CHAPTER XII.
KATY PAYS HER DEBTS, AND TOMMY GOES TO SEA.
Katy's second day's sales, though not so large as those of the firstday, were entirely satisfactory. The profits, after paying for the"stock" and for the services of Mrs. Colvin, were nearly a dollar, andher heart beat with renewed hope at this continued success. Her grandidea hardly seemed like an experiment now, for she had proved that shecould make good candy, and that people were willing to buy the article.She met with about the same treatment from those to whom she offeredher wares; one spoke kindly, and purchased by wholesale, and anotherspoke gruffly, and would not buy even a single stick. Here she wasdriven out of doors, and there she was petted, and made large sales.
So far as Katy's person and manners were concerned, she was admirablyadapted to the business she had chosen. She was rather small in staturefor one of her age, but she was very well formed, and her movementswere agile and graceful. Her face was not as pretty as it might havebeen, but her expression was artless and winning. Her light brown hairhung in curls upon her shoulders, and contributed not a little to makeup the deficiency in what the painters and sculptors would call afinely chiseled face.
If she had been dressed in silk, and lace, and embroidery, I doubt notpeople would have called her pretty, though in my opinion it does notmake much difference whether she was pretty or not; for, after all, thebest way to judge of a person's beauty is by the old standard,"Handsome is that handsome does." But I have said thus much aboutKaty's face and form in order to explain the secret of her greatsuccess as a candy merchant. Hundreds of persons would buy a stick ofcandy of a little girl with a pretty face and a graceful form, whowould not do so of one less attractive. Though she was well favored inthis respect, I believe it was her gentle, polite manners, her sweetvoice, made sweet by a loving heart, that contributed most to hersuccess. But above all the accidents of a good form, gracefulmovements, brown ringlets, and a pleasing address, she prospered intrade because she was in earnest, and persevered in all her efforts. Aperson cannot succeed in business by being merely good looking, thoughthis may sometimes be of much assistance. It is patience, perseverance,energy, and above all, integrity and uprightness, that lead to the truesuccess.
Encouraged by her prosperity, Katy continued to sell candy with aboutthe same result as had cheered her heart on the first two days. Herprofits, however, were not so great as on those two days, and did notaverage above seventy-five cents a day or four dollars and a half aweek. This was doing exceedingly well, and she had every reason to begrateful for her good fortune.
At the end of three weeks, rent day came round again, and Dr. Flynchcalled for the money. To his utter astonishment, it was ready for him,and he departed without a single ill-natured word, though this was,perhaps, because he had a wholesome regard for the opinion of Mrs.Gordon. Two weeks later Katy found that her savings were sufficient toenable her to pay the month's rent for which Mrs. Gordon had given areceipt, and also the dollar which Grace had loaned her. These debtshad pressed heavily on her mind. She knew that they were regarded asfree gifts and her pride prompted her to remove what she considered astain upon her character. Till they were paid, she felt like a beggar.
Taking her money one day, she paid a visit to Temple Street. Michaelopened the door and received her with a smile. Knowing she was in favorwith his mistress, he conducted her to the sitting-room, where theportraits hung. Those roguish eyes of the lady, who somewhat resembledher mother, were fixed on her again. She was sure that her mother didnot look like that picture then, but she was equally sure that she had,some time or other cast just such a glance at her. The expression ofthe lady found something like its counterpart in her memory. Now, hermother was sick and sad; she seldom smiled. But some time she must havebeen a young girl, and then she must have looked like that portrait.She felt just like asking Mrs. Gordon if that was her portrait, but shedid not dare to do such a thing. While she was attentively watching theroguish lady's face, her kind friend entered the room, followed byGrace.
"How do you do, Katy?" said the former, with a benevolent smile.
"Quite well, I thank you, ma'am. I hope you will excuse me for comingagain," replied she.
"I am very glad you have come."
"I was thinking of you the other day, and wishing I might see you,"added Grace, "for the Mayor told us a very pretty story about you."
"He was very good to me; and I never shall forget him or you," answeredKaty, warmly.
"I suppose you have come to get another receipt; but I told Dr. Flynchnot to disturb you," said Mrs. Gordon.
"O, no ma'am--I didn't come for that. You were too kind to me before,and I have come now to pay you for that month's rent."
"Indeed?"
"Yes, ma'am; we have been able to earn money enough, and I am very gladthat I can pay it," replied Katy, taking the four dollars from herpocket. "Here it is."
"No, my child; you shall keep it. I will not take it."
Katy's cheeks flushed, for she did not feel poor and proud then. Shefelt rich; that is she was proud of being able to pay all she owed, andshe did not like to be thought capable of accepting a gift--of beingthe recipient of charity. But she knew the hearts of her kind friends,and left unspoken the words of indignation that trembled on her tongue."Please to take the money, ma'am," said she her cheeks still red withshame.
"No, my child; you are a good girl; I will not take your money."
"I shall feel very bad if you don't, and it will make my mother veryunhappy."
"Nay, Katy, you must not be too proud."
"I am not too proud to ask or to accept a favor, but please don't makeme feel like a beggar."
"You are a very strange child," said Mrs. Gordon.
