"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
the streets."

"Are you crazy, Katy?" exclaimed the mother, raising her head on
the bed. "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

wander about the streets exposed to the insults and rude jests of
the vicious and thoughtless? You do not understand what you

propose."
"I think I do, mother. I don't see any harm in selling candy to

those who are willing to buy."
"Perhaps there is no harm in the mere act of selling candy; but

what a life 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

to proud 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

will give 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
for others. I can pity them, and run away from them. I am not

afraid of anything. 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
the attempt, and she did not like to disappoint her. It is true,

she keenly felt the degradation of such a life, and even feared
that Katy might be led astray while pursuing such an occupation;

but she gave a reluctant consent, trusting that one or two
experiments would disgust her with the business.

Katy clapped her hands with joy as her mother's scruples gave
way, and she found herself at liberty to carry her plan into

execution. It seemed to her as though she had crossed the
threshold of fortune and had actually entered the great temple.

She had an opportunity to accomplish a great work, and her
enthusiasm would not permit her to doubt in regard to her final

success.
"I must begin now, mother, and make all the candy this afternoon,

so that I can commence selling it early to-morrow morning. I will
go to the grocery now and get the molasses."

"Poor child; you have nothing to get it with. We have no money;
you did not 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
reproachful glance at her.

"Yes, mother, I did. I would not accept money now, after what you
have said to me. Miss Grace wanted to give it to me; but I told

her I could not take it. She laughed at me, and I said I was poor
and proud. She would make me take it, and said so much, that, at

last, I told her if she would lend it to me, I would take it."
"It was the same as a gift," said Mrs. Redburn, blushing with

shame at the thought of accepting alms.
"No, it wasn't; she may think it was, but I mean to pay her, and

I shall 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. I shall talk up smart to them just as the shopkeepers do; I
am going to tell them what candy it is, and that their little

sons and daughters will like it very much."
"You are beside yourself, Katy. It pains me to hear you talk so.

It is sad to think a child of mine should relish such an
employment as that in which you are going to engage."

"Do you remember the book my Sunday-school teacher gave me last
New Year's day, mother? It was all about false pride; I want you

to read it, mother. We can't afford to be so proud."
"Go and get your molasses. Katy," replied Mrs. Redburn, who could

not but acknowledge the truth of her daughter's remarks.
She had read the book alluded to, and was not willing to confront

the arguments it had put in the mouth of her child. She was
conscious that her pride, which made a humble occupation

repulsive to her, was a false pride. If it could have been
carried on in private, it would not have seemed so galling. For

years she had been a recluse from society, mingling only with her
humble neighbors, and with them no more than her circumstances

required. She had labored in solitude, and shunned observation as
much as possible, by carrying her work back and forth in the

evening. Years of hard toil had not familiarized her with the
circumstances of her lot. She tried to be humble and submissive,

but the memory of her early days could not be driven away.
Katy returned in a few minutes with the jug of molasses. She

bustled round and made up a good fire, got the kettle on, and
everything in readiness 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 the pulling, which was the most difficult part in the

manufacture of her merchandise. Then she found that her trials
had indeed commenced. At first the sticky mass, in spite of the

butter and the flour with which she had plentifully daubed her
hands, was as obstinate as a mule. It would not work one way or

another; now it melted down, and stuck to her fingers, and then
it became as solid as a rock. She fretted some at these crosses,

and as her spirits sank, her mother's rose, for she thought
Katy's resolution would not hold out long enough for her to

complete the experiment. But she underrated the energy of the
devoted girl, who, in the face of every discouragement, stuck to

the candy with as much zeal as the candy stuck to her.
As is almost always the case with those who persevere to the end,

Katy soon won a partialtriumph, which gladdened her heart, and
gave her courage to continue her trying labors. She had worked a

portion of the mass into candy--clear, light-colored, inviting
candy. Columbus felt no prouder of his achievement when he had

crossed the Atlantic, or, Napoleon when he had crossed the Alps.
She danced for joy as she gazed upon the clear, straight sticks

of candy, as they were arranged in the pan. It was a great
conquest for her; but at what a sacrifice it had been won! Her

little hands, unused to such hard work, were blistered in a dozen
places, and smarted as though they had been scalded with boiling

water. She showed them to her mother, who begged her not to do