CHAPTER XIV.
MASTER SIMON SNEED MAKES A MISTAKE.
Contrary to the expectations of Katy and her mother, Ann Grippenreturned at noon with her tray empty, having sold the whole two dozensticks.
"Well, Ann, how do you like the business?" asked Katy.
"First rate. Here is twenty-four cents," replied Ann; and it wasevident, from her good-natured laugh, that she was much encouraged byher success.
"You may give me sixteen; the other eight belong to you."
"I think I can do something at it," added Ann, as she regarded withmuch satisfaction the first money she had ever earned in her life.
"You can, if you work it right; but you must be very gentle andpatient; you must keep yourself clean and----"
"Well, I guess I know all about that," interrupted Ann, who did notlike this style of remark.
"Katy," said her mother, who was sitting in her rocking-chair, by thefire.
"What, mother?"
"Come here a moment."
Katy crossed the room to her mother, to hear what she wished to say.
"You must not talk to her in that style," said Mrs. Redburn, in a toneso low that Ann could not hear her.
"Why not, mother? I was only telling her how to do."
"But you speak in that tone of superiority which no one likes to hear.You are but a child, as she is, and she will not listen to such advicefrom you."
Katy wondered what her mother would have thought if she had heard whatshe said to Ann the day before. Yet she was conscious that she had "puton airs," and talked like a very old and a very wise person.
"I suppose you would like to go out again this afternoon," resumedKaty, joining her assistant again.
"I don't care if I do."
"Well, come this afternoon, and you shall have some more candy;" andAnn ran home to get her dinner.
"I think my plan will work well, mother," said Katy, when she had gone.
"It has so far, but you must not be too sure."
"I mean to go out after dinner and hunt up some more girls, for you seeI shall have no candy to sell myself this afternoon, when I have givenAnn two dozen sticks."
"I hope you will not attempt to lecture them as you did her."
"Why, mother, I know all about the business and they don't knowanything."
"I doubt not you are competent to advise them; but the manner in whichyou address them is more offensive than the matter. Your knowledge ofthe business makes you treat them as inferiors. You must not think toomuch of yourself, Katy."
"No danger of that, mother."
"I am afraid there is. Persons in authority, who are gentle and kind,and do not act like superiors, are more promptly obeyed, and more lovedand respected, than those who are puffed up by their office, andtyrannical in their manners."
"But I am not a person in authority, mother," laughed Katy.
"You will be, if you employ a dozen girls to sell candy for you."
After Katy had eaten her dinner, and fitted out Ann Grippen, she leftthe house in search of some more assistants. She was well known to allthe boys and girls in the neighborhood; and when she stated her objectto one and another of them, she was readily understood. To help hercause, it had begun to be known that Ann Grippen had been seen with aclean face, selling candy in the street. She had no difficulty,therefore, in procuring the services of half a dozen girls, who weredelighted with the plan especially when Katy informed them of Ann'ssuccess.
On her return home, she found that Simon Sneed had called to see her,and she immediately hastened to his house. When she knocked, he came tothe door and invited her into the parlor.
"Well, Katy, I have hit upon something," said he.
"I am glad you have."
"I went down town after I saw you, and hearing of a place in TremontRow, I went to apply for it."
"Did you get it?"
"Not yet, but I hope to get it. They agreed to give me three dollars aweek if everything proved satisfactory; but they wanted arecommendation from my last employers."
"Of course they will give you one."
"No, they would not; they were offended because I left them."
"Then you asked them?"
"Yes, I went after one this afternoon, and they would not give it tome. I did not much expect they would, and so I informed Messrs. Runn &Reed, the firm to which I have applied for an engagement. I told themexactly how the case stood; that I had demanded higher wages, and theMessrs. Sands were angry with me for doing so, and for that reasonrefused the testimonial. They saw through it all, and understood myposition. When I spoke to them about my friend the mayor, they lookedsurprised, and said a recommendation from him would satisfy them. Soyou see just how I am situated."
"Why don't you go to him at once, and ask him for the recommendation?"said Katy wondering why he hesitated at so plain a case.
But Master Simon had some scruples about doing so. He was old enough toknow that it was rather a delicate business to ask a man in a highofficial station for a testimonial on so slight an acquaintance. Themayor was interested in Katy, though she did not presume to call himher friend. She had twice called upon him, and she might again.
"I don't like to ask him, Katy. I feel some delicacy about doing so."
"I should just as lief ask him as not, if I were you. I am afraid youare too proud, Master Simon."
"I am proud, Katy: that's just it. I was born to be a gentleman, but Isubmit to my lot. I am willing to sell my talents and my labor formoney. If I can once get in at Runn & Reed's, I am sure they willappreciate me, and consider it a lucky day on which they engaged me."
"If you want me to go to the mayor's house with you, I will," saidKaty, who did not clearly comprehend Simon's wishes.
"Well, I think I will not go myself," replied Simon.
"Why not?"
"I do not like to place myself in a humiliating posture before greatmen. If I were mayor of Boston, I should like to do him the favor whichI ask for myself. When I am--"
"You haven't asked him, Master Simon."
"In a word, Katy, I want you to ask him for me. You will do me a greatfavor."
"I will," replied Katy, promptly.
