poor and proud-第2章

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　had　been　a　doctor；　but　he　did　not　practice　the　healing　art　now。　If　he　had　failed　to　make　a　physician；　it　was　not　because　his　heart　was　so　tender　that　he　could　not　bear　to　look　upon　pain　and　suffering。　He　was　the　agent　of　Mrs。　Gordon；　a　widow　lady；　who　owned　the　house　in　which　Katy's　mother　lived。　He　collected　her　rents；　and　transacted　all　her　business；　and　as　far　as　dollars　and　cents　were　concerned；　he　had　certainly　been　a　faithful　servant。　Dr。　Flynch　was　a　prudent　and　discreet　man；　and　did　not　hurt　the　feelings　of　the　good　lady　who　employed　him　by　telling　her　about　the　difficulties　he　encountered　in　the　discharge　of　his　duty；　or　by　describing　the　harsh　and　even　cruel　means　to　which　he　was　sometimes　obliged　to　resort；　in　order　to　obtain　the　rent　of　poor　tenants。

〃Mrs。　Redburn；〃　said　Dr。　Flynch；　when　he　had　heard　the　exclamation　of　Katy；　〃you　have　told　me　a　falsehood。　You　said　you　had　no　money；　not　a　cent。　Where　did　you　get　that　roll；　child？〃

〃At　the　store　at　the　corner　of　the　court；〃　replied　Katy；　abashed　by　the　cold　dignity　of　the　agent。

〃Precisely　so；　Mrs。　Redburn；　but　you　do　not　buy　bread　without　money。　You　have　attempted　to　deceive　me。　I　have　pitied　you　up　to　the　present　time；　and　indulged　you　in　the　non…payment　of　your　rent　for　over　a　week　I　can　do　so　no　longer；　for　you　have　told　me　a　falsehood。〃

〃No；　sir；　I　have　not；〃　pleaded　the　sick　woman。

〃Your　child　buys　bread。〃

〃I　did　not　give　her　the　money。〃

〃Where　did　you　get　the　money　to　buy　that　roll　with？〃　demanded　Dr。　Flynch；　turning　sharply　to　Katy。

〃Tommy　Howard　gave　it　to　me。〃

〃Who　is　Tommy　Howard？〃

〃He　lives　on　the　other　side　of　the　court。〃

〃Very　probable　that　a　dirty；　ragged　boy　gave　her　the　money！　This　is　another　false…hood；　Mrs。　Redburn。　I　lament　that　a　person　in　your　situation　should　have　no　higher　views　of　Christian　morality　than　to　lie　yourself；　and　teach　your　child　to　lie；　which　is　much　worse。〃

The　poor　woman　burst　into　tears；　and　protested　that　she　had　told　the　truth；　and　nothing　but　the　truth；　declaring　that　Katy　was　a　good　girl；　that　she　had　eaten　nothing　that　day；　and　would　not　tell　a　lie。　Dr。　Flynch　was　a　man　of　method；　and　when　a　tenant　did　not　pay　the　rent；　it　was　his　purpose　to　get　rid　of　that　tenant　in　the　quietest　way　possible。　In　the　present　case　there　was　a　difficulty；　and　public　opinion　would　not　justify　him　in　turning　a　sick　woman　out　of　the　house；　but　if　she　lied；　had　money　concealed；　and　would　not　pay　her　rent；　it　would　alter　the　matter。　As　he　wished　to　believe　this　was　the　case；　he　had　no　difficulty　in　convincing　himself；　and　thus　quieting　his　poor　apology　for　a　conscience。

Besides　being　a　man　of　method；　Dr。　Flynch　was　a　man　of　upright　walk　and　conversation；　at　least；　he　passed　for　such　with　those　who　did　not　know　anything　about　him。　If　Mrs。　Gordon　should　happen　to　hear　that　he　had　turned　out　the　sick　woman；　he　could　then　inform　her　how　feelingly　he　had　pointed　out　to　her　the　wickedness　of　her　conduct；　which　he　thought　would　sound　exceedingly　well。

〃Mrs。　Redburn；〃　he　continued；　〃I　will　give　you　till　this　time　to…morrow　to　get　out　of　the　house；　if　you　are　not　gone　then；　I　shall　be　under　the　painful　necessity　of　removing　your　goods　into　the　street。　Good　morning；〃　and　Dr。　Flynch　turned　upon　his　heel；　and　walked　out　of　the　room。

〃My　poor　child！　what　will　become　of　us？〃　sobbed　the　sick　woman；　as　she　grasped　Katy's　hand；　and　pressed　it　to　her　bosom　with　convulsive　energy。

〃Don't　cry；　mother；　something　can　be　done。　I　will　go　and　see　Mrs。　Gordon；　and　beg　her　to　let　you　stay　here。〃

〃You　must　not　do　that；　Dr。　Flynch　told　me；　if　I　troubled　her　about　the　house；　I　should　not　stay　in　it　another　minute；　even　if　I　paid　the　rent。〃

