poor and proud-第15节

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n　it。　He　was　a　very　good…hearted；　but　rather　dissolute；　young　man；　and　the　allusions　she　had　made　to　his　mother　burned　like　fire　in　his　heart；　for　he　had　neglected　her　counsels；　and　wandered　from　the　straight　road　in　which　she　had　taught　him　to　walk。　If　she　could　have　followed　him　home；　and　into　the　solitude　of　his　chamber；　she　could　have　seen　him　open　his　desk；　and　write　a　long　letter　to　his　distant　mothera　duty　he　had　too　long　neglected。　We　may　not　follow　the　fortunes　of　this　young　man；　but　if　we　could；　we　might　see　how　a　few　words；　fitly　spoken；　even　by　the　lips　of　an　innocent　youth；　will　sometimes　produce　a　　powerful　impression　on　the　character；　will　sometimes　change　the　whole　current　of　a　life；　and　reach　forward　to　the　last　day　of　existence。

Katy；　all　unconscious　of　the　great　work　she　had　done；　congratulated　herself　on　this　success；　and　wished　she　might　find　a　few　more　such　customers。　Glancing　into　the　shop　windows　as　she　passed　along；　to　ascertain　whether　there　was　a　good　prospect　for　her；　she　soon　found　an　inviting　field。　It　was　a　crockery　ware　store　that　she　entered　this　time；　and　there　were　several　persons　there　who　seemed　not　to　be　very　busy。

〃Buy　some　candy？〃　said　she；　presenting　the　tray　to　the　first　person　she　met。

〃Go　home　and　wash　your　face；〃　was　the　ill…natured　response。

Was　it　possible　she　had　come　out　with　a　dirty　face？　No；　she　had　washed　herself　the　last　thing　she　had　done。　It　is　true　her　clothes　were　shabby；　there　was　many　a　patch　and　darn　upon　her　dress；　and　its　colors　had　faded　out　like　the　〃last　rose　of　summer；〃　but　then　the　dress　was　clean。

〃Buy　some　candy？〃　said　she　to　another；　with　a　sudden　resolution　not　to　be　disturbed　by　the　rudeness　of　those　she　addressed。

He　took　a　stick；　and　threw　down　a　cent；　without　a　word。　One　more　did　her　a　similar　favor；　and　she　left　the　store　well　satisfied　with　the　visit。　Pretty　soon　she　came　to　a　large　piano…forte　manufactory；　where　she　knew　that　a　great　many　men　were　employed。　She　went　up…stairs　to　the　counting…room；　where　she　sold　three　sticks；　and　was　about　to　enter　the　work…room；　when　a　sign；　〃No　admittance　except　on　business；〃　confronted　her。　Should　she　go　on？　Did　the　sign　refer　to　her？　She　had　business　there；　but　perhaps　they　would　not　be　willing　to　admit　that　her　business　was　very　urgent；　and　she　dreaded　the　indignity　of　being　turned　out　again。　Her　mother　had　told　her　there　was　always　a　right　way　and　a　wrong　way。　It　certainly　was　not　right　to　enter　in　the　face　of　a　positive　prohibition；　and　at　last　she　decided　to　return　to　the　office　and　ask　permission　to　visit　the　workshop。

〃Please　may　I　go　into　the　workshop？〃　said　she；　addressing　the　man　who　had　purchased　the　candy。

〃Go　in？　why　not？〃　replied　he；　placing　his　pen　behind　his　ear；　and　looking　at　her　with　a　smile　of　curiosity。

〃Why；　it　says　on　the　door；　‘No　admittance　except　on　business。'〃

〃So　it　does。　Well；　I　declare；　you　have　got　an　amount　of　conscience　beyond　your　station。　No　one　thinks　of　taking　any　notice　of　that　sign。　Peddlers　and　apple　men　go　in　without　a　question。〃

