poor and proud-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃But　mother；　we　can't　be　poor　and　proud。　We　haven't　got　any　money　to　proud　with。〃

〃I　am　proud；　I　know；　I　wish　I　could　banish　it；〃　replied　Mrs。　Redburn；　with　a　deep　sigh。

〃Let　me　try　the　plan；　mother；　and　if　I　can't　get　along　with　it；　I　will　give　it　up。〃

〃It　will　subject　you　to　a　great　many　trials　and　temptations。〃

〃I　can　manage　them；　mother。〃

〃Can　you　submit　to　the　insults　of　evil…minded　persons？〃

〃Yes；　mother；　no　decent　person　would　insult　me　and　I　don't　care　for　others。　I　can　pity　them；　and　run　away　from　them。　I　am　not　afraid　of　anything。　Do　let　me　try。〃

Mrs。　Redburn　saw　that　Katy　was　too　earnest　to　be　thwarted；　that；　impelled　by　a　noble　purpose；　she　had　set　her　heart　upon　making　the　attempt；　and　she　did　not　like　to　disappoint　her。　It　is　true；　she　keenly　felt　the　degradation　of　such　a　life；　and　even　feared　that　Katy　might　be　led　astray　while　pursuing　such　an　occupation；　but　she　gave　a　reluctant　consent；　trusting　that　one　or　two　experiments　would　disgust　her　with　the　business。

Katy　clapped　her　hands　with　joy　as　her　mother's　scruples　gave　way；　and　she　found　herself　at　liberty　to　carry　her　plan　into　execution。　It　seemed　to　her　as　though　she　had　crossed　the　threshold　of　fortune　and　had　actually　entered　the　great　temple。　She　had　an　opportunity　to　accomplish　a　great　work；　and　her　enthusiasm　would　not　permit　her　to　doubt　in　regard　to　her　final　success。

〃I　must　begin　now；　mother；　and　make　all　the　candy　this　afternoon；　so　that　I　can　commence　selling　it　early　to…morrow　morning。　I　will　go　to　the　grocery　now　and　get　the　molasses。〃

〃Poor　child；　you　have　nothing　to　get　it　with。　We　have　no　money；　you　did　not　think　of　that。〃

〃Yes；　I　did；　and　I　have　the　money　to　buy　the　molasses。　I　borrowed　it；〃　replied　Katy；　evincing　some　confusion。

〃You　borrowed　it？　Pray　who　would　lend　you　money？〃

〃Miss　Grace　Gordon。〃

〃Did　you　borrow　it；　Katy？〃　asked　Mrs。　Redburn；　casting　a　reproachful　glance　at　her。

〃Yes；　mother；　I　did。　I　would　not　accept　money　now；　after　what　you　have　said　to　me。　Miss　Grace　wanted　to　give　it　to　me；　but　I　told　her　I　could　not　take　it。　She　laughed　at　me；　and　I　said　I　was　poor　and　proud。　She　would　make　me　take　it；　and　said　so　much；　that；　at　last；　I　told　her　if　she　would　lend　it　to　me；　I　would　take　it。〃

〃It　was　the　same　as　a　gift；〃　said　Mrs。　Redburn；　blushing　with　shame　at　the　thought　of　accepting　alms。

〃No；　it　wasn't；　she　may　think　it　was；　but　I　mean　to　pay　her；　and　I　shall　pay　her；　I　know　I　shall。〃

〃If　you　can；〃　sighed　the　proud　mother。

〃I　shall　be　able　to　pay　her　soon；　for　I　mean　to　sell　lots　of　candy。〃

〃You　may　be　disappointed。〃

〃No：　I　am　sure　I　shall　sell　a　good　deal；　I　mean　to　make　people　buy。　I　shall　talk　up　smart　to　them　just　as　the　shopkeepers　do；　I　am　going　to　tell　them　what　candy　it　is；　and　that　their　little　sons　and　daughters　will　like　it　very　much。〃

〃You　are　beside　yourself；　Katy。　It　pains　me　to　hear　you　talk　so。　It　is　sad　to　think　a　child　of　mine　should　relish　such　an　employment　as　that　in　which　you　are　going　to　engage。〃

〃Do　you　remember　the　book　my　Sunday…school　teacher　gave　me　last　New　Year's　day；　mother？　It　was　all　about　false　pride；　I　want　you　to　read　it；　mother。　We　can't　afford　to　be　so　proud。〃

〃Go　and　get　your　molasses。　Katy；〃　replied　Mrs。　Redburn；　who　could　not　but　acknowledge　the　truth　of　her　daughter's　remarks。