"The mayor is a very fine man, kind-hearted, and willing to helpeverybody that deserves help; and if he were not my friend, I shouldfeel no delicacy in asking him myself. You can state the case, andinform him who I am, and what I am; that you know me to be honest andfaithful. You can tell him, too, that I am a gentlemanly person, ofpleasing address."
"But I can't remember all that," interposed Katy.
"Tell him what you can recollect, then. He is an easy, good-naturedman, and will give you the testimonial at once."
"Suppose you write a paper, just such as you want, Master Simon. Thenhe can copy it."
"Well I will do that."
Simon seated himself at a table, and, after considerable effort,produced the following piece of elegant composition, which he read toKaty:--
"To whom it may concern:
"This may certify that I have been for some time acquainted with myfriend Mr. Simon Sneed, and I believe him to be an honest and faithfulyoung man, of gentlemanly bearing, pleasing address, and politemanners, who will be an honor and an ornament to any establishment thatmay be so fortunate as to secure his valuable services; and Icheerfully recommend him to any person to whom he may apply for asituation. Mayor of Boston."
"I have left a blank space for his honor's signature," continued MasterSimon, when he had read the modest document. "What do you think of it,Katy?"
"It is very fine. What a great scholar you must be! I should thinkyou'd write a book."
"Perhaps I may one of these days."
"I will go right up to the mayor's house now," said Katy, as she badehim good afternoon.
Before she went, she returned home and nicely enclosed six sticks ofcandy in white paper as a present for Freddie, the mayor's little son.On her way up to Park Street she opened Simon's paper, and read it. Itsounded funny
to her, with its big words and fine sentences; and thenwhat a puffing Master Simon had given himself! She even began to wonderif there was not something about her gentlemanly friend which was notall right.
She reached the mayor's house, and as it was his time to be at home,she was conducted to the library.
"Ah, Katy, I am glad to see you," said he, taking her hand.
"Thank you, sir. I have brought this candy for Master Freddie."
"You are very good, and I suppose you are so proud that I must notoffer to pay you for it."
"If you please, don't, sir," replied Katy, unconsciously taking MasterSimon's testimonial from her pocket. "I don't want you to pay me inmoney, but you may pay me in another way, if you please."
"May I? What have you in your hand?"
"A paper, sir. You remember Master Simon Sneed?"
"No, I don't."
"The young man at Sands & Co.'s."
"O, yes; the young gentleman that uses so many long words."
"He has left his place, and wants to get another."
"He has left it? Why was that?"
"He asked for more wages. He has found another place, which he can haveif he can get a testimonial."
"Let him ask Sands & Co."
"They won't give him one, because they are so angry with him forleaving them."
"That indeed!"
"Master Simon wants you to give him one," continued Katy, who, in herconfusion was jumping at the conclusion of the matter rather toohastily, and before she had produced a proper impression in regard toher hero's transcendent character and ability.
"Does he, indeed," laughed the mayor. "He is very modest."
"He said, as you are his friend, you would not object to giving himone."
"What have you in your hand, Katy? Has he written one to save me thetrouble?" laughed the mayor.
"I asked him to do so. You can copy it off, if you please, sir."
The mayor took the testimonial and proceeded to read it. Katy hadalready concluded from his manner that the business was not allcorrect, and she wished herself out of the scrape. He finished thereading, and then burst into a violent fit of laughter.
"Your friend is very modest, Katy;--my friend Mr. Simon Sneed."
"I hope I haven't done anything wrong, sir?" stammered Katy.
"No, Katy; you have been imposed upon by a silly young man. You meantto do him a kindness--in your heart you had nothing but kindness--and Ithink the more of you for what you have done, and the less of Simon forwhat he has done. Did he think I would recommend him, when I knownothing about him? He is a conceited puppy, and, in my opinion, aworthless fellow. One of these days he will be 'an honor and anornament' to the workhouse, if he does business in this manner."
"Dear me!" exclaimed Katy, frightened at the remarks of the mayor.
"Now, Katy, we will go to the store of the Messrs. Sands & Co., andfind out about this young man. I will meet you there at half-past four.Good-by, Katy. Freddie thinks ever so much of you now, and in hisbehalf I thank you for the candy."
Katy did not know exactly what to make of her position but at the timefixed, she was at the store of Sands & Co., where the mayor soon joinedher.
"Now, Katy, you shall hear what his employers say of Master Simon,"said he; and she followed him into the store.
The mayor stated his business, and inquired concerning the character ofSimon.
"He is honest, and did his work very well," replied Mr. Sands.
Katy was pleased to hear this, and the mayor confessed his surprise.
"But he was an intolerable nuisance about the store," continued Mr.Sands. "With only a small amount of modesty, he would have done verywell; as it was, he was the biggest man in our employ. Our customerswere disgusted with him, and we had been thinking of getting rid of himfor a long time. When he asked for more wages, impudently declaring hewould leave if we did not accede to his demand, we discharged him. In aword, I wouldn't have him round the store at any price."
"As I supposed," replied the mayor, as he showed Mr. Sands therecommendation Simon had written.
"This sounds just like him."
Katy pitied poor Simon now that she understood him, and she went homedetermined to tell him all that had passed between the mayor andherself.