poor and proud-第8章

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in　her　path；　and　the　proper　way　to　encounter　them。

〃Now；　my　dear　child；〃　said　Mrs。　Redburn；　in　conclusion　〃if　any　evil　person　insults　you；　do　not　resent　it；　but　run　away　as　fast　as　you　can。〃

〃Shan't　I　say　anything；　mother？〃

〃Not　a　word。〃

〃But　if　some　naughty　boy　or　girl；　no　bigger　than　I　am　myself；　should　be　saucy　to　me；　I　think　I　can　give　them　as　good　as　they　send。〃

〃Don't　do　it；　Katy。〃

〃They　have　no　business　to　insult　me。〃

〃That　is　very　true；　but　when　you　use　bad　or　violent　language　to　them；　you　go　down　to　their　level。〃

〃But　if　they　begin　it？〃

〃No　matter；　Katy；　if　they　are　unkind　and　wicked；　it　is　no　reason　that　you　should　be　unkind　and　wicked。　If　you　leave　them　without　resenting　their　insults；　the　chances　are　that　they　will　be　ashamed　of　themselves　before　you　get　out　of　sight。　You　need　not　be　low　and　vile　because　others　are。〃

〃I　guess　you　are　right；　mother。〃

〃You　know　what　the　Bible　says：　‘If　thine　enemy　hunger；　feed　him；　if　he　thirst；　give　him　drink；　for　in　so　doing　thou　shalt　heap　coals　of　fire　on　his　head。'　〃

〃I　won't　say　a　word；　mother；　whatever　they　say　to　me。　I'll　be　as　meek　as　Moses。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　not　be　gone　long；〃　added　Mrs。　Redburn。

〃I　have　thirty　sticks　of　candy　here。　I　don't　think　it　will　take　me　long　to　sell　the　whole　of　them。　I　shall　be　back　by　dinner　time　whether　I　sell　them　or　not　for　you　know　I　must　go　to　Mrs。　Gordon　again　to…day。　Now；　good…by；　mother；　and　don't　you　worry　about　me；　for　I　will　do　everything　just　as　though　you　were　looking　at　me。〃

Katy　closed　the　door　behind　her；　and　did　not　see　the　great　tears　that　slid　down　her　mother's　pale　cheek　as　she　departed。　It　was　well　she　did　not；　for　it　would　have　made　her　heart　very　sad　to　know　all　the　sorrow　and　anxiety　that　distressed　her　mother　as　she　saw　her　going　out　into　the　crowded　streets　of　a　great　city；　to　expose　herself　to　a　thousand　temptations。　She　wept　long　and　bitterly　in　the　solitude　of　her　chamber；　and　perhaps　her　wounded　pride　caused　many　of　her　tears　to　flow。　But　better　thoughts　came　at　last；　and　she　took　up　the　Bible　which　lay　on　the　bed；　and　read　a　few　passages。　Then　she　prayed　to　God　that　he　would　be　with　Katy　in　the　midst　of　the　crowd；　and　guide　her　safely　through　the　perils　and　temptations　that　would　assail　her。　She　tried　to　banish　her　foolish　pride；　when　she　considered　her　circumstances；　she　could　almost　believe　it　was　a　wicked　pride；　but　when　she　endeavored　to　be　reconciled　to　her　lot；　the　thought　of　her　father's　fine　house；　and　the　servants　that　used　to　wait　upon　her；　came　up；　and　the　struggle　in　her　heart　was　very　severe。　In　spite　of　all　she　had　said　to　Katy　about　the　disgrace　of　selling　candy　in　the　streets；　she　could　not　but　be　thankful　that　the　poor　girl　had　none　of　her　foolish　pride。　She　read　in　the　New　Testament　about　the　lowly　life　which　Jesus　and　the　apostles　led；　and　then　asked　herself　what　right　she　had　to　be　proud。　And　thus　she　struggled　through　the　long　hours　she　remained　alonetrying　to　be　humble；　trying　to　be　good　and　true。　Those　who　labor　and　struggle　as　hard　as　she　did　are　always　the　better　for　it；　even　though　they　do　not　achieve　a　perfect　triumph　over　the　passions　that　torment　them。

Katy　blushed　when　she　met　the　keeper　of　the　grocery　at　the　corner　of　the　court；　for　in　spite　of　all　her　fine　talk　about　false　pride；　she　had　not　entirely　banished　it　from　her　heart。　Some　queer　ideas　came　into　her　head　as　she　thought　what　she　was　doing。　What　would　her　grandfather；　the　rich　Liverpool　merchant；　say；　should　he　meet　her　then？　Of　course　he　would　not　know　her；　he　would　be　ashamed　of　her。　But　she　did　not　permit　such　reflections　as　these　to　influence　her；　and　as　soon　as　she　was　conscious　of　the　nature　of　her　thoughts　she　banished　them。