〃I　thought　you　wouldn't　let　people　go　in。〃

〃We　don't　like　to　have　visitors　there；　for　they　sometimes　do　injury；　and　generally　take　off　the　attention　of　the　men　from　their　work。　But　you　have　got　so　much　conscience　about　the　matter；　that　you　shall　not　only　go　in；　but　I　will　go　with　you；　and　introduce　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir；　I　won't　give　you　all　that　trouble。　I　can　introduce　myself。〃

But　the　bookkeeper　led　the　way　to　the　door；　and　they　entered　a　large　room　in　which　a　great　many　men　were　busily　at　work。

〃Here　is　a　very　honest　little　girl；〃　said　her　friend；　〃who　has　the　very　best　molasses　candy　I　ever　ate。　If　any　of　you　have　a　sweet　tooth；　or　any　children　at　home；　I　advise　you　to　patronize　her。〃

The　bookkeeper　laughed；　and　the　workmen　laughed；　as　they　began　to　feel　in　their　pockets　for　loose　change。　It　was　evident　that　the　friendly　introduction　was　to　be　of　great　service　to　her。　She　passed　along　from　one　man　to　another；　and　almost　every　one　of　them　bought　two　or　three　sticks　of　candy；　and　before　she　had　been　to　all　of　them　her　stock　was　entirely　exhausted。　Katy　was　astonished　at　her　good　fortune；　and　the　men　were　all　exceedingly　good…natured。　They　seemed　disposed　to　make　a　pleasant　thing　of　her　visit；　and　to　give　her　a　substantial　benefit。

〃Now；　my　little　girl；〃　said　the　bookkeeper；　〃when　you　wish　to　visit　the　workshop　again；　you　may　enter　without　further　permission；　and　I　am　sure　the　men　will　all　be　very　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃But　I　want　some　of　that　candy；〃　said　one　of　the　workmen。　〃My　little　girl　would　jump　to　get　a　stick。〃

〃Then　she　shall　have　some；〃　replied　Katy。　〃for　I　will　go　home　and　get　some　more；〃　and　she　left　the　building　and　hastened　home　for　a　further　supply　of　the　popular　merchandise。

〃O　mother！　I　have　sold　out　all　my　candy；　and　I　want　a　lot　more！〃　exclaimed　she；　as　she　rushed　into　the　room；　full　of　excitement　and　enthusiasm。

〃Be　calm；　child；　you　will　throw　yourself　into　a　fever；〃　replied　Mrs。　Redburn。　〃You　must　learn　to　take　things　more　easily。〃

〃O　dear！　I　have　only　twenty　sticks　left。　I　wish　I　had　a　hundred；　for　I　am　sure　I　could　sell　them。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is　fortunate　you　have　no　more。〃

〃But　I　must　make　some　more　to…night　for　to…morrow。〃

〃Don't　drive　round　so；　Katy。　Be　reasonable；　and　don't　think　too　much　of　your　success。〃

But　Katy　could　not　stop　to　argue　the　matter；　though；　as　she　walked　along　the　street；　she　thought　of　what　her　mother　had　said；　and　tried　to　calm　the　excitement　that　agitated　her。　It　was　hard　work　to　keep　from　running　every　step　of　the　way；　but　her　mother's　advice　must　be　heeded；　and　to　some　extent　she　succeeded　in　controlling　her　violent　impulses。　As　it　was；　she　reached　the　piano…forte　manufactory　quite　out　of　breath；　and　rushed　into　the　workroom　as　though　she　had　come　on　an　errand　of　vital　importance　to　its　occupants。

It　required　but　a　few　minutes　to　dispose　of　her　small　stock　of　candy。　The　workmen　all　hoped　she　would　come　again；　and　she　departed　highly　elated　at　her　success。

〃There；　mother；　I　have　sold　all　the　candy。　What　do　you　think　of　that？〃　said　she；　as　she　entered　her　mother's　room；　and　threw　off　her　bonnet　and　shawl。

〃You　have　done　very　well；　I　had　no　idea　that　you　could　sell　more　than　twenty　or　thirty　sticks　in　a　day。〃

