CHAPTER VI.
KATY PREPARES A STOCK OF MERCHANDISE.
Katy had not time then to tell her mother about the candy speculationshe had in view, and she was obliged to wait till her return fromTemple Street. Promptly at the hour, she presented herself at Mrs.Gordon's, and they went to the house of the mayor; but thatdistinguished gentleman was not at home, and the lady promised to goagain with her the next day.
As she walked home, she thought of what she should say to her mother infavor of the candy project, for she felt sure her mother's pride wouldthrow many obstacles in her path. The best argument she could think ofwas, that the business would be an honest calling and though she wastoo proud to beg, she was not too proud to work, or to take a veryhumble position among the people around her. She did not look upon theact of selling candy to the passers-by in the streets as degrading initself, and therein she differed very widely from her mother, who hadbeen brought up in ease and affluence. Before she got home she had madeup her mind what she should say, and how she should defend her planfrom the assaults of pride.
"Now, mother, you shall hear my plan," she continued, after she hadannounced the ill success of her visit to the mayor's house. "I amgoing into business, and I expect to make a great deal of money."
"Are you, indeed?" replied Mrs. Redburn, smiling at the enthusiasm ofher daughter.
"I am; and you must not be angry with me, or object very much to myplan."
"Well, what is your plan?"
"I am going to sell candy," said Katy, pausing to notice the effect ofthis startling declaration. "You know what nice molasses candy you usedto make for me. Mrs. Sneed and Mrs. Colvin said a great many times thatit was a good deal better than they could buy at the shops."
"But, child, I am not able to make candy now. I cannot get off my bed."
"I will make it; you shall lay there and tell me how. I am sure I canmake it."
"It is very hard work to pull it."
"I won't mind that."
"Suppose you can make it, how will you sell it?" asked Mrs. Redburn,casting an anxious glance at the enthusiastic little girl.
"O, I shall take a box, and offer it to the folks that pass along thestreets."
"Are you crazy, Katy?" exclaimed the mother, raising her head on thebed. "Do you think I could permit you to do such a thing?"
"Why not, mother?"
"What a life for a child to lead! Do you think I could let you wanderabout the streets exposed to the insults and rude jests of the viciousand thoughtless? You do not understand what you propose."
"I think I do, mother. I don't see any harm in selling candy to thosewho are willing to buy."
"Perhaps there is no harm in the mere act of selling candy; but what alife for you to lead! It makes me shudder to think of it."
"It is your pride, mother."
"I am thankful I have: some pride left, Katy."
"But mother, we can't be poor and proud. We haven't got any money toproud with."
"I am proud, I know; I wish I could banish it," replied Mrs. Redburn,with a deep sigh.
"Let me try the plan, mother, and if I can't get along with it, I willgive it up."
"It will subject you to a great many trials and temptations."
"I can manage them, mother."
"Can you submit to the insults of evil-minded persons?"
"Yes, mother; no decent person would insult me and I don't care forothers. I can pity them, and run away from them. I am not afraid ofanything. Do let me try."
Mrs. Redburn saw that Katy was too earnest to be thwarted; that,impelled by a noble purpose, she had set her heart upon making theattempt, and she did not like to disappoint her. It is true, she keenlyfelt the degradation of such a life, and even feared that Katy might beled astray while pursuing such an occupation; but she gave a reluctantconsent, trusting that one or two experiments would disgust her withthe business.
Katy clapped her hands with joy as her mother's scruples gave way, andshe found herself at liberty to carry her plan into execution. Itseemed to her as though she had crossed the threshold of fortune andhad actually entered the great temple. She had an opportunity toaccomplish a great work, and her enthusiasm would not permit her todoubt in regard to her final success.
"I must begin now, mother, and make all the candy this afternoon, sothat I can commence selling it early to-morrow morning. I will go tothe grocery now and get the molasses."
"Poor child; you have nothing to get it with. We have no money; you didnot think of that."
"Yes, I did, and I have the money to buy the molasses. I borrowed it,"replied Katy, evincing some confusion.
"You borrowed it? Pray who would lend you money?"
"Miss Grace Gordon."
"Did you borrow it, Katy?" asked Mrs. Redburn, casting a reproachfulglance at her.
"Yes, mother, I did. I would not accept money now, after what you havesaid to me. Miss Grace wanted to give it to me; but I told her I couldnot take it. She laughed at me, and I said I was poor and proud. Shewould make me take it, and said so much, that, at last, I told her ifshe would lend it to me, I would take it."