〃I'm　going　to　support　my　mother；　and　I　have　no　right　to　be　proud。　If　I　meet　my　grandfather；　I　should　like　to　sell　him　twenty　sticks　of　candy。〃

〃Hallo；　Katy！　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　said　a　voice　behind；　which　she　recognized　as　that　of　her　friend　Tommy　Howard。

〃I'm　going　to　sell　this　candy；〃　replied　Katy。

〃You're　a　spunky　one；　mother　told　me　all　about　it。　I　should　like　two　sticks；〃　said　Tommy；　as　he　offered　her　the　money。

〃Take　two；　Tommy；　and　as　many　more　as　you　like。〃

〃Two　is　all　I　want；〃　and　he　placed　the　two　cents　on　the　tray。

〃No；　Tommy；　I　won't　take　your　money；〃　replied　Katy；　with　a　blush；　for　she　felt　ashamed　to　take　his　money。

〃That's　no　way　to　trade；〃　laughed　Tommy。　〃You　won't　make　much；　it　you　do　so。　Keep　the　money　and　I　will　keep　the　candy。〃

〃I　can't　keep　it；　Tommy。〃

〃You　must；　if　you　don't　take　the　money；　I　won't　take　the　candy。〃

〃I　owe　you　two　cents；　Tommy。　I　will　pay　you　now。〃

〃No；　you　don't！〃

〃Please　to　take　them；　I　shall　feel　very　bad；　if　you　don't。〃

Tommy　Howard　looked　her　in　the　eye　a　moment；　he　saw　a　tear　there。　Her　pride　was　wounded；　and　he　took　the　two　cents　from　the　tray；　for　he　did　not　wish　to　give　her　pain。

〃Now；　we　are　square；　Tommy；〃　said　Katy；　as　her　face　brightened　up　again。

〃Yes；　we　are；　but　I　don't　like　it　pretty　well。　One　of　these　days；　when　you　get　out　of　this　scrape；　I　will　let　you　give　me　as　much　candy　as　you　have　a　mind　to。〃

This　was　very　obliging　of　Tommy；　and　when　Katy　understood　his　motive；　she　was　sorry　she　had　not　permitted　him　to　pay　for　the　candy；　for　she　saw　that　he　did　not　feel　just　right　about　the　transaction。　It　was　not　exactly　mercantile；　but　then　the　heart　comes　before　commerce。　As　she　walked　along；　she　could　not　help　thinking　that　her　natural　generosity　might　seriously　interfere　with　the　profits　of　her　enterprise。　She　had　a　great　many　friends；　and　it　became　a　knotty　question　for　her　to　decide　whether；　if　she　met　any　of　her　school　companions；　she　should　give　each　of　them　a　stick　of　candy。　She　would　like　to　do　so　very　much　indeed；　but　it　was　certain　she　could　not　afford　to　pursue　such　a　liberal　policy。　It　was　a　hard　question；　and；　hoping　she　should　not　meet　any　of　her　schoolmates；　she　determined　to　refer　it　to　her　mother　for　settlement。

When　she　got　into　Washington　Street；　she　felt　that　the　time　for　action　had　come。　Now　was　the　time　to　sell　candy；　and　yet　she　did　not　feel　like　asking　folks　to　buy　her　wares。　The　night　before；　as　she　lay　thinking　about　her　business；　it　had　all　seemed　very　easy　to　her；　but　now　it　was　quite　a　different　thing。　No　one　seemed　to　take　any　notice　of　her；　or　to　feel　the　least　interest　in　the　great　mission　she　had　undertaken。　But　Katy　was　aware　that　it　requires　some　effort　in　these　days　to　sell　goods；　and　she　must　work；　she　must　ask　people　to　buy　her　candy。

There　was　a　nice…looking　gentleman；　with　a　good…natured　face；　coming　down　the　street；　and　she　resolved　to　make　a　beginning　with　him。　He　couldn't　say　much　more　than　no　to　her；　and　she　placed　herself　in　a　position　to　accost　him。　But　when　he　came　near　enough；　her　courage　all　oozed　out；　and　she　let　him　pass　without　speaking　to　him。

〃What　a　fool　I　am！〃　exclaimed　she　to　herself　when　he　had　passed。　〃I　shall　never　do　anything　in　this　way。　There　comes　another　gentleman　who　looks　as　though　he　had　a　sweet　tooth；　at　any　rate；　he　seems　as　good…natured　as　a　pound　of　sugar。　I　will　certainly　try　him。〃

Her　heart　pounded　against　her　ribs　as　though　it　had　been　worked　by　a　forty…horse　enginepoor　girl。　It　was　a　great　undertaking　to　her；　quite　as　great　as　taking　a　six…story　granite　warehouse；　piling　it　full　of　merchandise　from　cellar　to　attic；　and　announcing　himself　as　ready　for　business；　to　a　child　of　a　larger　growth。　Everything　seemed　to　hang　on　the　issues　of　that　tremendous　moment。