"Indeed you are," added Grace
"I shall not feel right if you don't take this money. You know Ipromised to pay you at the time you gave me the receipt."
"I did not suppose you would, that is, I did not think you would beable to pay it. Your mother has got well, then?"
"No, ma'am; she is better, but she does not sit up any yet."
"Then how did you get this money?"
"I earned it."
"You!"
"Yes, ma'am; selling candy."
"Is it possible? The mayor told me you were a little candy merchant,but I did not suppose you carried on such an extensive trade."
"I make a great deal of money; almost five dollars a week; and now I amable, I hope you will let me pay you."
"If you insist upon it, I shall, though I had much rather you wouldkeep the money."
"Thank you, ma'am. I shall feel much better when it is paid."
Mrs. Gordon reluctantly received the four dollars. It was a very smallsum to her, though a very large one to Katy. She saw that the littlecandy merchant's pride was of the right kind, and she was not disposedto give her any unnecessary mortification, though she resolved thatneither Katy nor her mother should ever want a friend in their need.
"I owe you one dollar, also," continued Katy, advancing to the side ofGrace.
"Well, I declare!" laughed Grace. "If that isn't a good one!"
"I promised to pay you; and you know I would not take the money as agift," replied Katy.
"I am aware that you would not, and you are the promptest paymistress Iever knew."
"With the dollar you lent me, I bought the molasses to make the firstlot of candy I sold. Your dollar has done a great deal of good."
"I am glad it has; but I don't want to take it."
"Won't you let me feel like myself?"
"Certainly I will," laughed Grace.
"Then let me pay my debts, and not feel just like a beggar."
"You are the queerest child I ever saw!" exclaimed Grace, as she tookthe dollar. "I am going to keep this dollar for you, and perhaps sometime you will not be so proud as you are now, though I hope you willalways have all the money you want."
"I think I shall, if my trade continues to be good," replied Katy, who,now that all her de
bts had been paid, felt a heavy load removed fromher heart.
"You must bring your candy up here. The mayor says it is very good. Ihave a sweet tooth, and I will buy lots of it," added Grace.
"I will bring you up some to-morrow," replied Katy, moving towards thedoor, and casting a last glance at the mischievous lady in the picture.
"The mayor told me to ask you to call and see him again," said Mrs.Gordon. "He is very much interested in you."
"He is very kind;" and she bade them good-by.
Katy felt highly honored by the notice the mayor had taken of her. LikeMaster Simon Sneed, she felt almost like calling him her friend themayor; but she resolved to call upon him on her way home. He receivedher very kindly, told her what a mistake she had made in giving thepawnbroker his note, who had never delivered it to the marshal, andpromised to buy lots of candy when she came with her tray.
When she returned home she found a message there from Tommy Howard,requesting to see her that afternoon. She did not feel like spendingany more time in idleness, when she had so much candy to sell; butTommy's request was not to be neglected; and, taking her tray, shecalled at his house as she passed up to the court.
Tommy had been talking for a year about going to sea, and had been forsome time on the lookout for a chance as a cabin-boy or a reefer. Hehad told her his plans, how he intended to be a good sailor and workhis way up to be captain of some fine ship. She suspected, therefore,that he had found a chance to go to sea, and wanted to tell her allabout it.
She found him at home, waiting her expected visit; but a feeling ofsadness came over her when she saw his manly face, and thought howbadly she should feel if he should go off on the ocean, and, perhaps,be drowned in its vast depths. He had been her friend and protector.Johnny Grippen hardly dared to look at her since the flogging he hadgiven him; and Katy thought, perhaps, if he went away, that she shouldhave no one to defend her.
"I am going to-morrow, Katy," said he, after he had given her a seat bythe window.
"To sea?" asked Katy, gloomily.
"Yes; I have got a first-rate ship, and she sails to-morrow."
"I am so sorry you are going!"
"O, never mind it, Katy; I shall be back one of these days. I wanted totell you if Johnny Grippen gives you any impudence, to let me know andI'll lick him when I come back."
"I guess he won't."
"He may; if he does, you had better tell his father."
"But where are you going, Tommy?"
"To Liverpool."
Katy started. Her grandfather lived there. After a moment's thought sheconceived a plan which made her heart bound with emotion. She couldsend word to her grandfather, by Tommy, that she and her mother were inBoston, and then he would send over after them, and they could live inhis fine house, and she should be as happy as a queen. Then she and hermother might be passengers in Tommy's ship--and wouldn't they havegreat times on the passage! And as her grandfather was a merchant, andowned ships, she might be able to do something for Tommy.
Under the seal of secrecy she related to her young sailor friend allthe particulars of her mother's history; and he wrote down the namesshe gave him. Tommy promised to hunt all over Liverpool till he foundher grandfather; and to insure him a good reception, Katy wrote a shortletter to him, in which she stated the principal facts in the case.
"Now, good-by, Tommy," said she, wiping away a tear; "I shall think ofyou every day, and pray for you too. I hope there won't be any stormsto sink your ship."
"We shan't mind the storms. Good-by, Katy."
She felt very badly all the rest of the day, and her sales were smallerthan usual, for her energy was diminished in proportion to the sadnessof her heart.