〃He　is　a　bad　man；　mother；　and　I　don't　believe　Mrs。　Gordon　knows　what　he　does　here。〃

〃There　is　one　thing　more　we　can　do；　Katy；〃　continued　Mrs。　Redburn；　wiping　away　her　tears；　and　taking　from　under　her　pillow　a　heavy　silver　watch。　〃This　was　your　father's；　but　we　must　sell　it　now。　It　is　all　we　have　left。〃

〃I　should　hate　to　have　that　sold；　mother。〃

〃We　must　sell　it；　or　pawn　it。〃

〃We　will　pawn　it　then。〃

〃How　shall　we　do　it？　I　have　not　strength　to　rise；　and　they　will　cheat　you　if　you　offer　it。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　what　I　can　do；　mother；　I　will　get　Simon　Sneed　to　go　with　me　to　the　pawnbroker's　shop。　He　is　very　kind　to　me；　and　I　know　he　will。　He　comes　home　to　dinner　at　two　o…clock。〃

This　plan　was　agreed　to；　and　Katy　then　went　to　work　to　clean　and　cook　the　flounders。



CHAPTER　II。

THE　HISTORY　OF　THE　SILVER　WATCH。


Katy　Redburn　was　only　eleven　years　old；　and　not　a　very　accomplished　cook；　but　as　the　children　learn　faster　in　the　homes　of　the　poor　than　in　the　dwellings　of　the　rich；　she　had　a　very　tolerable　idea　of　the　management　of　a　frying…pan。　The　operation　of　cleaning　the　flounders　was　the　greatest　trial；　for　the　skin　of　the　fish　has　to　be　removed。　She　cut　her　fingers　with　the　knife；　and　scratched　and　pricked　her　hands　with　the　sharp　bones；　but　she　was　resolute；　and　finally　accomplished　the　task　to　her　entire　satisfaction。　An　occasional　direction　from　her　mother　enabled　her　to　cook　the　fish　properly；　and　dinner　was　ready。　There　were　still　a　few　small　stores　left　in　the　closet；　and　Katy　made　a　cup　of　tea　for　her　mother；　and　with　it　placed　the　delicate　little　flounder　by　the　side　of　the　bed。　The　invalid　had　no　appetite；　but　to　please　Katy　she　ate　a　portion　of　the　fish　and　bread　though　it　was　very　hard　work　for　her　to　do　so。　The　little　girl；　gladdened　by　this　unwonted　sight；　made　a　hearty　meal；　without　a　thought　of　the　trials　and　sorrows　which　the　future　might　have　in　store　for　them。

When　she　had　put　away　the　dishes；　and　placed　everything　in　order；　she　washed　herself；　combed　her　hair；　sewed　up　a　great　rent　in　her　dress；　and　otherwise　attempted　to　make　herself　as　tidy　as　possible　for　the　mission　she　was　about　to　undertake。

〃It　is　not　time　for　you　to　go　yet；　Katy；　and　before　the　watch　is　carried　off；　I　want　to　tell　you　something　about　your　father；　that　you　may　learn　to　prize　it　as　I　do。〃

Katy　seated　herself　on　the　side　of　the　bed；　for　she　was　very　anxious　to　hear　more　about　her　father　than　she　already　knew。　She　had　often　asked　her　mother　about　him；　but　she　had　generally　evaded　her　questions；　and　did　not　seem　willing　to　tell　her　all　she　knew。　She　thought　there　was　some　secret　connected　with　his　history；　and　with　a　child's　curiosity　she　was　eager　to　have　the　mystery　unfolded。　But　it　was　no　great　secret；　after　all　only　a　painful　history；　which　her　sensitive　mother　did　not　like　to　rehearse。　Mrs。　Redburn　handed　the　watch　to　Katy；　and　asked　her　to　look　upon　the　back　of　it。

〃Yes；　mother；　I　have　often　seen　those　words　on　there‘All　for　the　Best。'　What　do　they　mean？〃　said　Katy。

〃This　watch　was　given　to　your　father　by　my　father；〃　replied　Mrs。　Redburn；　with　a　deep　sigh；　for　the　words　seemed　to　recall　happy　memories　of　the　past。

〃Who　was　your　father？〃　asked　the　attentive　little　girl。

〃His　name　was　Matthew　Guthrie。　He　was　a　merchant　in　Liverpool；　England；　where　I　was　born。〃

〃A　merchant；　mother？　Then　he　was　a　rich　man；　and　lived　in　a　great　house；　and　had　plenty　of　servants。〃

