poor and proud-第2节

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〃Never　mind　'em；　Katy。　Don't　go　hungry　again　for　a　minute。　Come　to　me；　and　I'll　help　you　to　something　or　other。〃

〃Thank　you；　Tommy；〃　and　with　a　lighter　heart　than　she　had　brought　with　her；　she　hastened　up　the　pier；　no　doubt　anticipating　a　rich　feast　from　the　string　of　fish。

The　pier　of　the　new　South　Boston　bridge　was　then；　as　now；　a　favorite　resort　for　juvenile　fishermen。　Flounders；　tom…cod；　and　eels；　to　say　nothing　of　an　occasional　sculpin；　which　boys　still　persist　in　calling　〃crahpies；〃　or　〃crahooners；〃　used　to　furnish　abundant　sport　to　a　motley　group　of　youngsters　wherein　the　sons　of　merchants　mingled　democratically　with　the　dirty；　ragged　children　of　the　〃Ten…footers〃　in　the　vicinity。　The　pier　was　neutral　ground；　and　Frederic　Augustus　made　a　friend　of　Michael　or　Dennis；　and　probably　neither　was　much　damaged　by　this　free　companionship；　for　Michael　or　Dennis　often　proves　to　be　more　of　a　gentleman　in　his　rags　and　dirty　face　than　Frederic　Augustus　in　his　broadcloth　and　white　linen。

Katy　walked　as　fast　as　her　little　feet　would　carry　her；　till　she　came　to　a　court　leading　out　of　Essex　Street。　The　bells　were　ringing　for　one　o'clock　as　she　entered　the　grocery　at　the　corner　and　purchased　the　two…cent　roll　which　Tommy　Howard's　bounty　enabled　her　to　add　to　her　feast。　Elated　with　the　success　of　her　mission；　she　quickened　her　pace　up　the　court　to　a　run；　rushed　into　the　house　and　up…stairs　to　her　mother's　room　with　as　much　enthusiasm　as　though　she　had　found　a　bag　of　gold；　instead　of　having　obtained　a　very　simple　dinner。

〃O；　mother；　I've　got　a　lot　of　flounders　and　some　bread　for　you！〃　exclaimed　she；　as　she　bolted　into　the　room。

〃Then　you　have　money；〃　said　a　cold　voice　in　the　chamber；　and　Katy　perceived；　standing　near　the　bed　on　which　her　mother　lay；　a　man　who　was　no　stranger　to　her。

It　was　Dr。　Flynch；　but　let　not　my　young　reader　make　a　mistake。　He　was　no　good　Samaritan；　who　had　come　to　pour　oil　and　wine　into　the　wounds　of　the　poor　sick　woman；　not　even　a　physician；　who　had　come　to　give　medicine　for　a　fee；　to　restore　her　to　health　and　strength。　It　is　true　he　was　called　a　doctor；　and　he　had　been　a　doctor；　but　he　did　not　practice　the　healing　art　now。　If　he　had　failed　to　make　a　physician；　it　was　not　because　his　heart　was　so　tender　that　he　could　not　bear　to　look　upon　pain　and　suffering。　He　was　the　agent　of　Mrs。　Gordon；　a　widow　lady；　who　owned　the　house　in　which　Katy's　mother　lived。　He　collected　her　rents；　and　transacted　all　her　business；　and　as　far　as　dollars　and　cents　were　concerned；　he　had　certainly　been　a　faithful　servant。　Dr。　Flynch　was　a　prudent　and　discreet　man；　and　did　not　hurt　the　feelings　of　the　good　lady　who　employed　him　by　telling　her　about　the　difficulties　he　encountered　in　the　discharge　of　his　duty；　or　by　describing　the　harsh　and　even　cruel　means　to　which　he　was　sometimes　obliged　to　resort；　in　order　to　obtain　the　rent　of　poor　tenants。

〃Mrs。　Redburn；〃　said　Dr。　Flynch；　when　he　had　heard　the　exclamation　of　Katy；　〃you　have　told　me　a　falsehood。　You　said　you　had　no　money；　not　a　cent。　Where　did　you　get　that　roll；　child？〃

