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！
blessings He had bestowed upon them。
These were not all temporal blessings； if they had been； their success would only have been partial and temporary； their prosperity only an outward seeming； which； in the truest and highest sense； can hardly be called prosperity； no more than if a man should gain a thousand dollars worth of land； and lose a thousand dollars worth of stocks or merchandise。 Both Katy and her mother； while they were gathering the treasures of this world； were also 〃laying up treasures in heaven； where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt。〃 Want had taught them its hard lessons； and they had come out of the fiery furnace of affliction the wiser and the better for the severe ordeal。 The mother's foolish pride had been rebuked； the daughter's true pride had been encouraged。 They had learned that faith and patience are real supports in the hour of trial。 The perilous life in the streets which Katy had led for a time； exposed her to a thousand temptations； and she and her mother thanked God that they had made her stronger and truer； as temptation resisted always makes the soul。 That year of experience had given Katy a character； it expanded her views of life； and placed her in a situation where she was early called upon to decide between the right and the wrong； when she was required to select her path for life。 She had chosen the good way； as Ann Grippen had chosen the evil way。
I do not mean to say her character was formed； or that having chosen to be good； she could not afterwards be evil。 But the great experiences of life which generally come in more mature years； had been forced upon her while still a child； and nobly and truly had she taken up and borne the burden imposed upon her。 As a child she had done the duties of the full…grown woman； and she had done them well。 She had been faithful to herself。
Providence kindly ordains that the child shall serve a long apprenticeship before it is called upon to think and act for itself。 Katy had anticipated the period of maturity； and with the untried soul of a child； had been compelled to grapple with its duties and its temptations。 As her opportunities to be good and do good were increased； so was her liability to do wrong。 She had her faults； great； grave faults； but she was truly endeavoring to overcome them。
Tommy had returned from his voyage to Liverpool； and joyous was the meeting between Katy and her sailor friend。 It took him all the evenings for a week to tell the story of his voyage； to which Mrs。 Redburn and her daughter listened with much satisfaction。 He remained at home two months； and then departed on a voyage to the East Indies。
Master Simon Sneed； after Katy's attempt to serve him； did not tell her many more large stories about himself； for she understood him now； and knew that he was not half so great a man as he pretended to be。 In the spring he obtained a situation in a small retail store where there was not a very wide field for the exercise of his splendid abilities。 He had been idle all winter； and when he lamented his misfortunes to Katy； she always asked why he did not sell candy。 Once she suggested that he should learn a trade； to which Master Simon always replied； that he was born to be a gentleman； and would never voluntarily demean himself by pursuing a degrading occupation。 He was above being a mechanic； and he would never soil his hands with dirty work。 Katy began to think he was really a fool。 She could scarcely think him 〃poor and proud〃； he was only poor and foolish。
At the close of Katy's first year in trade； a great misfortune befell her in the loss of Mrs。 Colvin； her able assistant in the manufacturing department of the business。 A worthy man； who owned a little farm in the country； tempted her with an offer of marriage； and her conscience （I suppose） would not let her refuse it。 Katy； though she was a woman； so far as the duties and responsibilities of life were concerned； was still a child in her feelings and affections； and cried bitterly when they parted。 The good woman was scarcely less affected； and made Katy and her mother promise an early visit to her farm。
Katy's sorrow at parting with her beloved friend was not the only； nor perhaps； the most important； result of Mrs。 Colvin's departure； for they were deprived of the assistance of the chief candy…puller。 Katy tried to secure another woman for this labor； but could not find a person who would serve her in this capacity。 After a vain search； Mrs。 Redburn thought she was able to do the work herself； for her health seemed to be pretty well established。 Perhaps； she reasoned； it was quite as well that Mrs。 Colvin had gone； for if she could pull the candy herself； it would save from two to three dollars a week。
Katy would not consent that she should do it alone； but agreed to divide the labor between them。 The quantity manufactured every day was so great that the toil of making it fell heavily upon them； but as Mrs。 Redburn did not complain； Katy was too proud to do so though her wrists and shoulders pained her severely every night after the work was done。
This toil weighed heavily on Katy's rather feeble constitution； but all her mother could say would not induce her to abandon the work。 For a month they got along tolerably well； and； perhaps； no evil consequences would have followed this hard labor； if everything else had gone well with Katy。 The girls who sold the candy had for some time caused her considerable trouble and anxiety。 Very often they lost their money； or pretended to do so； and three or four of them had resorted to Ann Grippen's plan of playing 〃trick upon travelers。〃 She had to discharge a great many； and to accept the services of those whom she did not know； and who； by various means； contrived to cheat her out of the money received from the sales of the candy。 These things annoyed her very much； and she cast about her for a remedy。
One day； three girls； each of whom had been supplied with half a dollar's worth of candy； did not appear to account for the proceeds。 Here was a loss of a dollar in one day。 Such things as these are the common trials of business； but Katy who was so scrupulously honest and just herself； was severely tried by them。 It was not the loss of the money only； but the dishonesty of the girls that annoyed her。
〃What shall be done； mother？〃 said she； anxiously； when the loss was understood to be actual。 〃I can't find these girls。 I don't even know their names。〃
〃Probably； if you did find them； you could not obtain any satisfaction。〃
〃I went to see one girl's mother the other day； you know； and she drove me out of her house； and called me vile names。〃
〃I was thinking of a plan；〃 continued Mrs。 Redburn； 〃though I don't know as it would work well。〃
〃Anything would work better than this being constantly cheated； for it is really worse for the girls than it is for us。 I have often felt that those who cheat us are the real sufferers。 I would a good deal rather be cheated than cheat myself。〃
〃You are right； Katy； and that is a Christian view of the subject。 I suppose we are in duty bound to keep these girls as honest as we can。〃
〃What is your plan； mother？〃 asked Katy。
〃We will sell them the candy