〃He　was　rich；　and　lived　in　good　style。　One　day　there　came　a　young　man　in　great　distress　to　his　counting…room。　He　was　a　clerk；　and　had　been　sent　by　his　employer　in　Manchester　to　pay　a　large　sum　of　money　to　my　father。　After　leaving　the　train；　he　had　entered　an　ale…house；　where　he　had　been　robbed　of　the　remittance。　He　had　been　imprudent；　but　instead　of　running　away；　he　went　directly　to　my　father；　and　informed　him　of　his　misfortune。　The　young　man　felt　that　he　was　ruined；　but　he　said　he　was　determined　not　to　leave　Liverpool　till　he　had　found　the　money。　He　was　sure　he　knew　the　man　who　had　robbed　him；　and　my　father　procured　the　services　of　several　policemen　to　assist　him　in　his　search。　All　that　day　and　all　that　night；　attended　by　policemen；　he　visited　the　resorts　of　vice　and　crime；　and　his　perseverance　was　rewarded　with　success。　He　found　the　man；　and　the　money　was　recovered。　My　father　was　so　well　pleased　with　the　energy　of　the　young　man；　that　he　gave　him　a　situation　in　his　counting　room。　That　young　man　was　John　Redburn；　your　father。　My　father　gave　him　a　much　larger　salary　than　he　had　been　receiving　before；　so　that　his　misfortune　in　losing　the　money　proved　to　be　a　piece　of　good　fortune　to　him；　for　it　procured　him　a　much　better　situation。　The　new　clerk　performed　his　duties　very　faithfully；　and　at　the　end　of　a　year　my　father　presented　him　this　watch；　with　the　motto；　‘All　for　the　Best；'　in　allusion　to　the　manner　in　which　he　had　obtained　his　situation。〃

〃But　how　came　you　here；　mother；　if　your　father　was　rich；　and　lived　in　a　fine　house？　You　are　very　poor　now；〃　asked　Katy；　who　feared　that　the　mystery　was　yet　to　come。

Mrs。　Redburn　burst　into　tears；　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　as　the　pleasant　memories　of　her　former　happy　home　rushed　through　her　mind。

〃Don't　cry；　mother；　I　won't　ask　you　any　more　questions；〃　said　Katy；　grieved　to　find　she　had　reminded　her　mother　of　some　unpleasant　thing。

〃It　was　all　my　own　fault；　Katy。　I　am　here　poor　and　wretched；　because　I　disobeyed　my　father；　because　I　did　what　he　desired　me　not　to　do。　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it；　Katy。　I　became　acquainted　with　the　new　clerk；　John　Redburn；　and　the　result　of　our　acquaintance　was；　that　we　were　married　in　about　a　year。　We　ran　away　from　home；　for　my　father；　however　much　he　liked　John　as　a　clerk；　was　not　willing　that　he　should　be　my　husband。　He　forbade　John's　coming　to　our　house；　and　forbade　my　seeing　him。　I　disobeyed　him。　We　were　married；　and　John　was　discharged。　My　father　refused　to　see　me　again。〃

〃That　was　cruel；〃　interposed　Katy

〃My　father　was　right；　and　I　have　always　regretted　that　I　disobeyed　him。　We　came　to　America；　and　your　father　procured　a　situation　in　New　York；　where　you　were　born；　about　a　year　after　we　arrived。　For　three　years　we　got　along　very　well。　I　wish　I　could　stop　here；　Katy；　for　the　rest　of　the　story　is　very　sad。〃

〃Don't　tell　me　any　more；　mother；　it　makes　you　feel　so　bad；　I　would　rather　not　hear　it。　I　know　now　why　you　value　the　watch　so　much；　and　I　hope　we　shall　be　able　to　get　it　back　again。〃

〃I　fear　not。　But　you　must　hear　the　rest　of　this　sad　story。〃

Mrs。　Redburn　continued　the　narrative；　though　tears　blinded　her　eyes；　and　sobs　chocked　her　utterance；　as　she　told　of　the　struggle　she　had　had　with　poverty　and　want。　Her　husband　had　done　very　well　in　New　York；　and；　gay　and　light…hearted　in　the　midst　of　his　prosperity；　his　habits　had　been　gradually　growing　worse　and　worse；　till　he　lost　his　situation；　and　became　a　common　sot。　The　poor　wife　had　then　been　compelled　to　toil　for　her　own　support　and　that　of　her　child；　and　having　been　brought　up　in　luxury　and　ease；　it　was　a　dreadful　task　to　her。

John　obtained　another　situation；　but　soon　lost　it。　He　was　a　good…hearted　man　when　he　had　not　been　drinking；　and　keenly　felt　the　disgrace　and　misery　he　was　heaping　upon　himself　and　his　unhappy　wife。　Once　he　had　the　resolution　to　abandon　the　cup；　fully　determined　to　redeem　his　lost　character；　and　make　his　family　happy　again。　The　better　to　accomplish　this；　he　removed　to　Boston；　where　he　obtained　a　good　situation；　and　for　more　than　a　year　he　adhered　to　his　resolution。　Mrs。　Redburn　was　happy　again　and　tremblingly　hoped　that　the　cl