〃At　the　store　at　the　corner　of　the　court；〃　replied　Katy；　abashed　by　the　cold　dignity　of　the　agent。

〃Precisely　so；　Mrs。　Redburn；　but　you　do　not　buy　bread　without　money。　You　have　attempted　to　deceive　me。　I　have　pitied　you　up　to　the　present　time；　and　indulged　you　in　the　non…payment　of　your　rent　for　over　a　week　I　can　do　so　no　longer；　for　you　have　told　me　a　falsehood。〃

〃No；　sir；　I　have　not；〃　pleaded　the　sick　woman。

〃Your　child　buys　bread。〃

〃I　did　not　give　her　the　money。〃

〃Where　did　you　get　the　money　to　buy　that　roll　with？〃　demanded　Dr。　Flynch；　turning　sharply　to　Katy。

〃Tommy　Howard　gave　it　to　me。〃

〃Who　is　Tommy　Howard？〃

〃He　lives　on　the　other　side　of　the　court。〃

〃Very　probable　that　a　dirty；　ragged　boy　gave　her　the　money！　This　is　another　false…hood；　Mrs。　Redburn。　I　lament　that　a　person　in　your　situation　should　have　no　higher　views　of　Christian　morality　than　to　lie　yourself；　and　teach　your　child　to　lie；　which　is　much　worse。〃

The　poor　woman　burst　into　tears；　and　protested　that　she　had　told　the　truth；　and　nothing　but　the　truth；　declaring　that　Katy　was　a　good　girl；　that　she　had　eaten　nothing　that　day；　and　would　not　tell　a　lie。　Dr。　Flynch　was　a　man　of　method；　and　when　a　tenant　did　not　pay　the　rent；　it　was　his　purpose　to　get　rid　of　that　tenant　in　the　quietest　way　possible。　In　the　present　case　there　was　a　difficulty；　and　public　opinion　would　not　justify　him　in　turning　a　sick　woman　out　of　the　house；　but　if　she　lied；　had　money　concealed；　and　would　not　pay　her　rent；　it　would　alter　the　matter。　As　he　wished　to　believe　this　was　the　case；　he　had　no　difficulty　in　convincing　himself；　and　thus　quieting　his　poor　apology　for　a　conscience。

Besides　being　a　man　of　method；　Dr。　Flynch　was　a　man　of　upright　walk　and　conversation；　at　least；　he　passed　for　such　with　those　who　did　not　know　anything　about　him。　If　Mrs。　Gordon　should　happen　to　hear　that　he　had　turned　out　the　sick　woman；　he　could　then　inform　her　how　feelingly　he　had　pointed　out　to　her　the　wickedness　of　her　conduct；　which　he　thought　would　sound　exceedingly　well。

〃Mrs。　Redburn；〃　he　continued；　〃I　will　give　you　till　this　time　to…morrow　to　get　out　of　the　house；　if　you　are　not　gone　then；　I　shall　be　under　the　painful　necessity　of　removing　your　goods　into　the　street。　Good　morning；〃　and　Dr。　Flynch　turned　upon　his　heel；　and　walked　out　of　the　room。

〃My　poor　child！　what　will　become　of　us？〃　sobbed　the　sick　woman；　as　she　grasped　Katy's　hand；　and　pressed　it　to　her　bosom　with　convulsive　energy。

〃Don't　cry；　mother；　something　can　be　done。　I　will　go　and　see　Mrs。　Gordon；　and　beg　her　to　let　you　stay　here。〃

〃You　must　not　do　that；　Dr。　Flynch　told　me；　if　I　troubled　her　about　the　house；　I　should　not　stay　in　it　another　minute；　even　if　I　paid　the　rent。〃

〃He　is　a　bad　man；　mother；　and　I　don't　believe　Mrs。　Gordon　knows　what　he　does　here。〃

〃There　is　one　thing　more　we　can　do；　Katy；〃　continued　Mrs。　Redburn；　wiping　away　her　tears；　and　taking　from　under　her　pillow　a　heavy　silver　watch。　〃This　was　your　father's；　but　we　must　sell　it　now。　It　is　all　we　have　left。〃