〃It's　a　great　day's　work；　mother；　and　if　I　can　sell　half　as　much　in　a　day；　I　shall　be　satisfied。　Don't　you　think　I　shall　be　able　to　support　you？〃

〃At　this　rate　you　can　do　much　more；　but；　Katy；　I　tremble　for　you。〃

〃Why；　mother？〃

〃You　get　so　excited；　and　run　so；　I　am　afraid　it　will　make　you　sick。〃

〃O；　no；　it　won't；　mother。　I　feel　as　strong　as　a　horse。　I　am　not　tired　in　the　least。〃

〃You　don't　feel　so　now；　because　you　are　so　excited　by　your　success。〃

〃I　shall　get　used　to　it　in　a　little　while。〃

〃I　hope　so；　if　you　mean　to　follow　this　business。〃

〃If　I　mean　to？　Why　mother；　what　else　could　I　do　to　make　so　much　money？　See　here；〃　and　she　poured　the　money　she　had　taken　upon　the　bed…quilt　before　her　mother。　〃One　dollar　and　thirty…six　cents；　mother！　Only　think　of　it！　But　I　won't　jump　so　another　day；　I　will　take　it　easy。〃

〃I　wish　you　would。〃

〃I　will　try　very　hard；　but　you　can't　think　how　happy　I　feel！　Dear　me！　I　am　wasting　my　time；　when　I　have　to　make　the　candy　for　to…morrow。〃

〃But；　Katy；　you　must　not　do　any　more　to…night。　You　will　certainly　be　sick。〃

〃I　must　make　it；　mother。〃

〃Your　hands　are　very　sore　now。〃

〃They　are　better；　and　I　don't　feel　tired　a　bit。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　what　you　may　do；　if　you　must　make　the　candy　to…night。　When　you　have　got　the　molasses　boiled；　you　may　ask　Mrs。　Colvin；　the　washerwoman；　to　come　in　and　pull　it　for　you；　for　you　are　not　strong　enough　to　do　it　yourself。〃

〃I　should　not　like　to　ask　her。　She's　a　poor　woman；　and　it　would　be　just　the　same　as　begging　to　ask　her　to　give　me　her　work。〃

〃You　don't　understand　me；　Katy。　She　goes　out　to　work　whenever　she　can　get　a　chance。　Her　price　is　ten　cents　an　hour。　You　can　engage　her　for　one　or　two　hours；　and　pay　her　for　her　labor。　This　is　the　only　way　you　can　get　along　with　this　business。〃

〃I　will　do　that。　It　won't　take　more　than　an　hour。〃

Mrs。　Colvin　was　accordingly　engaged；　though　at　first　she　positively　refused　to　be　paid　for　her　services；　but　when　Katy　told　her　she　should　want　her　for　one　or　two　hours　every　day；　she　consented　to　the　arrangement。　Early　in　the　evening　the　candy　was　all　made；　and　Katy's　day's　work　was　finished。　Notwithstanding　her　repeated　declaration　that　she　was　not　tired；　the　bed　〃felt　good〃　to　her；　and　she　slept　all　the　more　soundly　for　the　hard　work　and　the　good　deeds　she　had　done。



CHAPTER　XII。

KATY　PAYS　HER　DEBTS；　AND　TOMMY　GOES　TO　SEA。


Katy's　second　day's　sales；　though　not　so　large　as　those　of　the　first　day；　were　entirely　satisfactory。　The　profits；　after　paying　for　the　〃stock〃　and　for　the　services　of　Mrs。　Colvin；　were　nearly　a　dollar；　and　her　heart　beat　with　renewed　hope　at　this　continued　success。　Her　grand　idea　hardly　seemed　like　an　experiment　now；　for　she　had　proved　that　she　could　make　good　candy；　and　that　people　were　willing　to　buy　the　article。　She　met　with　about　the　same　treatment　from　those　to　whom　she　offered　her　wares；　one　spoke　kindly；　and　purchased　by　wholesale；　and　another　spoke