She had every reason to believe that Katy was the pure and
innocent child she had always been; but she feared, as she grew
older, that some harm might befall her. She would rather bury her
than see her become a bad person, and she hoped soon to be able
to resume her own labors, and let Katy abandon her dangerous
business.
Mrs. Redburn often talked with her about the perils that lay in
her path; but Katy spoke like one who was fortified by good
resolutions and a strong will. She declared that she knew what
dangers were in her way, and that she could resist all the
temptations that beset her. Whatever views the mother had, there
seemed to be no opportunity to carry them out, for by Katy's
labors they were fed, clothed, and housed. She was her mother's
only support, and the candy trade, perilous as it was, could not
be given up.
Katy did not desire to abandon the business she had built up, for
she was proud of her achievement. She was resolved to be good and
true, and to her it did not seem half so perilous as to others.
She had even indulged some thoughts of enlarging her business.
Why could she not have a shop, and sell candy on a counter as
well as in the street? She mentioned this idea to her mother, who
was sure the shop could not succeed, for she was aware that her
daughter's winning manners were more than half her stock in
trade, and that her large sales resulted from carrying the candy
to hundreds of people who did not want it enough to go after it.
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