poor and proud-第16节

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those　to　whom　she　offered　her　wares；　one　spoke　kindly；　and　purchased　by　wholesale；　and　another　spoke　gruffly；　and　would　not　buy　even　a　single　stick。　Here　she　was　driven　out　of　doors；　and　there　she　was　petted；　and　made　large　sales。

So　far　as　Katy's　person　and　manners　were　concerned；　she　was　admirably　adapted　to　the　business　she　had　chosen。　She　was　rather　small　in　stature　for　one　of　her　age；　but　she　was　very　well　formed；　and　her　movements　were　agile　and　graceful。　Her　face　was　not　as　pretty　as　it　might　have　been；　but　her　expression　was　artless　and　winning。　Her　light　brown　hair　hung　in　curls　upon　her　shoulders；　and　contributed　not　a　little　to　make　up　the　deficiency　in　what　the　painters　and　sculptors　would　call　a　finely　chiseled　face。

If　she　had　been　dressed　in　silk；　and　lace；　and　embroidery；　I　doubt　not　people　would　have　called　her　pretty；　though　in　my　opinion　it　does　not　make　much　difference　whether　she　was　pretty　or　not；　for；　after　all；　the　best　way　to　judge　of　a　person's　beauty　is　by　the　old　standard；　〃Handsome　is　that　handsome　does。〃　But　I　have　said　thus　much　about　Katy's　face　and　form　in　order　to　explain　the　secret　of　her　great　success　as　a　candy　merchant。　Hundreds　of　persons　would　buy　a　stick　of　candy　of　a　little　girl　with　a　pretty　face　and　a　graceful　form；　who　would　not　do　so　of　one　less　attractive。　Though　she　was　well　favored　in　this　respect；　I　believe　it　was　her　gentle；　polite　manners；　her　sweet　voice；　made　sweet　by　a　loving　heart；　that　contributed　most　to　her　success。　But　above　all　the　accidents　of　a　good　form；　graceful　movements；　brown　ringlets；　and　a　pleasing　address；　she　prospered　in　trade　because　she　was　in　earnest；　and　persevered　in　all　her　efforts。　A　person　cannot　succeed　in　business　by　being　merely　good　looking；　though　this　may　sometimes　be　of　much　assistance。　It　is　patience；　perseverance；　energy；　and　above　all；　integrity　and　uprightness；　that　lead　to　the　true　success。

Encouraged　by　her　prosperity；　Katy　continued　to　sell　candy　with　about　the　same　result　as　had　cheered　her　heart　on　the　first　two　days。　Her　profits；　however；　were　not　so　great　as　on　those　two　days；　and　did　not　average　above　seventy…five　cents　a　day　or　four　dollars　and　a　half　a　week。　This　was　doing　exceedingly　well；　and　she　had　every　reason　to　be　grateful　for　her　good　fortune。

At　the　end　of　three　weeks；　rent　day　came　round　again；　and　Dr。　Flynch　called　for　the　money。　To　his　utter　astonishment；　it　was　ready　for　him；　and　he　departed　without　a　single　ill…natured　word；　though　this　was；　perhaps；　because　he　had　a　wholesome　regard　for　the　opinion　of　Mrs。　Gordon。　Two　weeks　later　Katy　found　that　her　savings　were　sufficient　to　enable　her　to　pay　the　month's　rent　for　which　Mrs。　Gordon　had　given　a　receipt；　and　also　the　dollar　which　Grace　had　loaned　her。　These　debts　had　pressed　heavily　on　her　mind。　She　knew　that　they　were　regarded　as　free　gifts　and　her　pride　prompted　her　to　remove　what　she　considered　a　stain　upon　her　character。　Till　they　were　paid；　she　felt　like　a　beggar。

