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Poor and Proud-Part20_Oliver Optic(1822-1897)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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"I only wish to prepare you for the worst. I may get well; and

for your sake, I have prayed that I may. And, Katy, I have never



before felt prepared to leave this world, full of trial and

sorrow as it has been for me. Whatever of woe, and want, and



disappointment it has been my lot to confront, has been a

blessing in disguise. I feel like a new creature. I feel



reconciled to live or die, as God ordains."

"Do not look on the dark side, mother," sobbed Katy.



"Nay, child, I am looking on the bright side, "returned Mrs.

Redburn, faintly "Everything looks bright to me now. Life looks



bright, and I feel that I could be happy for many years with you,

for you have been a good daughter. Death looks bright, for it is



the portal of the templeeternal in the heavens, where is joy

unspeakable. I am too weak to talk more, Katy; you may read me a



chapter from the New Testament."

The devoted daughter obeyed this request, and she had scarcely



finished the chapter before the girls came for their candy. She

was unwilling to leave her mother alone even for a minute; so she



sent one of them over to request the attendance of Mrs. Howard,

and the good woman took her place by the side of the sufferer.



Katy, scarcely conscious what she was doing --for her heart was

with her mother,--supplied each girl with her stock of candy, and



received the money for it.

"You need not come to-morrow," she said to them, as they were



departing.

"Not come!" exclaimed several. "What shall we do for candy?"



"We cannot make any now; my mother is very sick."

"I get my living by selling candy," said one of them. "I shan't



have anything to pay my board if I can't sell candy."

"Poor Mary! I am sorry for you."



This girl was an orphan whose mother had recently died, and she

had taken up the business of selling candy, which enabled her to



pay fifty cents a week for her board, at the house of a poor

widow. Katy knew her history, and felt very sad as she thought of



her being deprived of the means of support.

"I don't know what I shall do," sighed Mary.



"I have to take care of my mother now, and shall not have time to

make candy," said Katy.



"Do you mean to give up for good?" asked one of them.

"I don't know."



This question suggested some painful reflections to Katy. If they

stopped making candy, she and her mother, as well as orphan Mary,



would be deprived of the means of support. She trembled as she

thought of the future, even when she looked forward only a few



weeks. There was not more than ten dollars in the house, for they

had but a short time before paid for their winter's coal, and at



considerable expense largely replenished their wardrobes. The

rent would be due in a week, and it would require more than half



they had to pay it.

Katy was appalled as she thought of the low state of their purse,



and dreaded lest some fearfulcalamity might again overtake them.

It was plain to her that she could not give up her business, even



for a week, without the danger of being again reduced to actual

want. She therefore reversed her decision, and told the girls



they might come as usual the next day.

When they had gone she shed a few bitter tears at the necessity



which the circumstances imposed upon her of working while her

heart revolted at the idea of being anywhere but at the bedside



of her sick mother. Then she lamented that they had not dispensed

with many articles of luxury while they had plenty of money, and



saved more of it for such a sad time as the present. But it was

of no use to repine; she had only to make the best of her



situation.

Amid all these discouragements came a bright ray of sunshine--the



brightest that could possibly have shone on the pathway of the

weeping daughter.



Early in the forenoon came the physician who carefully examined

his patient, speakingcheerfully and kindly to her all the while.



The sufferer watched his expression very narrowly, as he bent

over her and questioned her in regard to her pains. He looked



very serious, which Mrs. Redburn interpreted as unfavorable to




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