"It was the same as a gift," said Mrs. Redburn, blushing with shame atthe thought of accepting alms.
"No, it wasn't; she may think it was, but I mean to pay her, and Ishall pay her; I know I shall."
"If you can," sighed the proud mother.
"I shall be able to pay her soon, for I mean to sell lots of candy."
"You may be disappointed."
"No: I am sure I shall sell a good deal; I mean to make people buy. Ishall talk up smart to them just as the shopkeepers do; I am going totell them what candy it is, and that their little sons and daughterswill like it very much."
"You are beside yourself, Katy. It pains me to hear you talk so. It issad to think a child of mine should relish such an employment as thatin which you are going to engage."
"Do you remember the book my Sunday-school teacher gave me last NewYear's day, mother? It was all about false pride; I want you to readit, mother. We can't afford to be so proud."
"Go and get your molasses. Katy," replied Mrs. Redburn, who could notbut acknowledge the truth of her daughter's remarks.
She had read the book alluded to, and was not willing to confront thearguments it had put in the mouth of her child. She was conscious thather pride, which made a humble occupation repulsive to her, was a falsepride. If it could have been carried on in private, it would not haveseemed so galling. For years she had been a recluse from society,mingling only with her humble neighbors, and with them no more than hercircumstances required. She had labored in solitude, and shunnedobservation as much as possible, by carrying her work back and forth inthe evening. Years of hard toil had not familiarized her with thecircumstances of her lot. She tried to be humble and submissive, butthe memory of her early days could not be driven away.
Katy returned in a few minutes with the jug of molasses. She bustledround and made up a good fire, got the kettle on, and everything inreadiness 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 thepulling, which was the most difficult part in the manufacture of hermerchandise. Then she found that her trials had indeed commenced. Atfirst the sticky mass, in spite of the butter and the flour with whichshe had plentifully daubed her hands, was as obstinate as a mule. Itwould not work one way or another; now it melted down, and stuck to herfingers, and then it became as solid as a rock. She fretted some atthese crosses, and as her spirits sank, her mother's rose, for shethought Katy's resolution would not hold out long enough for her tocomplete the experiment. But she underrated the energy of the devotedgirl, who, in the face of every discouragement, stuck to the candy withas much zeal as the candy stuck to her.
As is almost always the case with those who persevere to the end, Katysoon won a partial triumph, which gladdened her heart, and gave hercourage to continu
e her trying labors. She had worked a portion of themass into candy--clear, light-colored, inviting candy. Columbus felt noprouder of his achievement when he had crossed the Atlantic, or,Napoleon when he had crossed the Alps. She danced for joy as she gazedupon the clear, straight sticks of candy, as they were arranged in thepan. It was a great conquest for her; but at what a sacrifice it hadbeen won! Her little hands, unused to such hard work, were blistered ina dozen places, and smarted as though they had been scalded withboiling water. She showed them to her mother, who begged her not to doany more; but she had too much enthusiasm to be deterred by the smartof her wounds, and resolutely resumed her labor.
She had scarcely commenced upon the second mass before she wasinterrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Howard, her friend Tommy's mother.
"Why, what are you doing, child?" asked the good woman. "I thought youwere all sick, and here you are making candy, as merry as on a feastday."
"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 ofyou?"
"I know they will;" and Katy detailed her plan to the interestedneighbor, declaring she was sure she could support her mother andherself by making and selling candy. "But it is very hard work," sheadded; "see how I've blistered my hands."
"Poor child! it's enough to kill you!" exclaimed Mrs. Howard, as sheglanced at the great blisters on Katy's hands.
"I have been trying to make her give up the idea, but she has morecourage 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 saythat 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 somethingfor you some time."
"Never you mind that; you are a nice girl, and it does my heart good tosee you trying to help your mother," added the kind woman, as shedetached a large mass of candy, and commenced pulling it with a vigorthat astonished the weak-handed little girl. "You're a jewel and ablessing, and you're worth a dozen of the fine ladies that are tooproud to lift a finger to keep their bodies from starving. Ah, it's adreadful 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 tothem."
Mrs. Redburn made no reply, and permitted her kind neighbor, whosetongue scarcely ceased to swing for a moment, to continue her remarkswithout opposition. She and Katy worked with all their might till thecandy was ready for market, and when the poor invalid poured out herthanks, she ran off and left them.
The exultation with which Katy regarded her plentiful stock ofmerchandise almost caused her to forget her smarting hands; and whenshe could no longer keep her eyes open, she went to sleep to dream ofgreat operations in molasses candy on change next day.