poor and proud-第19节

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After　Katy　had　eaten　her　dinner；　and　fitted　out　Ann　Grippen；　she　left　the　house　in　search　of　some　more　assistants。　She　was　well　known　to　all　the　boys　and　girls　in　the　neighborhood；　and　when　she　stated　her　object　to　one　and　another　of　them；　she　was　readily　understood。　To　help　her　cause；　it　had　begun　to　be　known　that　Ann　Grippen　had　been　seen　with　a　clean　face；　selling　candy　in　the　street。　She　had　no　difficulty；　therefore；　in　procuring　the　services　of　half　a　dozen　girls；　who　were　delighted　with　the　plan　especially　when　Katy　informed　them　of　Ann's　success。

On　her　return　home；　she　found　that　Simon　Sneed　had　called　to　see　her；　and　she　immediately　hastened　to　his　house。　When　she　knocked；　he　came　to　the　door　and　invited　her　into　the　palor。

〃Well；　Katy；　I　have　hit　upon　something；〃　said　he。

〃I　am　glad　you　have。〃

〃I　went　down　town　after　I　saw　you；　and　hearing　of　a　place　in　Tremont　Row；　I　went　to　apply　for　it。〃

〃Did　you　get　it？〃

〃Not　yet；　but　I　hope　to　get　it。　They　agreed　to　give　me　three　dollars　a　week　if　everything　proved　satisfactory；　but　they　wanted　a　recommendation　from　my　last　employers。〃

〃Of　course　they　will　give　you　one。〃

〃No；　they　would　not；　they　were　offended　because　I　left　them。〃

〃Then　you　asked　them？〃

〃Yes；　I　went　after　one　this　afternoon；　and　they　would　not　give　it　to　me。　I　did　not　much　expect　they　would；　and　so　I　informed　Messrs。　Runn　&　Reed；　the　firm　to　which　I　have　applied　for　an　engagement。　I　told　them　exactly　how　the　case　stood；　that　I　had　demanded　higher　wages；　and　the　Messrs。　Sands　were　angry　with　me　for　doing　so；　and　for　that　reason　refused　the　testimonial。　They　saw　through　it　all；　and　understood　my　position。　When　I　spoke　to　them　about　my　friend　the　mayor；　they　looked　surprised；　and　said　a　recommendation　from　him　would　satisfy　them。　So　you　see　just　how　I　am　situated。〃

〃Why　don't　you　go　to　him　at　once；　and　ask　him　for　the　recommendation？〃　said　Katy　wondering　why　he　hesitated　at　so　plain　a　case。

But　Master　Simon　had　some　scruples　about　doing　so。　He　was　old　enough　to　know　that　it　was　rather　a　delicate　business　to　ask　a　man　in　a　high　official　station　for　a　testimonial　on　so　slight　an　acquaintance。　The　mayor　was　interested　in　Katy；　though　she　did　not　presume　to　call　him　her　friend。　She　had　twice　called　upon　him；　and　she　might　again。

〃I　don't　like　to　ask　him；　Katy。　I　feel　some　delicacy　about　doing　so。〃

〃I　should　just　as　lief　ask　him　as　not；　if　I　were　you。　I　am　afraid　you　are　too　proud；　Master　Simon。〃

〃I　am　proud；　Katy：　that's　just　it。　I　was　born　to　be　a　gentleman；　but　I　submit　to　my　lot。　I　am　willing　to　sell　my　talents　and　my　labor　for　money。　If　I　can　once　get　in　at　Runn　&　Reed's；　I　am　sure　they　will　appreciate　me；　and　consider　it　a　lucky　day　on　which　they　engaged　me。〃

〃If　you　want　me　to　go　to　the　mayor's　house　with　you；　I　will；〃　said　Katy；　who　did　not　clearly　comprehend　Simon's　wishes。

〃Well；　I　think　I　will　not　go　myself；〃　replied　Simon。

〃Why　not？〃

〃I　do　not　like　to　place　myself　in　a　humiliating　posture　before　great　men。　If　I　were　mayor　of　Boston；　I　should　like　to　do　him　the　favor　which　I　ask　for　myself。　When　I　am〃