Taking　her　money　one　day；　she　paid　a　visit　to　Temple　Street。　Michael　opened　the　door　and　received　her　with　a　smile。　Knowing　she　was　in　favor　with　his　mistress；　he　conducted　her　to　the　sitting…room；　where　the　portraits　hung。　Those　roguish　eyes　of　the　lady；　who　somewhat　resembled　her　mother；　were　fixed　on　her　again。　She　was　sure　that　her　mother　did　not　look　like　that　picture　then；　but　she　was　equally　sure　that　she　had；　some　time　or　other　cast　just　such　a　glance　at　her。　The　expression　of　the　lady　found　something　like　its　　counterpart　in　her　memory。　Now；　her　mother　was　sick　and　sad；　she　seldom　smiled。　But　some　time　she　must　have　been　a　young　girl；　and　then　she　must　have　looked　like　that　portrait。　She　felt　just　like　asking　Mrs。　Gordon　if　that　was　her　portrait；　but　she　did　not　dare　to　do　such　a　thing。　While　she　was　attentively　watching　the　roguish　lady's　face；　her　kind　friend　entered　the　room；　followed　by　Grace。

〃How　do　you　do；　Katy？〃　said　the　former；　with　a　benevolent　smile。

〃Quite　well；　I　thank　you；　ma'am。　I　hope　you　will　excuse　me　for　coming　again；〃　replied　she。

〃I　am　very　glad　you　have　come。〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　you　the　other　day；　and　wishing　I　might　see　you；〃　added　Grace；　〃for　the　Mayor　told　us　a　very　pretty　story　about　you。〃

〃He　was　very　good　to　me；　and　I　never　shall　forget　him　or　you；〃　answered　Katy；　warmly。

〃I　suppose　you　have　come　to　get　another　receipt；　but　I　told　Dr。　Flynch　not　to　disturb　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Gordon。

〃O；　no　ma'amI　didn't　come　for　that。　You　were　too　kind　to　me　before；　and　I　have　come　now　to　pay　you　for　that　month's　rent。〃

〃Indeed？〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；　we　have　been　able　to　earn　money　enough；　and　I　am　very　glad　that　I　can　pay　it；〃　replied　Katy；　taking　the　four　dollars　from　her　pocket。　〃Here　it　is。〃

〃No；　my　child；　you　shall　keep　it。　I　will　not　take　it。〃

Katy's　cheeks　flushed；　for　she　did　not　feel　poor　and　proud　then。　She　felt　rich；　that　is　she　was　proud　of　being　able　to　pay　all　she　owed；　and　she　did　not　like　to　be　thought　capable　of　accepting　a　giftof　being　the　recipient　of　charity。　But　she　knew　the　hearts　of　her　kind　friends；　and　left　unspoken　the　words　of　indignation　that　trembled　on　her　tongue。　〃Please　to　take　the　money；　ma'am；〃　said　she　her　cheeks　still　red　with　shame。

〃No；　my　child；　you　are　a　good　girl；　I　will　not　take　your　money。〃

〃I　shall　feel　very　bad　if　you　don't；　and　it　will　make　my　mother　very　unhappy。〃

〃Nay；　Katy；　you　must　not　be　too　proud。〃

〃I　am　not　too　proud　to　ask　or　to　accept　a　favor；　but　please　don't　make　me　feel　like　a　beggar。〃

〃You　are　a　very　strange　child；〃　said　Mrs。　Gordon。

〃Indeed　you　are；〃　added　Grace

〃I　shall　not　feel　right　if　you　don't　take　this　money。　You　know　I　promised　to　pay　you　at　the　time　you　gave　me　the　receipt。〃

〃I　did　not　suppose　you　would；　that　is；　I　did　not　think　you　would　be　able　to　pay　it。　Your　mother　has　got　well；　then？〃

〃No；　ma'am；　she　is　better；　but　she　does　not　sit　up　any　yet。〃

〃Then　how　did　you　get　this　money？〃

〃I　earned　it。〃

〃You！〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；　selling　candy。〃

〃Is　it　possible？　The　mayor　told　me　you　were　a　little　candy　merchant；　but　I　did　not　suppose　you　carried　on　such　an　extensive　trade。〃

〃I　make　a　great　deal　of　money；　almost　five　dollars　a　week；　and　now　I　am　able；　I　hope　you　will　let　me　pay　you。〃

