章节正文
hall till he informed the mayor of her errand. She was not a
little pleased with the victory she had gained, and felt quite
equal, after it, to the feat of facing the chief magistrate of
the city. While she stood there, a little boy having in his hand
a stick of molasses candy, with which he had contrived
plentifully to bedaub his face, came out of the adjoining room,
and surveyed her carefully from head to foot. Katy looked at the
candy with attention, for it looked just like one of the sticks
she had sold that forenoon. The little fellow who was not more
than five or six years of age, seemed to have a heartyrelish for
the article, and as he turned it over, Katy assured herself that
it was a portion of her stock.
"My pa brought home lots of candy," said the little fellow, after
he had satisfied himself with the survey of Katy's person.
"Do you like it?" asked she, willing to cultivate his
acquaintance.
"Don't I, though!"
"Where did your father get it?"
"He bought it of a little girl; she was poor and proud," replied
the little gentleman, transferring half an inch of the candy to
his mouth.
"Dear me!" exclaimed Katy.
But her conversation was interrupted by the return of the
servant, who directed Katy to follow him up-stairs.
CHAPTER IX.
KATY TALKS WITH THE MAYOR, AND RECOVERS THE WATCH.
Katy followed the servant man, whose name was John, up-stairs;
but at the first turn he stopped, and begged her not to mention
that he had shut the door upon her.
"I don't know," said Katy. "I gave you no reason to treat me in
that ugly manner."
"You didn't, but, you see, I thought you was some beggar, coming
to disturb his honor."
"Do I look like a beggar?" asked Katy.
"Indeed you don't; that was a bad blunder of mine. If you mention
it, I shall lose my place."
"Well, I won't say a word then; but I hope you will learn better
manners next time."
"Thank you, miss; and be sure I'll treat you like a lady next
time."
John then conducted her up-stairs into a room the walls of which
were almost covered with books. Katy thought what a wise man the
mayor must be, for she had never seen so many books before in her
life, and took it for granted the mayor had read them all. As she
entered the apartment she saw a fat gentleman sitting at the
desk, very busy examining a great pile of papers. When he turned
his head, Katy was not much surprised to see that it was the nice
gentleman who had given her half a dollar for fourteen cents'
worth of candy.
"Ah, my dear, is it you!" exclaimed the mayor, as he recognized
the little candy merchant.
"Yes, sir; if you please, it is me," stammered Katy, making her
obeisance, and feeling very mush confused, for it was the first
time she had ever come into the presence of a great man, and she
could not exactly tell whether she ought to get down on her
knees, as she had read that people did when they approached a
king, or to remain standing.
"Well my dear, what is your name?" continued the mayor.
"Katy Redburn, if you please, sir," replied Katy with another
courtesy.
"I am glad you have come to me with this business, Katy. Mrs.
Gordon speaks very handsomely of you."
"She is very kind, sir."
"You have lost your watch--have you, Katy?"
"My father's watch, if you please, sir," and having gained a
little confidence from the kind tones of the mayor, she proceeded
to tell him the whole story of her adventure in the pawnbroker's
shop.
The mayor listened attentively to the artless recital, and
promised to do all in his power to regain the watch.
"Were you alone, Katy, when you went to the pawnbroker's?"
"No, sir; there was one of your friends with me," replied she
with a simple smile.
"One of my friends?"
"Yes, sir; and he promised to see you about it."
"I am afraid you have been imposed upon, Katy."
"No, sir; he has often spoken to me about his friend the mayor."
"But who was he?"
"Master Simon Sneed."
"Sneed? Sneed?" mused the mayor.
"Yes, sir; Master Simon Sneed."
"Master? What is he? A schoolmaster?"
"O, no, sir. Everybody calls him master. He keeps store."
"Sneed? I never heard the name before. Where is his store?"
"In Washington Street. It says Sands & Co. on the sign."
"O, you mean the boy that makes the fires, sweeps out, and does
the errands. I remember him now," said the mayor, laughing
heartily at poor Katy's account of Simon. "I never heard his name
before; but he is the oldest boy of his age I ever saw."
"He was very kind to me."
"No doubt he is a very good boy; but I supposed from your account
of him that he was a member of the firm."
"Master Simon says the firm would not be able to get along
without him," replied Katy, who began to have some doubts whether
Simon was so great a man as he had represented himself to be.
"Master Simon is very kind to stay with them then, and I hope the
Messrs. Sands will properlyappreciate his merit. Now, Katy,"
continued the mayor, who had been writing while he questioned his
visitor, "you may take this note to the City Hall and deliver it
to the city marshal, he will do all he can to recover your lost
treasure."