〃You　haven't　asked　him；　Master　Simon。〃

〃In　a　word；　Katy；　I　want　you　to　ask　him　for　me。　You　will　do　me　a　great　favor。〃

〃I　will；〃　replied　Katy；　promptly。

〃The　mayor　is　a　very　fine　man；　kind…hearted；　and　willing　to　help　everybody　that　deserves　help；　and　if　he　were　not　my　friend；　I　should　feel　no　delicacy　in　asking　him　myself。　You　can　state　the　case；　and　inform　him　who　I　am；　and　what　I　am；　that　you　know　me　to　be　honest　and　faithful。　You　can　tell　him；　too；　that　I　am　a　gentlemanly　person；　of　pleasing　address。〃

〃But　I　can't　remember　all　that；〃　interposed　Katy。

〃Tell　him　what　you　can　recollect；　then。　He　is　an　easy；　good…natured　man；　and　will　give　you　the　testimonial　at　once。〃

〃Suppose　you　write　a　paper；　just　such　as　you　want；　Master　Simon。　Then　he　can　copy　it。〃

〃Well　I　will　do　that。〃

Simon　seated　himself　at　a　table；　and；　after　considerable　effort；　produced　the　following　piece　of　elegant　composition；　which　he　read　to　Katy：

〃To　whom　it　may　concern：

〃This　may　certify　that　I　have　been　for　some　time　acquainted　with　my　friend　Mr。　Simon　Sneed；　and　I　believe　him　to　be　an　honest　and　faithful　young　man；　of　gentlemanly　bearing；　pleasing　address；　and　polite　manners；　who　will　be　an　honor　and　an　ornament　to　any　establishment　that　may　be　so　fortunate　as　to　secure　his　valuable　services；　and　I　cheerfully　recommend　him　to　any　person　to　whom　he　may　apply　for　a　situation。　Mayor　of　Boston。〃

〃I　have　left　a　blank　space　for　his　honor's　signature；〃　continued　Master　Simon；　when　he　had　read　the　modest　document。　〃What　do　you　think　of　it；　Katy？〃

〃It　is　very　fine。　What　a　great　scholar　you　must　be！　I　should　think　you'd　write　a　book。〃

〃Perhaps　I　may　one　of　these　days。〃

〃I　will　go　right　up　to　the　mayor's　house　now；〃　said　Katy；　as　she　bade　him　good　afternoon。

Before　she　went；　she　returned　home　and　nicely　enclosed　six　sticks　of　candy　in　white　paper　as　a　present　for　Freddie；　the　mayor's　little　son。　On　her　way　up　to　Park　Street　she　opened　Simon's　paper；　and　read　it。　It　sounded　funny　to　her；　with　its　big　words　and　fine　sentences；　and　then　what　a　puffing　Master　Simon　had　given　himself！　She　even　began　to　wonder　if　there　was　not　something　about　her　gentlemanly　friend　which　was　not　all　right。

She　reached　the　mayor's　house；　and　as　it　was　his　time　to　be　at　home；　she　was　conducted　to　the　library。

〃Ah；　Katy；　I　am　glad　to　see　you；〃　said　he；　taking　her　hand。

〃Thank　you；　sir。　I　have　brought　this　candy　for　Master　Freddie。〃

〃You　are　very　good；　and　I　suppose　you　are　so　proud　that　I　must　not　offer　to　pay　you　for　it。〃

〃If　you　please；　don't；　sir；〃　replied　Katy；　unconsciously　taking　Master　Simon's　testimonial　from　her　pocket。　〃I　don't　want　you　to　pay　me　in　money；　but　you　may　pay　me　in　another　way；　if　you　please。〃

〃May　I？　What　have　you　in　your　hand？〃

〃A　paper；　sir。　You　remember　Master　Simon　Sneed？〃

〃No；　I　don't。〃

〃The　young　man　at　Sands　&　Co。's。〃

〃O；　yes；　the　young　gentleman　that　uses　so　many　long　words。〃

〃He　has　left　his　place；　and　wants　to　get　another。〃

〃He　has　left　it？　Why　was　that？〃

〃He　asked　for　more　wages。　He　has　found　another　place；　which　he　can　have　if　he　can　get　a　testimonial。〃