She　had　read　the　book　alluded　to；　and　was　not　willing　to　confront　the　arguments　it　had　put　in　the　mouth　of　her　child。　She　was　conscious　that　her　pride；　which　made　a　humble　occupation　repulsive　to　her；　was　a　false　pride。　If　it　could　have　been　carried　on　in　private；　it　would　not　have　seemed　so　galling。　For　years　she　had　been　a　recluse　from　society；　mingling　only　with　her　humble　neighbors；　and　with　them　no　more　than　her　circumstances　required。　She　had　labored　in　solitude；　and　shunned　observation　as　much　as　possible；　by　carrying　her　work　back　and　forth　in　the　evening。　Years　of　hard　toil　had　not　familiarized　her　with　the　circumstances　of　her　lot。　She　tried　to　be　humble　and　submissive；　but　the　memory　of　her　early　days　could　not　be　driven　away。

Katy　returned　in　a　few　minutes　with　the　jug　of　molasses。　She　bustled　round　and　made　up　a　good　fire；　got　the　kettle　on；　and　everything　in　readiness　for　the　work。　Her　mother　gave　her　directions　how　to　proceed；　but　Katy　could　impart　to　her　none　of　her　own　enthusiasm。

When　the　molasses　had　been　cooked　enough；　she　was　ready　to　commence　the　pulling；　which　was　the　most　difficult　part　in　the　manufacture　of　her　merchandise。　Then　she　found　that　her　trials　had　indeed　commenced。　At　first　the　sticky　mass；　in　spite　of　the　butter　and　the　flour　with　which　she　had　plentifully　daubed　her　hands；　was　as　obstinate　as　a　mule。　It　would　not　work　one　way　or　another；　now　it　melted　down；　and　stuck　to　her　fingers；　and　then　it　became　as　solid　as　a　rock。　She　fretted　some　at　these　crosses；　and　as　her　spirits　sank；　her　mother's　rose；　for　she　thought　Katy's　resolution　would　not　hold　out　long　enough　for　her　to　complete　the　experiment。　But　she　underrated　the　energy　of　the　devoted　girl；　who；　in　the　face　of　every　discouragement；　stuck　to　the　candy　with　as　much　zeal　as　the　candy　stuck　to　her。

As　is　almost　always　the　case　with　those　who　persevere　to　the　end；　Katy　soon　won　a　partial　triumph；　which　gladdened　her　heart；　and　gave　her　courage　to　continue　her　trying　labors。　She　had　worked　a　portion　of　the　mass　into　candyclear；　light…colored；　inviting　candy。　Columbus　felt　no　prouder　of　his　achievement　when　he　had　crossed　the　Atlantic；　or；　Napoleon　when　he　had　crossed　the　Alps。　She　danced　for　joy　as　she　gazed　upon　the　clear；　straight　sticks　of　candy；　as　they　were　arranged　in　the　pan。　It　was　a　great　conquest　for　her；　but　at　what　a　sacrifice　it　had　been　won！　Her　little　hands；　unused　to　such　hard　work；　were　blistered　in　a　dozen　places；　and　smarted　as　though　they　had　been　scalded　with　boiling　water。　She　showed　them　to　her　mother；　who　begged　her　not　to　do　any　more；　but　she　had　too　much　enthusiasm　to　be　deterred　by　the　smart　of　her　wounds；　and　resolutely　resumed　her　labor。

She　had　scarcely　commenced　upon　the　　second　mass　before　she　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　Mrs。　Howard；　her　friend　Tommy's　mother。

〃Why；　what　are　you　doing；　child？〃　asked　the　good　woman。　〃I　thought　you　were　all　sick；　and　here　you　are　making　candy；　as　merry　as　on　a　feast　day。〃

〃I　am　making　it　to　sell；　Mrs。　Howard；〃　replied　Katy；　proudly。

〃Bless　me！　but　you're　a　queer　child！　Do　you　think　folks　will　buy　it　of　you？〃

〃I　know　they　will；〃　and　Katy　detailed　her　plan　to　the　interested　neighbor；　declaring　she　was　sure　she　could　support　her　mother　and　herself　by　making　and　selling　candy。　〃But　it　is　very　hard　work；〃　she　added；　〃see　how　I've　blistered　my　hands。〃

〃Poor　child！　it's　enough　to　kill　you！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Howard；　as　she　glanced　at　the　great　blisters　on　Katy's　hands。

〃I　have　been　trying　to　make　her　give　up　the　idea；　but　she　has　more　courage　than　I　ever　gave　her　credit　for；〃　remarked　Mrs。　Redburn。

〃It's　a　shame　for　you　to　hurt　your　hands　in　this　manner；　but　I　dare　say　that　they　will　soon　get　hard；　like　mine；　with　the　labor；〃　replied　Mrs。　Howard；　as　she　threw　off　her　hood　and　rolled　up　her　sleeves。　〃Here；　child；　let　me　help　you。〃

〃You　are　very　kind；　ma'am；　and　I　hope　I　shall　be　able　to　do　something　for　you　some　time。〃

