poor and proud-第9章

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〃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。〃

〃It　looks　so　good；　I　will　take　half　a　dozen　sticks　for　the　children　at　home。〃

〃Thank　you；　ma'am；　you　are　very　kind；〃　replied　Katy；　and　her　nimble　fingers　had　soon　made　a　nice　little　parcel　for　the　lady；　who　gave　her　a　fourpence。

Here　was　another　avalanche　of　good　fortune；　and　the　little　candy　merchant　could　hardly　believe　her　senses。　At　this　rate　she　would　soon　become　a　wholesale　dealer　in　the　article。

〃Buy　some　candy？〃　said　she；　addressing　the　next　person　she　met。

〃No。〃

〃Buy　some　candy？〃　she　continued；　turning　to　the　next。

〃No。〃

And　so　she　went　from　one　to　another；　and　no　one　seemed　to　have　the　least　relish　for　molasses　candy。　She　walked　till　she　came　to　State　Street；　and　sold　only　three　sticks。　She　begun　to　be　a　little　disheartened；　for　the　success　she　had　met　with　at　the　beginning　had　raised　her　anticipations　so　high　that　she　was　not　disposed　to　be　content　with　moderate　sales。　While　she　was　standing　at　the　corner　of　State　Street；　waiting　impatiently　for　customers；　she　saw　a　man　with　a　basket　of　apples　enter　a　store。　She　crossed　the　street　to　observe　what　he　did　in　the　store；　in　order；　if　possible；　to　get　an　idea　of　his　mode　of　doing　business。　She　saw　him　offer　his　apples　to　the　clerks　and　others　in　the　shop；　and　she　was　surprised　and　gratified　to　see　that　nearly　every　person　purchased　one　or　more　of　them。　In　her　heart　she　thanked　the　apple　man　for　the　hint　he　had　unconsciously　afforded　her；　and　resolved　to　profit　by　his　example。

Now　that　commerce　was　her　business；　she　was　disposed　to　make　it　her　study；　and　as　she　reasoned　over　the　matter；　she　came　to　understand　why　she　found　so　few　buyers　in　the　streets。　Ladies　and　gentlemen　did　not　like　to　be　seen　eating　candy　in　the　street；　neither　would　many　of　them　want　to　put　it　into　their　pockets；　where　it　would　melt　and　stick　to　their　clothes。　They　would　eat　it　in　their　shops　and　houses；　and　with　this　new　idea　she　was　encouraged　to　make　a　new　effort。　Walking　along　till　she　came　to　a　store　where　there　appeared　to　be　several　clerks　she　entered。

〃Buy　some　candy？〃　she　said；　addressing　a　salesman　near　the　window；　as　she　raised　up　her　ware　so　that　he　could　see　them。

The　clerk　made　no　reply；　but　coming　round　from　behind　the　counter；　he　rudely　took　her　arm；　opened　the　door；　and　pushed　her　into　the　street。　Katy's　cheek　burned　with　indignation　at　this　unprovoked　assault；　and　she　wished　for　the　power　of　ten　men；　that　she　might　punish　the　ill…natured　fellow　as　he　deserved。　But　it　was　all　for　the　best；　for；　in　pushing　her　out　of　the　shop；　the　clerk　threw　her　against　a　portly　gentleman　on　the　street；　whose　soft；　yielding　form　alone　saved　her　from　being　tumbled　into　the　gutter。　He　showed　no　disposition　to　resent　the　assault　upon　his　obesity；　and　kindly　caught　her　in　his　arms。

〃What　is　the　matter　my　dear？〃　said　the　gentleman；　in　soothing　tones。

〃That　man　pushed　me　out　of　the　store；〃　replied　Katy；　bursting　into　tears；　for　she　was　completely　overcome　by　the　indignity　that　had　been　cast　upon　her。

〃Perhaps　you　didn't　behave　well。〃

〃I　am　sure　I　did。　I　only　asked　him　to　buy　some　candy：　and　he　shoved　me　right　out　the　door；　just　as　though　I　had　been　a　dog。〃

〃Well；　well；　don't　cry；　my　dear；　you　seem　to　be　a　very　well…behaved　little　girl；　and　I　wonder　at　finding　you　in　such　low　business。〃

〃My　mother　is　sick；　and　I　am　trying　to　earn　　something　to　support　her；〃　sobbed　Katy；　who；　with　her　independent　notions　of　trade　in　general；　and　of　the　candy　trade　in　particular；　would　not　have　revealed　this　humiliating　truth；　except　under　the　severe　pressure　of　a　wounded　spirit。

〃Poor　child！〃　exclaimed　the　portly　gentleman；　thrusting　his　hand　deep　down　into　his　pocket；　and　pulling　up　a　handful　of　silver。　〃Here　is　half　a　dollar　for　you；　for　I　know　you　tell　the　truth。〃

