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Katy returned in a few minutes with the jug of molasses。 She bustled round and made up a good fire； got the kettle on； and everything in readiness for the work。 Her mother gave her directions how to proceed； but Katy could impart to her none of her own enthusiasm。
When the molasses had been cooked enough； she was ready to commence the pulling； which was the most difficult part in the manufacture of her merchandise。 Then she found that her trials had indeed commenced。 At first the sticky mass； in spite of the butter and the flour with which she had plentifully daubed her hands； was as obstinate as a mule。 It would not work one way or another； now it melted down； and stuck to her fingers； and then it became as solid as a rock。 She fretted some at these crosses； and as her spirits sank； her mother's rose； for she thought Katy's resolution would not hold out long enough for her to complete the experiment。 But she underrated the energy of the devoted girl； who； in the face of every discouragement； stuck to the candy with as much zeal as the candy stuck to her。
As is almost always the case with those who persevere to the end； Katy soon won a partial triumph； which gladdened her heart； and gave her courage to continue her trying labors。 She had worked a portion of the mass into candyclear； light…colored； inviting candy。 Columbus felt no prouder of his achievement when he had crossed the Atlantic； or； Napoleon when he had crossed the Alps。 She danced for joy as she gazed upon the clear； straight sticks of candy； as they were arranged in the pan。 It was a great conquest for her； but at what a sacrifice it had been won！ Her little hands； unused to such hard work； were blistered in a dozen places； and smarted as though they had been scalded with boiling water。 She showed them to her mother； who begged her not to do any more； but she had too much enthusiasm to be deterred by the smart of her wounds； and resolutely resumed her labor。
She had scarcely commenced upon the second mass before she was interrupted by the entrance of Mrs。 Howard； her friend Tommy's mother。
〃Why； what are you doing； child？〃 asked the good woman。 〃I thought you were all sick； and here you are making candy； as merry as on a feast day。〃
〃I am making it to sell； Mrs。 Howard；〃 replied Katy； proudly。
〃Bless me！ but you're a queer child！ Do you think folks will buy it of you？〃
〃I know they will；〃 and Katy detailed her plan to the interested neighbor； declaring she was sure she could support her mother and herself by making and selling candy。 〃But it is very hard work；〃 she added； 〃see how I've blistered my hands。〃
〃Poor child！ it's enough to kill you！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Howard； as she glanced at the great blisters on Katy's hands。
〃I have been trying to make her give up the idea； but she has more courage than I ever gave her credit for；〃 remarked Mrs。 Redburn。
〃It's a shame for you to hurt your hands in this manner； but I dare say that they will soon get hard； like mine； with the labor；〃 replied Mrs。 Howard； as she threw off her hood and rolled up her sleeves。 〃Here； child； let me help you。〃
〃You are very kind； ma'am； and I hope I shall be able to do something for you some time。〃
〃Never you mind that； you are a nice girl； and it does my heart good to see you trying to help your mother；〃 added the kind woman； as she detached a large mass of candy； and commenced pulling it with a vigor that astonished the weak…handed little girl。 〃You're a jewel and a blessing； and you're worth a dozen of the fine ladies that are too proud to lift a finger to keep their bodies from starving。 Ah； it's a dreadful misfortune to be proud。〃
〃To be poor and proud；〃 said Mrs。 Redburn。
〃You are right； ma'am； and I am glad to see you have none of it here； for some of your neighbors used to say you were too proud to speak to them。〃
Mrs。 Redburn made no reply； and permitted her kind neighbor； whose tongue scarcely ceased to swing for a moment； to continue her remarks without opposition。 She and Katy worked with all their might till the candy was ready for market； and when the poor invalid poured out her thanks； she ran off and left them。
The exultation with which Katy regarded her plentiful stock of merchandise almost caused her to forget her smarting hands； and when she could no longer keep her eyes open； she went to sleep to dream of great operations in molasses candy on change next day。
CHAPTER VII。
KATY MAKES A LARGE SALE。
Katy rose the next morning bright and early； and her heart was full of hope。 She felt that she had a great work to perform； and she was going forth to do it； resolved that no obstacle should turn her back。 Her mother had told her that she would be laughed at； and made fun of； that thoughtless people would look down upon her with contempt； and that wicked ones would insult her。 She was； therefore； prepared for all these trials； but she had braced herself up to meet them with courage and fortitude。
Her mother was sick； and they were actually in a suffering condition。 What right had she to be proud in her poverty？ She felt able to support her mother； and she could find no excuse； if she wished to do so； for not supporting her。 It was her duty； therefore； to sell candy if she could get money by it； and thus consideration strengthened her heart。
Katy had been to the public school and to the Sunday school until her mother was taken sick； and though she was only eleven years old； she had a very good idea of her moral and religious duties。 〃Honor thy father and thy mother；〃 the commandment says； and she could think of no better way to obey the divine precept than to support her mother when there was no one else upon whom she could rely。 Little by little their earthly possessions had passed away。 Mrs。 Redburn had never learned how to save money； and when the day of adversity came； her funds were soon exhausted。 She had no friends to whom she dared reveal her poverty； and when want came to the door； she was too proud to beg。 Hoping for better days； she had sold most of her best dresses； and those of Katy。 The small sums raised by these sacrifices were soon used up； and when the daughter could no longer make a decent appearance； she was required to show herself much more than ever before。 Katy did not repine at this； though her mother did； for their pride； as my young friends have discovered； was of very different kinds。
Katy did wish she had a little better dress； and a little better bonnet for her first attempt in the mercantile calling； but there was no help for it。 She had mended her clothes as well as she could； and as they were clean； she was pretty well satisfied with her personal appearance。 Besides； people would not be half so apt to buy her candy if she were well dressed； as if she were rather plainly clothed。 In short； it was all for the best。
After breakfast she prepared herself for the duties of the day。 Her heart beat violently with anxiety and expectation； and while she was placing the candy on the tray； which she had previously covered with white paper。 to render her wares the more inviting； her mother gave her a long lecture on the trials and difficulties in her path； and the proper way to encounter the