poor and proud-第21节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！




〃It　is　from　Tommy；〃　exclaimed　she；　eagerly　seizing　the　letter　and　retiring　to　a　corner　to　read　it。

〃You　and　Tommy　are　great　friends；〃　said　her　mother。

〃Yes；　mother；　but　don't　you　see　it　came　all　the　way　from　Liverpool？〃

Mrs。　Redburn　sighed　deeply　at　the　mention　of　her　native　city；　and　a　thousand　memories　of　the　past　flitted　before　her。　Katy　broke　the　seal；　and　as　this　letter　contained　some　very　important　information；　my　young　readers　may　look　over　her　shoulder　while　she　reads　it。　It　was　as　follows：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Liverpool；　Nov。　13；　1845。

〃Dear　Friend：I　take　my　pen　in　hand　to　let　you　know　that　I　am　well；　and　I　hope　these　few　lines　will　find　you　enjoying　the　same　blessing。　I　arrived　to　Liverpool　safe　and　sound；　and　when　I　got　home；　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it。　Just　as　we　got　in　to　the　dock；　I　kept　thinking　about　what　you　told　me。　They　won't　let　us　have　any　fires　on　board　ship　in　the　docks；　so　we　all　board　ashore。　I　asked　the　man　where　we　stopped　if　he　knew　such　a　merchant　as　Matthew　Guthrie。　He　did　not　know　him；　and　never　heard　of　him。　Then　I　went　round　among　the　big　merchants；　and　asked　about　your　grandfather。　I　asked　a　good　many　before　I　found　one　who　knew　him；　and　he　said　your　grandfather　had　been　dead　ten　years。　I　asked　him　where　the　family　was。　He　said　Mr。　Guthrie　had　only　two　daughters；　that　one　of　them　had　run　away　with　her　father's　clerk；　and　the　other　was　married　and　gone　to　America。　He　said　her　husband　belonged　to　Baltimore。　This　was　all　he　knew　about　it；　and　all　I　could　find　out。　We　shall　sail　home　in　about　three　weeks。　I　thought　you　would　like　to　know；　so　I　wrote　this　letter　to　send　by　the　steamer。　Drop　in　and　see　my　mother；　and　tell　her　I　am　well；　and　had　a　tiptop　voyage　over。　No　more　at　present　from　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　affectionate　friend；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃THOMAS　HOWARD。〃


Katy　read　the　letter　twice　over；　and　then　gave　it　to　her　mother；　after　explaining　that　she　had　told　Tommy　her　story；　and　requested　him　to　inquire　about　her　grandfather。　Mrs。　Redburn　was　too　much　affected　by　the　news　from　her　early　home　to　find　fault　with　Katy　for　what　she　had　done。

Both　of　them　felt　very　sad　for　while　Mrs。　Redburn　thought　of　her　father；　who　had　lain　in　his　grave　ten　years　without　her　knowledge；　Katy　could　not　but　mourn　over　the　hopes　which　Tommy's　letter　had　blasted。



CHAPTER　XVI。

ANN　GRIPPEN　PLAYS　TRICKS　UPON　TRAVELERS。


The　next　day　was　Wednesday；　and　as　school　kept　but　half　a　day；　Katy　resolved　to　spend　the　afternoon　in　finding　out　which　of　her　employees　was　in　the　habit　of　practicing　the　deception　which　Mrs。　Gordon　had　described　to　her。　She　could　think　of　no　one　upon　whom　she　could　fasten　the　guilt；　unless　it　was　Ann　Grippen；　who；　she　thought；　would　be　more　likely　to　play　such　a　trick　than　any　other。　After　she　had　delivered　their　candy；　she　put　on　her　things　and　followed　the　girls　down　to　State　Street；　where　they　separated。　Ann　went　up　Court　Street；　and　Katy　decided　that　she　needed　watching；　and　so　she　followed　her。