〃O；　no；　sir；　I　can't　take　money　as　a　gift。〃

〃Eh？〃

The　gentleman　looked　astonished；　and　attempted　to　persuade　her；　but　she　steadily　protested　against　receiving　his　money　as　a　gift。

〃You　are　a　proud　little　girl；　my　dear。〃

〃I　am　poor　and　proud；　but　I　will　sell　you　some　candy。〃

〃Well；　give　me　half　a　dollar's　worth。〃

〃I　haven't　got　so　much。　I　have　only　fourteen　cents'　worth　left。〃

〃Give　me　that；　then。〃

Katy　wrapped　up　the　remainder　of　her　stock　in　a　piece　of　paper；　and　handed　it　to　the　gentleman；　who　in　payment　threw　the　half…dollar　on　the　tray。

〃I　can't　change　it。〃

〃Never　mind　the　change；〃　and　the　fat　gentleman　hurried　away。

Katy　was　so　utterly　astounded　to　find　she　had　disposed　of　her　entire　stock；　that　she　did　not　have　the　presence　of　mind　to　follow　him；　and　the　half　dollar　had　to　be　placed　in　her　treasury。　She　did　not　regard　it　with　so　much　pride　and　pleasure　as　she　did　the　two　four…pence；　and　the　four　coppers；　for　there　was　something　unmercantile　about　the　manner　in　which　it　had　come　into　her　possession。　She　could　not　feel　satisfied　with　herself；　as　she　walked　towards　home；　till　she　had　argued　the　matter；　and　effected　a　compromise　between　her　pride　and　her　poverty。　She　had　sold　candy　for　the　money；　and　the　gentleman　had　paid　her　over　three　cents　a　stickrather　above　the　market　value　of　the　article；　but　there　was　no　other　way　to　make　the　transaction　correspond　with　her　ideas　of　propriety。

Her　work　was　done　for　the　forenoon；　though　she　had　plenty　of　candy　at　home。　It　was　now　eleven　o'clock；　and　she　had　not　time　to　sell　out　another　stock　before　dinner。　As　she　walked　up　the　street；　on　her　way　home；　she　encountered　Master　Simon　Sneed；　who；　with　the　dignity　and　stateliness　of　a　merchant　prince；　was　lugging　a　huge　bundle　of　goods　to　the　residence　of　some　customer。

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you；　Simon；〃　said　Katy。　〃Have　you　seen　your　friend　the　mayor？〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　inform　you；　Katy；　that　a　press　of　business　has　prevented　my　calling　on　his　honor。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　that。　I　am　afraid　I　shall　never　see　the　watch　again。〃

〃Depend　upon　it；　you　shall。　I　pledge　you　my　honor　that　I　will　use　every　exertion　to　recover　the　lost　treasure。　Just　now　our　firm　require　the　undivided　attention　of　all　in　the　store。〃

〃I　told　Mrs。　Gordon　all　about　it；　and　she　promised　to　speak　to　the　mayor。〃

〃It　was　unnecessary　to　trouble　her　with　the　matter；　my　influence　with　the　mayor　will　be　quite　sufficient。〃

〃I　dare　say　it　will；　but　when　shall　you　see　him？〃

〃Very　soon；　be　patient；　Katy。〃

〃Mrs。　Gordon　promised　to　take　me　to　the　mayor　to…day；　and　tell　him　all　about　it。〃

〃Take　you　to　the　mayor！〃　exclaimed　Master　simon。

〃That's　what　she　said。〃

〃You　will　be　afraid　of　him；　and　not　able　to　tell　your　story。〃

〃No；　I　guess　I　shan't。　I　will　tell　him　that　I　have　mentioned　the　matter　to　you。〃

〃Perhaps　you　had　better　not；　his　honor；　though　we　have　been　quite　intimate；　may　not　remember　my　name。　But　I　must　leave　you　now；　for　the　firm　gets　very　uneasy　in　my　absence。〃

Simon　shouldered　his　bundle　again；　and　moved　off；　and　Katy　walked　towards　home；　wondering　why　a　person　of　so　much　importance　to　the　Messrs。　Sands　&　Co。　should　be　permitted　to　degrade　himself　by　carrying　bundles。　When　she　got　home；　she　found　her　mother　in　a　very　cheerful　frame　of　mind；　the　result　of　her　reading　and　meditation。

〃Well。　Katy；　you　come　back　with　an　empty　tray　have　you　sold　all　your　candy？〃　asked　Mrs。　Redburn；　as　she　entered　the　room。

〃Yes；　mother；　every　stick。　I　have　brought　back　sixty…six　cents；〃　replied　Katy；　emptying　her　pocket　on　the　bed。