"Thank you, sir," replied Katy, as she took the note.
"Now, good-by, Katy, and I hope you will always be as good as
your candy is."
"I will try; good-by, sir;" and she left the library and passed
down-stairs.
John let her out very civilly and seemed very grateful to her
that she had not exposed his rudeness. She hastened to the City
Hall, sure almost of recovering the watch, and gladdening her
mother with the sight of it on her return home.
Simon Sneed, after parting with Katy, had felt a little uneasy in
relation to the watch. He was jealous of his own good credit, for
he foresaw that Katy could not very well avoid telling the mayor
that he had been with her at the time of the unfortunate
transaction. Besides, he did not exactly like the idea of Katy's
going to the mayor at all. Katy Redburn going to see the mayor!
By and by everybody would know his honor, and there would be no
glory in being acquainted with him!
His conscience seemed to reprove him because he had done nothing
towards the recovery of the watch. What would his friend the
mayor say if Katy should happen to tell him of his neglect?
"Here I am," said Master Simon to himself, as he entered the
store, "a person of influence, enjoying the friendship of the
chief magistrate of the city and have not exerted my influence,
or used my powerful friend, to redress the injury which this poor
girl has received. I will correct my error at once, for if the
mayor should happen to invite me to dinner some time, very likely
he would reproach me for my neglect."
Having thus resolved to preserve his credit with the chief
magistrate of the city, there was fortunately a lull in the waves
of the Messrs. Sand & Co.'s affairs which enabled him to be
absented for half an hour without serious injury to their
business. He hastened to the pawnbroker's at which the robbery
had been committed.
"I presume you know me, sir?" said Simon.
"I haven't that honor," replied the broker.
"Perhaps you may be able to recall the circumstance of a little
girl presenting herself here with a silver watch."
"Well, I do."
"I was with her."
"Then I suppose you helped her steal it."
"Such an insinuation, sir, is unworthy a gentleman, I have come,
sir, with a benevolent purpose, as I came before. In half an hour
the history of that transaction will be conveyed to the mayor
who, allow me to inform you, is my friend."
"Your friend!" sneered the broker who was not particularly
impressed by the magnificent manners and the magnificent speech
of Master Simon.
"The little girl has just gone with a note from Mrs. Gordon of
Temple Street to seek redress of the mayor. I doubt not you will
be prosecuted at once. You have an opportunity to save yourself."
"What do you mean by that, you young puppy?" said the broker,
angrily. "Do you mean to say I stole the watch?"
"By no means; only that you took what did not belong to you,"
replied Master Simon, blandly.
"Get out of my shop!"
"Understand me, sir; I come as your friend."
"You are a fool, I believe."
"You have an undoubted right to your opinion, as I have to mine;
but if you do not restore the watch within half an hour, you will
be arrested for stealing--I beg your pardon, for taking what did
not belong to you."
There was something in the earnest manner of Simon which arrested
the attention of the broker, in spite of the former's high-flown
speech. He was satisfied that something had been done, and he was
disposed to avoid any unpleasant consequences.
"I spoke to a policeman about the watch," said the man. "I told
him I had it, and if he found that such a watch had been stolen,
it could be found at my shop."
"And if he did not find that watch had been stolen, you meant to
keep it yourself," answered Master Simon, whose earnestness made
him forget for a moment to use his high-flown words.
"Keep a civil tongue in your head," growled the broker. "I
notified the police that I had it; that's enough."
"Perhaps it is I will ask my friend the mayor about it;" and
Simon moved towards the door.
"Stop a moment."
"Can't stop now."
"Here! I will go up to the city marshal with you. May be I made a
mistake in keeping the watch; but if I did, it was only to
prevent it from falling into the hands of some one less
scrupulous than myself."
"Do I look like a thief?" asked Master Simon, indignantly.
"It don't do to judge by appearances," replied the broker,
locking his shop door, and walking towards the City Hall with
Simon. "There are some very respectablethieves about."
Master Simon Sneed was satisfied with this explanation. He did
not care to quarrel with any one who acknowledged his
respectability. In a few moments they reached the City Hall, and
ascended the stone steps to the vestibule. As they did so, Katy
entered from the opposite door.
"How glad I am to find you, Master Simon! exclaimed she. "Can you
tell me where the city marshal's office is?"
"Here it is, Katy," replied Simon, pointing to the door. "But
what are you going to do?"
"I have got a note for the city marshal. The mayor gave it to
me."