〃I　should　hate　to　have　that　sold；　mother。〃

〃We　must　sell　it；　or　pawn　it。〃

〃We　will　pawn　it　then。〃

〃How　shall　we　do　it？　I　have　not　strength　to　rise；　and　they　will　cheat　you　if　you　offer　it。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　what　I　can　do；　mother；　I　will　get　Simon　Sneed　to　go　with　me　to　the　pawnbroker's　shop。　He　is　very　kind　to　me；　and　I　know　he　will。　He　comes　home　to　dinner　at　two　o…clock。〃

This　plan　was　agreed　to；　and　Katy　then　went　to　work　to　clean　and　cook　the　flounders。



CHAPTER　II。

THE　HISTORY　OF　THE　SILVER　WATCH。


Katy　Redburn　was　only　eleven　years　old；　and　not　a　very　accomplished　cook；　but　as　the　children　learn　faster　in　the　homes　of　the　poor　than　in　the　dwellings　of　the　rich；　she　had　a　very　tolerable　idea　of　the　management　of　a　frying…pan。　The　operation　of　cleaning　the　flounders　was　the　greatest　trial；　for　the　skin　of　the　fish　has　to　be　removed。　She　cut　her　fingers　with　the　knife；　and　scratched　and　pricked　her　hands　with　the　sharp　bones；　but　she　was　resolute；　and　finally　accomplished　the　task　to　her　entire　satisfaction。　An　occasional　direction　from　her　mother　enabled　her　to　cook　the　fish　properly；　and　dinner　was　ready。　There　were　still　a　few　small　stores　left　in　the　closet；　and　Katy　made　a　cup　of　tea　for　her　mother；　and　with　it　placed　the　delicate　little　flounder　by　the　side　of　the　bed。　The　invalid　had　no　appetite；　but　to　please　Katy　she　ate　a　portion　of　the　fish　and　bread　though　it　was　very　hard　work　for　her　to　do　so。　The　little　girl；　gladdened　by　this　unwonted　sight；　made　a　hearty　meal；　without　a　thought　of　the　trials　and　sorrows　which　the　future　might　have　in　store　for　them。

When　she　had　put　away　the　dishes；　and　placed　everything　in　order；　she　washed　herself；　combed　her　hair；　sewed　up　a　great　rent　in　her　dress；　and　otherwise　attempted　to　make　herself　as　tidy　as　possible　for　the　mission　she　was　about　to　undertake。

〃It　is　not　time　for　you　to　go　yet；　Katy；　and　before　the　watch　is　carried　off；　I　want　to　tell　you　something　about　your　father；　that　you　may　learn　to　prize　it　as　I　do。〃

Katy　seated　herself　on　the　side　of　the　bed；　for　she　was　very　anxious　to　hear　more　about　her　father　than　she　already　knew。　She　had　often　asked　her　mother　about　him；　but　she　had　generally　evaded　her　questions；　and　did　not　seem　willing　to　tell　her　all　she　knew。　She　thought　there　was　some　secret　connected　with　his　history；　and　with　a　child's　curiosity　she　was　eager　to　have　the　mystery　unfolded。　But　it　was　no　great　secret；　after　all　only　a　painful　history；　which　her　sensitive　mother　did　not　like　to　rehearse。　Mrs。　Redburn　handed　the　watch　to　Katy；　and　asked　her　to　look　upon　the　back　of　it。

〃Yes；　mother；　I　have　often　seen　those　words　on　there‘All　for　the　Best。'　What　do　they　mean？〃　said　Katy。

〃This　watch　was　given　to　your　father　by　my　father；〃　replied　Mrs。　Redburn；　with　a　deep　sigh；　for　the　words　seemed　to　recall　happy　memories　of　the　past。

〃Who　was　your　father？〃　asked　the　attentive　little　girl。

〃His　name　was　Matthew　Guthrie。　He　was　a　merchant　in　Liverpool；　England；　where　I　was　born。〃

〃A　merchant；　mother？　Then　he　was　a　rich　man；　and　lived　in　a　great　house；　and　had　plenty　of　servants。〃

〃He　was　ri