For a month they got along tolerably well, and, perhaps, no
evil consequences would have followed this hard labor, if
everything else had gone well with Katy. The girls who sold the
candy had for some time caused her considerable trouble and
anxiety. Very often they lost their money, or pretended to do so,
and three or four of them had resorted to Ann Grippen's plan of
playing "trick upon travelers." She had to discharge a great
many, and to accept the services of those whom she did not know,
and who, by various means, contrived to cheat her out of the
money received from the sales of the candy. These things annoyed
her very much, and she cast about her for a remedy.
One day, three girls, each of whom had been supplied with half a
dollar's worth of candy, did not appear to account for the
proceeds. Here was a loss of a dollar in one day. Such things as
these are the common trials of business; but Katy who was so
scrupulously honest and just herself, was severely tried by them.
It was not the loss of the money only, but the dishonesty of the
girls that annoyed her.
"What shall be done, mother?" said she, anxiously, when the loss
was understood to be actual. "I can't find these girls. I don't
even know their names."
"Probably, if you did find them, you could not obtain any
satisfaction.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173