"You hear that, sir," said Master Simon to the broker, with
becoming dignity. "This, Katy, is the man that has your silver
watch; and he has consented to deliver it to the rightful owner."
"Let me see the note," said the broker.
little pleased with the victory she had gained, and felt quite
equal, after it, to the feat of facing the chief magistrate of
the city. While she stood there, a little boy having in his hand
a stick of molasses candy, with which he had contrived
plentifully to bedaub his face, came out of the adjoining room,
and surveyed her carefully from head to foot. Katy looked at the
candy with attention, for it looked just like one of the sticks
she had sold that forenoon. The little fellow who was not more
than five or six years of age, seemed to have a heartyrelish for
the article, and as he turned it over, Katy assured herself that
it was a portion of her stock.
"My pa brought home lots of candy," said the little fellow, after
he had satisfied himself with the survey of Katy's person.
"Do you like it?" asked she, willing to cultivate his
acquaintance.
"Don't I, though!"
"Where did your father get it?"
"He bought it of a little girl; she was poor and proud," replied
the little gentleman, transferring half an inch of the candy to
his mouth.
"Dear me!" exclaimed Katy.
But her conversation was interrupted by the return of the
servant, who directed Katy to follow him up-stairs.
CHAPTER IX.
KATY TALKS WITH THE MAYOR, AND RECOVERS THE WATCH.
Katy followed the servant man, whose name was John, up-stairs;
but at the first turn he stopped, and begged her not to mention
that he had shut the door upon her.
"I don't know," said Katy. "I gave you no reason to treat me in
that ugly manner."
"You didn't, but, you see, I thought you was some beggar, coming
to disturb his honor."
"Do I look like a beggar?" asked Katy.
"Indeed you don't; that was a bad blunder of mine. If you mention
it, I shall lose my place."
"Well, I won't say a word then; but I hope you will learn better
manners next time."
"Thank you, miss; and be sure I'll treat you like a lady next
time."
John then conducted her up-stairs into a room the walls of which
were almost covered with books. Katy thought what a wise man the
mayor must be, for she had never seen so many books before in her
life, and took it for granted the mayor had read them all. As she
entered the apartment she saw a fat gentleman sitting at the
desk, very busy examining a great pile of papers. When he turned
his head, Katy was not much surprised to see that it was the nice
gentleman who had given her half a dollar for fourteen cents'
worth of candy.
"Ah, my dear, is it you!" exclaimed the mayor, as he recognized
the little candy merchant.
"Yes, sir; if you please, it is me," stammered Katy, making her
obeisance, and feeling very mush confused, for it was the first
time she had ever come into the presence of a great man, and she
could not exactly tell whether she ought to get down on her
knees, as she had read that people did when they approached a
king, or to remain standing.
"Well my dear, what is your name?" continued the mayor.
"Katy Redburn, if you please, sir," replied Katy with another
courtesy.
"I am glad you have come to me with this business, Katy. Mrs.
Gordon speaks very handsomely of you."
"She is very kind, sir."
"You have lost your watch--have you, Katy?"
"My father's watch, if you please, sir," and having gained a
little confidence from the kind tones of the mayor, she proceeded
to tell him the whole story of her adventure in the pawnbroker's
shop.
The mayor listened attentively to the artless recital, and
promised to do all in his power to regain the watch.
"Were you alone, Katy, when you went to the pawnbroker's?"
"No, sir; there was one of your friends with me," replied she
with a simple smile.
"One of my friends?"
"Yes, sir; and he promised to see you about it."
"I am afraid you have been imposed upon, Katy."
"No, sir; he has often spoken to me about his friend the mayor."
"But who was he?"
"Master Simon Sneed."
"Sneed? Sneed?" mused the mayor.
"Yes, sir; Master Simon Sneed."
"Master? What is he? A schoolmaster?"
"O, no, sir. Everybody calls him master. He keeps store."
"Sneed? I never heard the name before. Where is his store?"
"In Washington Street. It says Sands & Co. on the sign."
"O, you mean the boy that makes the fires, sweeps out, and does
the errands. I remember him now," said the mayor, laughing
heartily at poor Katy's account of Simon. "I never heard his name
before; but he is the oldest boy of his age I ever saw."
"He was very kind to me."
"No doubt he is a very good boy; but I supposed from your account
of him that he was a member of the firm."
"Master Simon says the firm would not be able to get along
without him," replied Katy, who began to have some doubts whether
Simon was so great a man as he had represented himself to be.