〃If　you　insist　upon　it；　I　shall；　though　I　had　much　rather　you　would　keep　the　money。〃

〃Thank　you；　ma'am。　I　shall　feel　much　better　when　it　is　paid。〃

Mrs。　Gordon　reluctantly　received　the　four　dollars。　It　was　a　very　small　sum　to　her；　though　a　very　large　one　to　Katy。　She　saw　that　the　little　candy　merchant's　pride　was　of　the　right　kind；　and　she　was　not　disposed　to　give　her　any　unnecessary　mortification；　though　she　resolved　that　neither　Katy　nor　her　mother　should　ever　want　a　friend　in　their　need。

〃I　owe　you　one　dollar；　also；〃　continued　Katy；　advancing　to　the　side　of　Grace。

〃Well；　I　declare！〃　laughed　Grace。　〃If　that　isn't　a　good　one！〃

〃I　promised　to　pay　you；　and　you　know　I　would　not　take　the　money　as　a　gift；〃　replied　Katy。

〃I　am　aware　that　you　would　not；　and　you　are　the　promptest　paymistress　I　ever　knew。〃

〃With　the　dollar　you　lent　me；　I　bought　the　molasses　to　make　the　first　lot　of　candy　I　sold。　Your　dollar　has　done　a　great　deal　of　good。〃

〃I　am　glad　it　has；　but　I　don't　want　to　take　it。〃

〃Won't　you　let　me　feel　like　myself？〃

〃Certainly　I　will；〃　laughed　Grace。

〃Then　let　me　pay　my　debts；　and　not　feel　just　like　a　beggar。〃

〃You　are　the　queerest　child　I　ever　saw！〃　exclaimed　Grace；　as　she　took　the　dollar。　〃I　am　going　to　keep　this　dollar　for　you；　and　perhaps　some　time　you　will　not　be　so　proud　as　you　are　now；　though　I　hope　you　will　always　have　all　the　money　you　want。〃

〃I　think　I　shall；　if　my　trade　continues　to　be　good；〃　replied　Katy；　who；　now　that　all　her　debts　had　been　paid；　felt　a　heavy　load　removed　from　her　heart。

〃You　must　bring　your　candy　up　here。　The　mayor　says　it　is　very　good。　I　have　a　sweet　tooth；　and　I　will　buy　lots　of　it；〃　added　Grace。

〃I　will　bring　you　up　some　to…morrow；〃　replied　Katy；　moving　towards　the　door；　and　casting　a　last　glance　at　the　mischievous　lady　in　the　picture。

〃The　mayor　told　me　to　ask　you　to　call　and　see　him　again；〃　said　Mrs。　Gordon。　〃He　is　very　much　interested　in　you。〃

〃He　is　very　kind；〃　and　she　bade　them　good…by。

Katy　felt　highly　honored　by　the　notice　the　mayor　had　taken　of　her。　Like　Master　Simon　Sneed；　she　felt　almost　like　calling　him　her　friend　the　mayor；　but　she　resolved　to　call　upon　him　on　her　way　home。　He　received　her　very　kindly；　told　her　what　a　mistake　she　had　made　in　giving　the　pawnbroker　his　note；　who　had　never　delivered　it　to　the　marshal；　and　promised　to　buy　lots　of　candy　when　she　came　with　her　tray。

When　she　returned　home　she　found　a　message　there　from　Tommy　Howard；　requesting　to　see　her　that　afternoon。　She　did　not　feel　like　spending　any　more　time　in　idleness；　when　she　had　so　much　candy　to　sell；　but　Tommy's　request　was　not　to　be　neglected；　and；　taking　her　tray；　she　called　at　his　house　as　she　passed　up　to　the　court。

Tommy　had　been　talking　for　a　year　about　going　to　sea；　and　had　been　for　some　time　on　the　lookout　for　a　chance　as　a　cabin…boy　or　a　reefer。　He　had　told　her　his　plans；　how　he　intended　to　be　a　good　sailor　and　work　his　way　up　to　be　captain　of　some　fine　ship。　She　suspected；　therefore；　that