It　was　a　very　tedious　afternoon　to　the　little　wholesale　merchant；　but　the　dignity　of　the　trade　depended　upon　her　efforts　in　seeking　the　offender。　Ann　entered　various　shops；　and　seemed　to　be　having　very　good　luck　with　her　stock。　At　last　she　appeared　to　grow　tired　of　her　labors；　and　turned　into　an　alley。　Katy　wondered　what　she　was　going　to　do　there；　for　it　was　certainly　no　place　to　sell　candy。　She　waited　sometime　for　her　to　come　out；　and　when　she　heard　her　steps；　she　placed　herself　at　the　corner　of　the　alley；　in　such　a　position　that　Ann　could　not　see　her　face。

Presently　she　heard　Ann　crying　with　all　her　might；　and　crying　so　very　naturally　that　she　could　hardly　persuade　herself　that　it　was　not　real。　She　glanced　over　her　shoulder　at　her；　and　discovered　that　she　had　broken　the　nice　sticks　of　candy　into　a　great　many　little　pieces；　and　it　was　for　this　purpose　that　she　had　gone　into　the　alley。　Katy　was　indignant　when　she　saw　so　much　valuable　merchandise　thus　ruthlessly　mutilated；　and　the　sale　of　it　spoiled。　She　was　disposed　to　present　herself　to　the　artful　girl；　and　soundly　lecture　her　for　the　deceit　and　wickedness：　but　she　wanted　to　see　how　the　game　was　played。

〃Boo；　hoo；　hoo！〃　sobbed　Ann　Grippen；　apparently　suffering　all　the　pangs　of　a　broken　heart；　which　could　not　possibly　be　repaired。

〃What　is　the　matter；　little　girl？〃　asked　a　benevolent　lady；　attracted　by　the　distress　of　Ann。

〃Boo；　hoo；　hoo！〃　cried　Ann；　unable　to　speak　on　account　of　the　torrents　of　wo　that　overwhelmed　her。

〃Don't　cry；　little　girl；　and　tell　me　what　the　matter　is；〃　continued　the　kind　lady。

〃Boo；　hoo；　hoo！　I　fell　down　and　broke　all　my　candy；〃　sobbed　Ann。

〃Poor　child！〃　exclaimed　the　sympathizing　lady。

〃My　father'll　beat　me　because　I　didn't　sell　it；〃　added　Ann。

〃He　is　a　cruel　man。　Are　you　sure　he　will　punish　you？〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　groaned　Ann。　〃He'll　whip　me　almost　to　death　if　I　don't　bring　home　half　a　dollar。〃

〃You　can　tell　him　you　fell　down　and　broke　the　candy；〃　suggested　the　lady。

〃He　won't　believe　me；　he'll　say　I　sold　the　candy　and　spent　the　money。　O；　dear　me。〃

〃You　can　show　him　the　pieces。〃

〃Boo；　hoo；　hoo！　Then　he'll　say　I　broke　it　on　purpose；　because　I　was　too　lazy　to　sell　it；　and　then　he'll　kill　meI　know　he　will。〃

〃I　will　go　and　see　him；　and　tell　him　about　the　accident。　Where　do　you　live？〃

〃Down　North　Square。　He　ain't　to　home　now；〃　replied　Ann；　who　was　not　quite　prepared　for　this　method　of　treating　the　subject。

〃Poor　child！　I　pity　you；〃　sighed　the　lady。

〃O；　dear　me！〃　cried　Ann；　exerting　herself　to　the　utmost　to　deepen　the　impression　she　had　made。

〃How　much　do　you　want　to　make　up　the　value　of　your　candy？〃

〃Half　a　dollar。〃

〃There　it　is；　poor　child！　If　it　will　save　you　from　abuse；　you　are　welcome　to　it。〃

〃Thank　you；　ma'am。　It　may　save　my　life；〃　replied　Ann；　as　she　took　the　half　dollar　and　put　it　in　her　pocket。

〃What　an　awful　liar　she　is！〃　said　Katy　to　herself；　as　the　lady　hurried　on；　probably　much　pleased　with　herself　as　she　thought　of　the　kind　act　she　supposed　she　had　done。

