"Well, I don"t care; I will try it once."
"If we find we can afford to pay any more than four cents, we will do so."
Katy covered the tray again, and arranged two dozen sticks on it in an attractive manner. After giving Ann some further instructions in the art of selling candy, she permitted her to depart on her mission. She was not very confident in regard to her success for Ann was too coa.r.s.e and ill-mannered for a good sales-woman. She hoped for the best, however, and after preparing her own tray, she went out to attend to business as usual. In the court she saw Master Simon Sneed, who was sitting on his father"s doorstep. She noticed that he looked sad and downhearted; and when he spoke to her the tones of his voice indicated the same depression of spirits.
"Have you seen the Mayor lately, Katy?" asked Simon, as he approached.
"Not very lately."
"I should like to see him," added he, raising his eyes to her.
"Why don"t you call upon him? You know where he lives--don"t you?"
"Yes, but----"
Master Simon paused, as though he did not like to explain the reason.
Katy waited for him to proceed, but as he did not, she remarked that he looked very sad, and she hoped nothing had happened.
"Something has happened," replied he, gloomily.
"Nothing bad, I hope."
"I have left my place at Sands & Co."s.
"Left it? Why, how can they possibly get along without you?" exclaimed Katy.
"It is their own fault; and though I say it who should not say it, they will never find another young man who will do as much for them as I have done."
"I shouldn"t think they would have let you go."
"Nor I; but some men never know when they are well used."
"How did it happed?"
"I asked them for an increase of salary, and told them I could stay no longer unless they did so. And what do you think they did?"
"I don"t know; I should suppose they would have raised your salary."
"No, Katy," added Simon, bitterly. "Mr. Sands told me I might go; he wouldn"t have me at any rate. Wasn"t that cool? Well, well; if they don"t know their own interest, they must bear the consequences. If they fail, or lose all their trade, they can"t blame me for it. Now I have nothing to do; and I was just thinking whether my friend the mayor couldn"t help me into a situation."
"I dare say he can. Why don"t you call and see him at once?"
"I don"t like to do so. He sees so many persons that I really don"t think he would recollect me. I must get something to do, though; for my father is sick, and winter is coming on."
"How much salary did you get, Master Simon?" asked Katy, who highly approved his determination not to be a burden upon his father.
"Two dollars and a half a week."
"Is that all!"
"Yes; they ought to have given me ten. Even that was better than nothing."
"I was thinking of something, Master Simon," said Katy, after a pause.
"What, Katy?"
"I make four or five dollars a week."
"Is it possible!"
"If you have a mind to sell candy, I will furnish you all you want, so that you can make at least three dollars a week."
The lip of Master Simon slowly curled, till his face bore an expression of sovereign contempt. He rose from his seat, and fixed his eyes rather sternly upon the little candy merchant, who began to think she had made a bad mistake, though all the time she had intended to do a kind act.
"What have I done, Katy, that you should insult me? Do you think I have sunk so low as to peddle candy about the streets?" said he, contemptuously.
"Do you think I have sunk very low, Master Simon?" asked Katy, with a pleasant smile on her face.
"Your business is very low," he replied, more gently.
"Is that business low by which I honestly make money enough to support my sick mother and myself?"
"It would be low for me; my ideas run a little higher than that,"
answered Simon, rather disposed to apologize for his hard words; for Katy"s smile had conquered him, as a smile oftener will conquer than a hard word.
"You know best; but if I can do anything for you, Master Simon, I shall be very glad to do so."
"Thank you, Katy; you mean right, but never speak to me about selling candy again. I think you can help me."
"Then I will."
"I will see you again when I get my plan arranged. In the meantime, if you happen to meet my friend the mayor, just speak a good word for me."
"I will;" and Katy left him.
CHAPTER XIV.
MASTER SIMON SNEED MAKES A MISTAKE.
Contrary to the expectations of Katy and her mother, Ann Grippen returned at noon with her tray empty, having sold the whole two dozen sticks.
"Well, Ann, how do you like the business?" asked Katy.
"First rate. Here is twenty-four cents," replied Ann; and it was evident, from her good-natured laugh, that she was much encouraged by her success.
"You may give me sixteen; the other eight belong to you."