〃Never　you　mind　that；　you　are　a　nice　girl；　and　it　does　my　heart　good　to　see　you　trying　to　help　your　mother；〃　added　the　kind　woman；　as　she　detached　a　large　mass　of　candy；　and　commenced　pulling　it　with　a　vigor　that　astonished　the　weak…handed　little　girl。　〃You're　a　jewel　and　a　blessing；　and　you're　worth　a　dozen　of　the　fine　ladies　that　are　too　proud　to　lift　a　finger　to　keep　their　bodies　from　starving。　Ah；　it's　a　dreadful　misfortune　to　be　proud。〃

〃To　be　poor　and　proud；〃　said　Mrs。　Redburn。

〃You　are　right；　ma'am；　and　I　am　glad　to　see　you　have　none　of　it　here；　for　some　of　your　neighbors　used　to　say　you　were　too　proud　to　speak　to　them。〃

Mrs。　Redburn　made　no　reply；　and　permitted　her　kind　neighbor；　whose　tongue　scarcely　ceased　to　swing　for　a　moment；　to　continue　her　remarks　without　opposition。　She　and　Katy　worked　with　all　their　might　till　the　candy　was　ready　for　market；　and　when　the　poor　invalid　poured　out　her　thanks；　she　ran　off　and　left　them。

The　exultation　with　which　Katy　regarded　her　plentiful　stock　of　merchandise　almost　caused　her　to　forget　her　smarting　hands；　and　when　she　could　no　longer　keep　her　eyes　open；　she　went　to　sleep　to　dream　of　great　operations　in　molasses　candy　on　change　next　day。



CHAPTER　VII。

KATY　MAKES　A　LARGE　SALE。


Katy　rose　the　next　morning　bright　and　early；　and　her　heart　was　full　of　hope。　She　felt　that　she　had　a　great　work　to　perform；　and　she　was　going　forth　to　do　it；　resolved　that　no　obstacle　should　turn　her　back。　Her　mother　had　told　her　that　she　would　be　laughed　at；　and　made　fun　of；　that　thoughtless　people　would　look　down　upon　her　with　contempt；　and　that　wicked　ones　would　insult　her。　She　was；　therefore；　prepared　for　all　these　trials；　but　she　had　braced　herself　up　to　meet　them　with　courage　and　fortitude。

Her　mother　was　sick；　and　they　were　actually　in　a　suffering　condition。　What　right　had　she　to　be　proud　in　her　poverty？　She　felt　able　to　support　her　mother；　and　she　could　find　no　excuse；　if　she　wished　to　do　so；　for　not　supporting　her。　It　was　her　duty；　therefore；　to　sell　candy　if　she　could　get　money　by　it；　and　thus　consideration　strengthened　her　heart。

Katy　had　been　to　the　public　school　and　to　the　Sunday　school　until　her　mother　was　taken　sick；　and　though　she　was　only　eleven　years　old；　she　had　a　very　good　idea　of　her　moral　and　religious　duties。　〃Honor　thy　father　and　thy　mother；〃　the　commandment　says；　and　she　could　think　of　no　better　way　to　obey　the　divine　precept　than　to　support　her　mother　when　there　was　no　one　else　upon　whom　she　could　rely。　Little　by　little　their　earthly　possessions　had　passed　away。　Mrs。　Redburn　had　never　learned　how　to　save　money；　and　when　the　day　of　adversity　came；　her　funds　were　soon　exhausted。　She　had　no　friends　to　whom　she　dared　reveal　her　poverty；　and　when　want　came　to　the　door；　she　was　too　proud　to　beg。　Hoping　for　better　days；　she　had　sold　most　of　her　best　dresses；　and　those　of　Katy。　The　small　sums　raised　by　these　sacrifices　were　soon　used　up；　and　when　the　daughter　could　no　longer　make　a　decent　appearance；　she　was　required　to　show　herself　much　more　than　ever　before。　Katy　did　not　repine　at　this；　though　her　mother　did；　for　their　pride；　as　my　young　friends　have　discovered；　was　of　very　different　kinds。

Katy　did　wish　she　had　a　little　better　dress；　and　a　little　better　bonnet　for　her　first　attempt　in　the　mercantile　calling；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。　She　had　mended　her　clothes　as　well　as　she　could；　and　as　they　were　clean；　she　was　pretty　well　satisfied　with　her　personal　appearance。　Besides；　people　would　not　be　half　so　apt　to　buy　her　candy　if　she　were　well　dressed；　as　if　she　were　rather　plainly　clothed。　In　short；　it　was　all　for　the　best。

After　breakfast　she　prepared　herself　for　the　duties　of　the　day。　Her　heart　beat　violently　with　anxiety　and　expectation；　and　while　she　was　placing　the　candy　on　the　tray；　which　she　had　previously　covered　with　white　paper。　to　render　her　wares　the　more　inviting；　her　mother　gave　her　a　long　lecture　on　the　trials　and　difficulties　in　her　path；　and　the　proper　way　to　enco