Katy　was　curious　to　know　what　her　unworthy　assistant　would　do　next；　and　she　followed　her　down　Hanover　Street；　and　saw　her　stop　before　the　American　House。　She　could　not　believe　that　Ann　would　have　the　hardihood　to　play　off　the　same　trick　again　so　soon；　and　she　was　very　much　surprised　and　very　indignant　when　she　saw　her　begin　to　cry　with　all　her　might；　just　as　she　had　done　before。　While　the　deceitful　girl's　eyes　were　covered　with　her　apron；　in　the　extremity　of　her　grief；　Katy　contrived　to　get　on　the　hotel　steps　behind　her；　so　that　she　could　see　and　hear　all　that　passed。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　that　girl？〃　asked　a　gentleman；　who　presently　appeared　at　the　door；　addressing　another　who　was　just　behind　him。

〃It　is　the　broken　candy　dodge；〃　replied　the　second　gentleman。　〃That　trick　has　been　played　off　a　dozen　times　within　a　week。〃

〃What　does　it　mean？〃　asked　the　first。　〃I　don't　understand　it。〃

The　second　explained　the　trick；　precisely　as　Katy　had　just　witnessed　it　in　Court　Street。

〃Now；　don't　say　a　word；〃　he　continued。　〃I　have　a　counterfeit　half　dollar　in　my　pocket；　and　you　shall　see　how　it　is　done。〃

With　this　announcement　of　his　purpose；　he　accosted　Ann；　who　told　him　about　the　same　story　she　had　told　the　lady；　and　he　finally　gave　her　the　counterfeit　half　dollar；　which　Ann　did　not　suspect　was　a　bad　one。

〃How　abominably　wicked　she　is；〃　exclaimed　Katy；　as　she　followed　her　up　the　street。　〃But　I　will　soon　spoil　all　her　fun；　and　cut　off　her　profits。　I　will　teach　her　that　honesty　is　the　best　policy。〃

It　was　easier　for　Katy　to　resolve　what　to　do　than　it　was　to　do　it；　for　the　wicked　girl　could　easily　get　her　stock　through　another　person。　As　she　walked　up　the　street；　Ann　lightened　her　load　by　eating　the　pieces　of　broken　candy；　upon　which　she　seemed　to　feed　with　hearty　relish。　At　a　window　in　Court　Street；　Ann　stopped　to　look　at　some　pictures；　when　she　was　joined　by　another　of　the　candy　sellers；　and　they　walked　together　till　they　came　to　an　unfrequented　court；　which　they　entered。　Katy　could　hear　enough　of　their　conversation；　as　she　followed　them；　to　ascertain　that　they　were　talking　about　the　tricks　Ann　had　practiced。　In　the　court　they　seated　themselves　on　a　door…stone；　and　as　they　talked　and　laughed　about　the　deceit；　they　ate　the　pieces　of　candy。

〃There；〃　said　Ann；　〃I　have　made　a　dollar　and　ten　cents　this　afternoon。　You　don't　catch　me　walking　all　over　the　city　for　twenty…four　cents；　when　I　don't　get　but　eight　of　that。〃

〃I　ain't　so　smart　as　you；〃　modestly　replied　Julia　Morgan；　the　other　girl。

〃You'll　learn；〃　said　Ann；　as　she　took　out　her　money　and　exhibited　the　two　half　dollars。

〃I　don't　think　people　would　believe　me；　if　I　should　try　that　game。〃

〃Try　some　other。　I　think　I　shall；　for　I've　about　used　up　the　broken　candy　game。〃

〃What　other？〃

〃I　have　one；〃　replied　Ann；　prudently　declining　to　divulge　her　secret；　〃and　when　I've　tried　it；　I'll　tell　you　all　about　it。〃

〃Why　don't　you　try　it　now？〃

〃I　would　if　my　candy　wasn't　broken。〃

〃I　will　let　you　have　mine。〃

〃Then　I　will。〃

〃Give　me　fourteen　cents。〃

〃I　will　when　I've　done　with　it。〃

〃No；　you　don't；〃　laughed　Julia；　who　justly　inferred　that