"Master Simon is very kind to stay with them then, and I hope the
Messrs. Sands will properlyappreciate his merit. Now, Katy,"
continued the mayor, who had been writing while he questioned his
visitor, "you may take this note to the City Hall and deliver it
to the city marshal, he will do all he can to recover your lost
treasure."
"Thank you, sir," replied Katy, as she took the note.
"Now, good-by, Katy, and I hope you will always be as good as
your candy is."
"I will try; good-by, sir;" and she left the library and passed
down-stairs.
John let her out very civilly and seemed very grateful to her
that she had not exposed his rudeness. She hastened to the City
Hall, sure almost of recovering the watch, and gladdening her
mother with the sight of it on her return home.
Simon Sneed, after parting with Katy, had felt a little uneasy in
relation to the watch. He was jealous of his own good credit, for
he foresaw that Katy could not very well avoid telling the mayor
that he had been with her at the time of the unfortunate
transaction. Besides, he did not exactly like the idea of Katy's
going to the mayor at all. Katy Redburn going to see the mayor!
By and by everybody would know his honor, and there would be no
glory in being acquainted with him!
His conscience seemed to reprove him because he had done nothing
towards the recovery of the watch. What would his friend the
mayor say if Katy should happen to tell him of his neglect?
"Here I am," said Master Simon to himself, as he entered the
store, "a person of influence, enjoying the friendship of the
chief magistrate of the city and have not exerted my influence,
or used my powerful friend, to redress the injury which this poor
girl has received. I will correct my error at once, for if the
mayor should happen to invite me to dinner some time, very likely
he would reproach me for my neglect."
Having thus resolved to preserve his credit with the chief
magistrate of the city, there was fortunately a lull in the waves
of the Messrs. Sand & Co.'s affairs which enabled him to be
absented for half an hour without serious injury to their
business. He hastened to the pawnbroker's at which the robbery
had been committed.
"I presume you know me, sir?" said Simon.
"I haven't that honor," replied the broker.
"Perhaps you may be able to recall the circumstance of a little
girl presenting herself here with a silver watch."
"Well, I do."
"I was with her."
"Then I suppose you helped her steal it."
"Such an insinuation, sir, is unworthy a gentleman, I have come,
sir, with a benevolent purpose, as I came before. In half an hour
the history of that transaction will be conveyed to the mayor
who, allow me to inform you, is my friend."
"Your friend!" sneered the broker who was not particularly
impressed by the magnificent manners and the magnificent speech
of Master Simon.
"The little girl has just gone with a note from Mrs. Gordon of
Temple Street to seek redress of the mayor. I doubt not you will
be prosecuted at once. You have an opportunity to save yourself."
"What do you mean by that, you young puppy?" said the broker,
angrily. "Do you mean to say I stole the watch?"
"By no means; only that you took what did not belong to you,"
replied Master Simon, blandly.
"Get out of my shop!"
"Understand me, sir; I come as your friend."
"You are a fool, I believe."
"You have an undoubted right to your opinion, as I have to mine;
but if you do not restore the watch within half an hour, you will
be arrested for stealing--I beg your pardon, for taking what did
not belong to you."
There was something in the earnest manner of Simon which arrested
the attention of the broker, in spite of the former's high-flown
speech. He was satisfied that something had been done, and he was
disposed to avoid any unpleasant consequences.
"I spoke to a policeman about the watch," said the man. "I told
him I had it, and if he found that such a watch had been stolen,
it could be found at my shop."
"And if he did not find that watch had been stolen, you meant to
keep it yourself," answered Master Simon, whose earnestness made
him forget for a moment to use his high-flown words.
"Keep a civil tongue in your head," growled the broker. "I
notified the police that I had it; that's enough."
"Perhaps it is I will ask my friend the mayor about it;" and
Simon moved towards the door.
"Stop a moment."
"Can't stop now."
"Here! I will go up to the city marshal with you. May be I made a
mistake in keeping the watch; but if I did, it was only to
prevent it from falling into the hands of some one less
scrupulous than myself."
"Do I look like a thief?" asked Master Simon, indignantly.
"It don't do to judge by appearances," replied the broker,
locking his shop door, and walking towards the City Hall with
Simon. "There are some very respectablethieves about."
Master Simon Sneed was satisfied with this explanation. He did
not care to quarrel with any one who acknowledged his
respectability. In a few moments they reached the City Hall, and
ascended the stone steps to the vestibule. As they did so, Katy
entered from the opposite door.
"How glad I am to find you, Master Simon! exclaimed she. "Can you
tell me where the city marshal's office is?"
"Here it is, Katy," replied Simon, pointing to the door. "But
what are you going to do?"
