　jaws　of　the　lion。

〃Stop　her！〃　shouted　the　gentleman。

The　policeman　laid　a　rude　hand　upon　her　shoulder；　and　marched　her　back　to　the　bank。　In　a　few　words　the　gentleman　stated　what　had　happened；　and　requested　the　officer　to　search　her；　and　thus　decide　whether　Katy　told　the　truth　or　not。　He　readily　consented；　and　on　turning　out　Ann's　pocket；　produced　the　two　half　dollars；　one　of　which　the　gentleman　decided　was　a　counterfeit　coin。

〃How　could　you　know　this　was　a　counterfeit？〃　he　asked　of　Katy。

〃I　heard　a　gentleman　at　the　door　of　the　American　House；　who　knew　the　game；　tell　another　that　it　was　a　counterfeit；〃　and　she　proceeded　to　give　all　the　particulars　of　the　two　tricks　she　had　seen　Ann　play　off。

〃I　shall　have　to　take　you　to　the　lock…up；　my　little　joker；〃　said　the　policeman。

〃O；　dear　me！〃　cried　Ann；　and　this　time　she　was　in　earnest。

〃Please　don't　do　that！〃　said　Katy；　who　had　not　foreseen　this　consequence　of　the　game。

〃I　must；　it　is　downright　swindling。〃

〃Please　don't；　she　has　a　father　and　mother　and　I　dare　say　they　will　feel　very　bad　about　it。　I　promise　you　she　shall　never　do　it　again；〃　pleaded　Katy。

〃I　must　do　my　duty。　This　candy　trick　has　been　played　a　good　many　times；　and　has　become　a　nuisance。　I　must　lock　her　up。〃

〃Save　me；　Katy；　save　me！〃　begged　Ann　terrified　at　the　thought　of　being　put　in　a　prison　or　some　dreadful　place。

〃Why　do　you　wish　to　save　her？〃　interposed　the　gentleman。

〃Because　her　mother　will　feel　so　bad；　and　she　will　lay　it　all　to　me。〃

Katy　told　him　all　about　herself　and　about　Ann；　and　he　was　so　much　interested　in　her　that　he　joined　in　pleading　for　Ann's　release。　The　officer　was　firm　for　a　long　time；　but　when　the　gentleman　declared　that　he　should　not　appear　against　her；　he　decided　to　let　her　go；　to　Katy's　great　delight；　as　well　as　to　Ann's。

Humbled　by　the　peril　from　which　she　had　just　escaped；　Ann　promised　never　to　be　guilty　of　playing　another　trick　upon　travelers；　but　Katy　was　firm　in　her　purpose　not　to　supply　her　with　any　more　candy。　She　did　not　dare　to　resent　Katy's　interference；　for　the　terrors　of　the　lock…up　were　still　in　her　mind；　and　she　did　not　know　but　that　Katy　might　have　her　arrested　and　punished　for　what　she　had　done；　if　she　attempted　to　retaliate　upon　her。

Katy　was　shocked　at　the　wickedness　of　her　companion；　and；　as　they　walked　home　together　she　tried　to　make　her　see　the　enormity　of　her　offense；　and　give　her　some　better　views　of　her　duty　to　her　fellow…beings。　Ann　heard　her　in　silence　and　with　humility；　and　the　little　moralist　hoped　the　event　would　result　in　good　to　her。



CHAPTER　XVII。

THE　SUN　SETS；　AND　THE　NIGHT　COMES　ON。


Having　recorded　the　steps　by　which　Katy　had　carried　forward　her　now　flourishing　trade；　from　the　dawn　of　the　idea　up　to　the　height　of　its　prosperity；　we　may　pass　over　a　year　with　only　a　brief　note　of　its　principal　incidents。

My　young　readers　may　have　supposed　that　Katy　and　her　mother　had　gathered　a　great　deal　of　money　in　the　candy　trade。　It　was　not　so；　for　as　the　business　increased；　and　Katy's　labors　as　a　saleswoman　were　withdrawn；　the　expenses　increased；　and　the　profits　were　proportionally　less。　And　then；　neither　Mrs。　Redburn　nor　her　daughter　had　a　faculty　for　saving　up　much　money；　so　that；　though　they　made　　considerable；　their　prosperity　permitted　new　demands　to　be　made　upon　the　purse。　They　hired　two　more　rooms；　they　replaced　the　clothing　and　furniture　which　had　been　sacrificed　under　the　pressure　of　actual　want；　and　they　lived　better　than　they　had　lived　before；　and　Mrs。　Redburn　had　availed　herself　of　the　services　of　a　distinguished　physician；　whose　attendance　had　cost　a　large　sum。　It　is　true　they　lived　very　well；　much　better　than　people　in　their　circumstances　ought　to　have　lived。　Therefore；　notwithstanding　their　prosperity；　they　had　saved　but　a　small　sum　from　the　proceeds　of　the　year's　business。　They　were　not　rich；　they　were　simply　in　comfortable　circumstances；　which；　considering　their　situation　when　Katy　commenced　business；　was　quite　enough　to　render　them　very　thankful　to　the　Giver　of　all　good　for　the　rich　blessings　He　had　bestowed　upon　them。

These　were　not　all　temporal　blessings；　if　they　had　been；　their　success　would　only　have　been　partial　and　temporary；　their　prosperity　only　an　outward　seeming；　which；　in　the　truest　and　highest　sense；　can　hardly　be　called　prosperity；　no　more　than　if　a　man　should　gain　a　thousand　dollars　worth　of　land；　and　lose　a　thousand　dollars　worth　of　stocks　or　merchandise。　Both　Katy　and　her　mother；　while　they　were　gathering　the　treasures　of　this　world；　were　also　〃laying　up　treasures　in　heaven；　where　neither　moth　nor　rust　doth　corrupt。〃　Want　had　taught　them　its　hard　lessons；　and　they　had　come　out　of　the　fiery　furnace　of　affliction　the　wiser　and　the　better　for　the　severe　ordeal。　The　mother's　foolish　pride　had　been　rebuked；　the　daughter's　true　pride　had　been　encouraged。　They　had　learned　that　faith　and　patience　are　real　supports　in　the　hour　of　trial。　The　perilous　life　in　the　streets　which　Katy　had　led　for　a　time；　exposed　her　to　a　thousand　temptations；　and　she　and　her　mother　thanked　God　that　they　had　made　her　stronger　and　truer；　as　temptation　resisted　always　makes　the　soul。　That　year　of　experience　had　given　Katy　a　character；　it　expanded　her　views　of　life；　and　placed　her　in　a　situation　where　she　was　early　called　upon　to　decide　between　the　right　and　the　wrong；　when　she　was　required　to　select　her　path　for　life。　She　had　chosen　the　good　way；　as　Ann　Grippen　had　chosen　the　evil　way。

I　do　not　mean　to　say　her　character　was　formed；　or　that　having　chosen　to　be　good；　she　could　not　afterwards　be　evil。　But　the　great　experiences　of　life　which　generally　come　in　more　mature　years；　had　been　forced　upon　her　while　still　a　child；　and　nobly　and　truly　had　she　taken　up　and　borne　the　burden　imposed　upon　her。　As　a　child　she　had　done　the　duties　of　the　full…grown　woman；　and　she　had　done　them　well。　She　had　been　faithful　to　herself。

Providence　kindly　ordains　that　the　child　shall　serve　a　long　apprenticeship　before　it　is　called　upon　to　think　and　act　for　itself。　Katy　had　anticipated　the　period　of　maturity；　and　with　the　untried　soul　of　a　child；　had　been　compelled　to　grapple　with　its　dutie