〃Buy　some　candy？〃　said　she；　in　tremulous　tones；　her　great；　swelling　heart　almost　choking　her　utterance。

〃No；　child。　I　don't　want　any；〃　replied　the　gentleman；　kindly；　as　he　glanced　at　the　tray　on　which　the　candy　had　been　so　invitingly　spread。

〃It　is　very　nice；〃　stammered　Katy；　〃and　perhaps　your　children　at　home　would　like　some；　if　you　do　not。〃

Bravo；　Katy！　That　was　very　well　done；　though　the　gentleman　was　an　old　bachelor；　and　could　not　appreciate　the　full　force　of　your　argument。

〃Are　you　sure　it　is　very　nice？〃　asked　the　gentleman；　with　a　benevolent　smile；　when　he　had　laughed　heartily　at　Katy's　jumping　conclusion。

〃I　know　it　is；〃　replied　the　little　candy　merchant；　very　positively。

〃Then　you　may　give　me　six　sticks；〃　and　he　threw　a　fourpence　on　her　tray。

Six　sticks！　Katy　was　astonished　at　the　magnitude　of　her　first　commercial　transaction。　Visions　of　wealth；　a　fine　house；　and　silk　dresses　for　her　mother　and　herself；　danced　through　her　excited　brain；　and　she　thought　that　her　grandfather；　the　great　Liverpool　merchant；　would　not　have　been　ashamed　of　her　if　he　had　been　present　to　witness　that　magnificent　operation。

〃Have　you　any　paper　to　wrap　it　up　in？〃　asked　the　gentleman。

Here　was　an　emergency　for　which　Katy　had　not　provided。　Her　grandest　expectations　had　not　extended　beyond　the　sale　of　one　stick　at　a　time；　and　she　was　not　prepared　for　such　a　rush　of　trade。　However；　she　tore　off　a　piece　from　one　of　the　white　sheets　at　the　bottom　of　the　tray；　wrapped　up　the　six　sticks　as　nicely　as　she　could；　and　handed　them　to　the　gentleman；　who　then　left　her　to　find　another　customer。

Katy；　elated　by　her　first　success；　ran　home　as　fast　as　she　could　to　procure　some　more　white　paper；　of　which　she　had　a　dozen　sheets　that　had　been　given　her　by　a　friend。　It　was　in　the　back　room；　so　that　she　did　not　disturb　her　mother；　choosing　to　astonish　her　with　the　whole　story　of　her　success　at　noon。



CHAPTER　VIII。

KATY　SELLS　OUT　AND　VISITS　THE　MAYOR。


Katy　reached　Washington　Street　once　more。　She　had　lost　all　her　timidity；　and　would　not　have　feared　to　accost　the　governor；　if　she　had　met　him；　and　request　him　to　purchase　a　cent's　worth　of　molasses　candy。

〃Buy　some　candy？〃　said　she　to　the　first　person　who　passed　near　her。

〃No！〃　was　the　prompt　and　emphatic　answer　of　the　gentleman　addressed。

〃It　is　very　nice；〃　suggested　Katy。

〃Get　out　of　my　may；〃　growled　the　gentleman；　and　the　little　candy　merchant　deemed　it　prudent　to　heed　the　command。

She　was　nettled　by　this　rude　reception；　and　would　have　been　disposed　to　resent　it；　if　there　had　been　any　way　for　her　to　do　so。　She　had　not　yet　learned　to　bear　up　against　the　misfortunes　of　trade；　and　her　eye　followed　the　sour　gentleman　far　down　the　street。　Why　should　he　treat　her　in　such　a　rude　and　unkind　manner？　What　would　he　say　if　she　should　tell　him　that　her　grandfather　was　a　great　Liverpool　merchant；　lived　in　a　big　house；　and　had　lots　of　servants　to　wait　upon　him？　She　was　as　good　as　he　was；　any　day。

〃Give　me　a　stick　of　candy；〃　said　a　nice　little　girl　with　a　silk　dress　on；　whom　a　lady　was　holding　by　the　hand；　at　the　same　time　placing　a　cent　on　her　tray。

Katy　started　at　the　words；　and　reproved　herself　for　her　want　of　meekness。　She　might；　perhaps；　have　sold　half　a　dozen　sticks　of　candy　while　she　had　been　watching　the　sour　gentleman；　and　persuading　herself　that　she　had　been　very　badly　used。　She　tore　off　a　piece　of　paper；　in　which　she　wrapped　up　the　candy　for　the　purchaser；　and　handed　it　to　her。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　she；　as　she　picked　up　the　copper；　and　transferred　it　to　her　pocket。

〃Your　candy　looks　very　nice；〃　added　the　lady　evidently　pleased　with　Katy's　polite　manners。

〃It　is　very　nice；　ma'am。〃

〃Have　you　sold　much　to…day？〃

〃No；　ma'am；　I　have　but　just　come　out。〃