Part 15 (1/2)

”For how much will you sell me six sticks?” continued the clerk.

”For six cents.”

”But that is the retail price; when you sell goods at wholesale you ought not to ask so much for them.”

”You shall have them for five cents then,” replied Katy, struck with the force of the suggestion.

”I can't afford to give so much as that. I am a poor man. I have to go to the theater twice a week, and that costs me a dollar. Then a ride Sunday afternoon costs me three dollars. So you see I don't have much money to spend upon luxuries.”

”I hope you don't go out to ride Sundays,” said Katy.

”But I do.”

”What does your mother say to it?”

The clerk bit his lip again. He did not like these allusions to his mother, who perhaps lived far away in the country, and had taught him to ”remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” Very likely his conscience smote him, as he thought of her and her blessed teachings in the far-off home of his childhood.

”I will give you two cents,” said the clerk.

”I can't take that; it would hardly pay for the mola.s.ses, to say nothing of firewood and labor.”

”Call it three cents, then.”

”No, sir; the wholesale price is five cents for six sticks.”

”But I am poor.”

”You wouldn't be poor if you saved up your money, and kept the Sabbath.

Your mother----”

”There, there! that's enough. I will take a dozen sticks!” exclaimed the young man, impatiently interrupting her.

”A dozen?”

”Yes, a dozen, and there are twelve cents.”

”But I only ask ten.”

”No matter, give me the candy, and take the money,” he replied, fearful, it may be, that she would again allude to his mother.

Katy counted out the sticks, wrapped them up in a paper, and put the money in her pocket. If she had stopped at the door to study the young man's face, she might have detected a shadow of uneasiness and anxiety upon it. He was a very good-hearted, but rather dissolute, young man, and the allusions she had made to his mother burned like fire in his heart, for he had neglected her counsels, and wandered from the straight road in which she had taught him to walk. If she could have followed him home, and into the solitude of his chamber, she could have seen him open his desk, and write a long letter to his distant mother--a duty he had too long neglected. We may not follow the fortunes of this young man, but if we could, we might see how a few words, fitly spoken, even by the lips of an innocent youth; will sometimes produce a powerful impression on the character; will sometimes change the whole current of a life, and reach forward to the last day of existence.

Katy, all unconscious of the great work she had done, congratulated herself on this success, and wished she might find a few more such customers. Glancing into the shop windows as she pa.s.sed along, to ascertain whether there was a good prospect for her, she soon found an inviting field. It was a crockery ware store that she entered this time, and there were several persons there who seemed not to be very busy.

”Buy some candy?” said she, presenting the tray to the first person she met.

”Go home and wash your face,” was the ill-natured response.

Was it possible she had come out with a dirty face? No; she had washed herself the last thing she had done. It is true her clothes were shabby, there was many a patch and darn upon her dress, and its colors had faded out like the ”last rose of summer;” but then the dress was clean.

”Buy some candy?” said she to another, with a sudden resolution not to be disturbed by the rudeness of those she addressed.