〃Let　him　ask　Sands　&　Co。〃

〃They　won't　give　him　one；　because　they　are　so　angry　with　him　for　leaving　them。〃

〃That　indeed！〃

〃Master　Simon　wants　you　to　give　him　one；〃　continued　Katy；　who；　in　her　confusion　was　jumping　at　the　conclusion　of　the　matter　rather　too　hastily；　and　before　she　had　produced　a　proper　impression　in　regard　to　her　hero's　transcendent　character　and　ability。

〃Does　he；　indeed；〃　laughed　the　mayor。　〃He　is　very　modest。〃

〃He　said；　as　you　are　his　friend；　you　would　not　object　to　giving　him　one。〃

〃What　have　you　in　your　hand；　Katy？　Has　he　written　one　to　save　me　the　trouble？〃　laughed　the　mayor。

〃I　asked　him　to　do　so。　You　can　copy　it　off；　if　you　please；　sir。〃

The　mayor　took　the　testimonial　and　proceeded　to　read　it。　Katy　had　already　concluded　from　his　manner　that　the　business　was　not　all　correct；　and　she　wished　herself　out　of　the　scrape。　He　finished　the　reading；　and　then　burst　into　a　violent　fit　of　laughter。

〃Your　friend　is　very　modest；　Katy；my　friend　Mr。　Simon　Sneed。〃

〃I　hope　I　haven't　done　anything　wrong；　sir？〃　stammered　Katy。

〃No；　Katy；　you　have　been　imposed　upon　by　a　silly　young　man。　You　meant　to　do　him　a　kindnessin　your　heart　you　had　nothing　but　kindnessand　I　think　the　more　of　you　for　what　you　have　done；　and　the　less　of　Simon　for　what　he　has　done。　Did　he　think　I　would　recommend　him；　when　I　know　nothing　about　him？　He　is　a　conceited　puppy；　and；　in　my　opinion；　a　worthless　fellow。　One　of　these　days　he　will　be　‘an　honor　and　an　ornament'　to　the　workhouse；　if　he　does　business　in　this　manner。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　exclaimed　Katy；　frightened　at　the　remarks　of　the　mayor。

〃Now；　Katy；　we　will　go　to　the　store　of　the　Messrs。　Sands　&　Co。；　and　find　out　about　this　young　man。　I　will　meet　you　there　at　half…past　four。　Good…by；　Katy。　Freddie　thinks　ever　so　much　of　you　now；　and　in　his　behalf　I　thank　you　for　the　candy。〃

Katy　did　not　know　exactly　what　to　make　of　her　position　but　at　the　time　fixed；　she　was　at　the　store　of　Sands　&　Co。；　where　the　mayor　soon　joined　her。

〃Now；　Katy；　you　shall　hear　what　his　employers　say　of　Master　Simon；〃　said　he；　and　she　followed　him　into　the　store。

The　mayor　stated　his　business；　and　inquired　concerning　the　character　of　Simon。

〃He　is　honest；　and　did　his　work　very　well；〃　replied　Mr。　Sands。

Katy　was　pleased　to　hear　this；　and　the　mayor　confessed　his　surprise。

〃But　he　was　an　intolerable　nuisance　about　the　store；〃　continued　Mr。　Sands。　〃With　only　a　small　amount　of　modesty；　he　would　have　done　very　well；　as　it　was；　he　was　the　biggest　man　in　our　employ。　Our　customers　were　disgusted　with　him；　and　we　had　been　thinking　of　getting　rid　of　him　for　a　long　time。　When　he　asked　for　more　wages；　impudently　declaring　he　would　leave　if　we　did　not　accede　to　his　demand；　we　discharged　him。　In　a　word；　I　wouldn't　have　him　round　the　store　at　any　price。〃

〃As　I　supposed；〃　replied　the　mayor；　as　he　showed　Mr。　Sands　the　recommendation　Simon　had　written。

〃This　sounds　just　like　him。〃

Katy　pitied　poor　Simon　now　that　she　understoo