He took a stick, and threw down a cent, without a word. One more
did her a similar favor, and she left the store well satisfied
with the visit. Pretty soon she came to a large piano-forte
manufactory, where she knew that a great many men were employed.
She went up-stairs to the counting-room, where she sold three
sticks, and was about to enter the work-room, when a sign, "No
admittance except on business," confronted her. Should she go on?
Did the sign refer to her? She had business there, but perhaps
they would not be willing to admit that her business was very
urgent, and she dreaded the indignity of being turned out again.
Her mother had told her there was always a right way and a wrong
way. It certainly was not right to enter in the face of a
positive prohibition, and at last she decided to return to the
office and ask permission to visit the workshop.
"Please may I go into the workshop?" said she, addressing the man
who had purchased the candy.
"Go in? why not?" replied he, placing his pen behind his ear, and
looking at her with a smile of curiosity.
"Why, it says on the door, `No admittance except on business.'"
"So it does. Well, I declare, you have got an amount of
conscience beyond your station. No one thinks of taking any
notice of that sign.
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