"I have got a note for the city marshal. The mayor gave it to
me."
"You hear that, sir," said Master Simon to the broker, with
becoming dignity. "This, Katy, is the man that has your silver
watch; and he has consented to deliver it to the rightful owner."
"Let me see the note," said the broker.
- errand [´erənd]
n.差使，使命 (初中英语单词) - victory [´viktəri] n.胜利，战胜 (初中英语单词)
- portion [´pɔ:ʃən] n.嫁妆；命运 vt.分配 (初中英语单词)
- survey [´sə:vei] vt.&n.俯瞰；审视；测量 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- cultivate [´kʌltiveit] vt.耕作；培植；培养 (初中英语单词)
- beggar [´begə] n.乞丐 (初中英语单词)
- disturb [di´stə:b] vt.扰乱；使不安；打乱 (初中英语单词)
- apartment [ə´pɑ:tmənt] n.一套房间 (初中英语单词)
- spoken [´spəukən] speak的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)
- properly [´prɔpəli] ad.适当地；严格地 (初中英语单词)
- appreciate [ə´pri:ʃieit] v.评价；珍惜；感激 (初中英语单词)
- writing [´raitiŋ] n.书写；写作；书法 (初中英语单词)
- grateful [´greitful] a.感谢的；令人愉快的 (初中英语单词)
- jealous [´dʒeləs] a.妒忌的 (初中英语单词)
- conscience [´kɔnʃəns] n.良心；道德心 (初中英语单词)
- injury [´indʒəri] n.伤害；毁坏；侮辱 (初中英语单词)
- preserve [pri´zə:v] v.保藏 n.保藏物 (初中英语单词)
- magnificent [mæg´nifisənt] a.壮丽的；豪华的 (初中英语单词)
- restore [ri´stɔ:] vt.(使)恢复；修复 (初中英语单词)
- pardon [´pɑ:dən] n.&vt.原谅；饶恕；赦免 (初中英语单词)
- earnest [´ə:nist] a.认真的 n.认真；诚恳 (初中英语单词)
- policeman [pə´li:smən] n.警察 (初中英语单词)
- stolen [´stəulən] steal 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- explanation [,eksplə´neiʃən] n.解释；说明；辩解 (初中英语单词)
- dignity [´digniti] n.尊严，尊贵；高官显贵 (初中英语单词)
- hearty [´hɑ:ti] a.热忱的；强健的 (高中英语单词)
- relish [´reliʃ] n.滋味；风味 v.品尝 (高中英语单词)
- blunder [´blʌndə] n.&v.(犯)大错；疏忽 (高中英语单词)
- regain [ri´gein] vt.收回；恢复 (高中英语单词)
- uneasy [ʌn´i:zi] a.不安的；不自在的 (高中英语单词)
- recovery [ri´kʌvəri] n.重获；获得；恢复 (高中英语单词)
- reproach [ri´prəutʃ] vt.&n.责备；指责；耻辱 (高中英语单词)
- fortunately [´fɔ:tʃənətli] ad.幸运地 (高中英语单词)
- presume [pri´zju:m] v.假定；推测；以为 (高中英语单词)
- unpleasant [ʌn´plezənt] a.不愉快的；不合意的 (高中英语单词)
- respectable [ri´spektəbəl] a.可敬的；有身价的 (高中英语单词)
- molasses [mə´læsiz] n.糖浆，糖蜜 (英语四级单词)
- forenoon [´fɔ:nu:n] n.午前，上午 (英语四级单词)
- marshal [´mɑ:ʃəl] n.(陆军)元帅 (英语四级单词)
- parting [´pɑ:tiŋ] a.&n.分离(的) (英语四级单词)
- resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)
- unworthy [ʌn´wə:ði] a.不值得的；不足道的 (英语四级单词)
- broker [´brəukə] n.经纪人，掮客 (英语四级单词)
- thieves [θi:vz] thief的复数 (英语四级单词)
- assured [ə´ʃuəd] a.确实的 n.被保险人 (英语六级单词)
- recital [ri´saitl] n.背诵；叙述；音乐会 (英语六级单词)
- reprove [ri´pru:v] vt.责骂，谴责；非难 (英语六级单词)
- redress [ri´dres] vt.&n.纠正；调整 (英语六级单词)
- benevolent [bi´nevələnt] a.仁慈的；乐善好施的 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- earnestness [´ə:nistnis] n.认真，急切；坚定 (英语六级单词)
- rightful [´raitfəl] a.正义的；合法的 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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