〃Sixty…six　cents！　But　you　had　only　thirty　sticks　of　candy。〃

〃You　must　not　blame　me　for　what　I　have　done；　mother；　I　could　not　help　it；〃　and　she　proceeded　to　narrate　all　the　particulars　of　her　forenoon's　occupation。

Mrs。　Redburn　was　annoyed　at　the　incident　with　the　fat　gentleman；　more　so　than　by　the　rudeness　to　which　Katy　had　been　subjected。　The　little　merchant　was　so　elated　at　her　success；　that　her　mother　could　not　find　it　in　her　heart　to　cast　a　damper　upon　her　spirits　by　a　single　reproach。　Perhaps　her　morning's　reflections　had　subdued　her　pride　so　that　she　did　not　feel　disposed　to　do　so。

After　dinner　Katy　hastened　at　once　to　Temple　Street　again。　To　her　great　disappointment　she　found　that　Mrs。　Gordon　and　her　daughter　had　been　suddenly　called　to　Baltimore　by　the　death　of　one　of　her　husband's　near　relatives。　But　the　kind　lady　had　not　forgotten　her；　and　that　was　a　great　consolation。　Michael　gave　her　a　note；　directed　to　the　mayor；　which　he　instructed　her　to　deliver　that　day。

With　the　assistance　of　Michael；　she　found　the　house　of　the　mayor；　and　though　her　heart　beat　violently　she　resolutely　rang　the　bell　at　the　door。

〃Is　the　mayor　in？〃　asked　she　of　the　sleek　servant　man　that　answered　the　summons。

〃Well；　suppose　he　is；　what　of　it？〃　replied　the　servant；　who　could　not　possibly　have　been　aware　that　Katy's　grandfather　was　a　rich　Liverpool　merchant；　or　he　would　have　spoken　more　civilly　to　her。

〃I　want　to　see　him。〃

〃He　don't　see　little　brats　like　you；〃　answered　the　servant；　shutting　the　door　in　her　face。

Katy　was　indignant。　She　wished　a　dozen　things　all　at　once；　and　among　other　things　she　wished　Master　Simon　Sneed　had　been　there；　that　he　might　report　the　circumstance　to　his　friend　the　mayor。　What　was　to　be　done？　It　was　mean　to　treat　her　in　that　shabby　manner；　and　she　would　not　stand　it？　She　would　not；　that　she　wouldn't！　Grasping　the　bell　handle　with　a　courageous　hand；　she　gave　a　pull　that　must　have　astonished　the　occupants　of　the　servants'　hall；　and　led　them　to　believe　that　some　distinguished　character　had　certainly　come。　The　sleek　man　servant　reappeared　at　the　door；　ready　to　make　his　lowest　bow　to　the　great　personage；　when　he　beheld　the　flashing　eye　of　Katy。

〃How　dare　you　ring　that　bell　again？〃　snarled　he。

〃I　want　to　see　the　mayor；　I　have　a　note　for　him　from　Mrs。　Gordon；　and　I　won't　go　away　till　I　see　him。〃

〃From　Mrs。　Gordon！　Why　didn't　you　say　so？　You　may　come　in。〃

Katy　entered　at　this　invitation；　and　the　man　bade　her　wait　in　the　hall　till　he　informed　the　mayor　of　her　errand。　She　was　not　a　little　pleased　with　the　victory　she　had　gained；　and　felt　quite　equal；　after　it；　to　the　feat　of　facing　the　chief　magistrate　of　the　city。　While　she　stood　there；　a　little　boy　having　in　his　hand　a　stick　of　molasses　candy；　with　which　he　had　contrived　plentifully　to　bedaub　his　face；　came　out　of　the　adjoining　room；　and　surveyed　her　carefully　from　head　to　foot。　Katy　looked　at　the　candy　with　attention；　for　it　looked　just　like　one　of　the　sticks　she　had　sold　that　forenoon。　The　little　fellow　who　was　not　more　than　five　or　six　years　of　age；　seemed　to　have　a　hearty　relish　for　the　article；　and　as　he　turned　it　over；　Katy　assured　herself　that　it　was　a　portion　of　her　stock。

〃My　pa　brought　home　lots　of　candy；〃　said　the　little　fellow；　after　he　had　satisfied　himself　with　the　survey　of　Katy's　person。

〃Do　you　like　it？〃　asked　she；　willing　to　cultivate　his　acquaintance。

〃Don't　I；　though！〃

〃Where　did　your　father　get　it？〃

〃He　bought　it　of　a　little　girl；　she　was　poor　and　proud；〃　replied　the　little　gentleman；　transferring　half　an　inch　of　the　candy　to　his　mouth。

〃Dear　me！〃　exclaimed　Katy。

But　her　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　return　of　the　servant；　who　directed　Katy　to　follow　him　up…stairs。