Preface

POOR AND PROUD

OR

THE FORTUNES OF KATY REDBURN

A STORY FOR YOUNG FOLKS

BY

OLIVER OPTIC

TO

ALICE MARIE ADAMS,

This Book

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

BY HER FATHER.

Poor and Proud.

PREFACE.

Bobby Bright and Harry We st, whose histories were contained in the last two volumes of the"Library for You ng Folks,"were both smart boys. The author, very grateful for the genial welcome extended to these young gentlemen, begs leave to introduce to his juvenile friends a smart girl,—Miss Katy Redburn,—whose fortunes, he hopes, will prove sufficiently interesting to secure their attention.

If any of my adult readers are disposed to accuse me of being a little extravagant, I fear I shall have to let the case go by default; but I shall plead, in extenuation, that I have tried to be reasonable, even where a few grains of the romantic element were introduced; for Baron Munchausen and Sindbad the Sailor were standard works on my shelf in boyhood, and I may possibly have imbibed some of their peculiar spirit. But I feel a lively satisfaction in the reflection that, whatever exaggerations the critic may decide I have perpetrated in this volume, I have made the success of Katy Redburn depend upon her good principles, her politeness, her determined perseverance, and her overcoming that foolish pride which is a snare to the feet. In these respects she is a worthy exemplar for the young.

Pride and poverty do not seem to agree with each other; but there is a pride which is not irreconcilable with the humblest station. This pride of character finds an illustration in the life of my heroine.

Thanking my young friends again for the pleasant reception given to my former books I submit this volume in the hope that Katy Redburn will prove to be a worthy and agreeable companion for their leisure hours.

WILLIAM T. ADAMS.

DORCHESTER, Sept. 29, 1858.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I.

Katy Redburn and Others Are Introduced

II.

The His tory of the Silver Watch

III.

Katy and Master Simon Sneed Visit the Pawnbroker's Shop

IV.

Katy Matures a Magnificent Scheme

V.

Katy Visits Mrs. Gordon, and Gets Rid of Dr. Flynch

VI.

Katy Prepares a Stock of Merchandise

VII.

Katy Makes a Large Sale

VIII.

Katy Sells Out, and Visits the Mayor

IX.

Katy talks with the Mayor, and Recovers the Watch

X.

Katy, in Distress, finds a Champion

XI.

Katy Meets with Extraordinary Success

XII.

Katy Pays Her Debts, and Tommy Goes to Sea

XIII.

Katy Employs an Assistant

XIV.

Master Simon Sneed Makes a Mistake

XV.

Katy Gets a Letter from Liverpool

XVI.

Ann Grippen Plays Tricks upon Travelers

XVII.

The Sun Sets, and the Night Comes On

XVIII.

Katy Struggles Bravely through a Series of Trials

XIX.

Katy Resorts to a Loan

XX.

Mrs. Gordon Feels Faint, and Katy Enters a New Sphere

XXI.

Katy Goes to Church, and Has a Birthday Party

POOR AND PROUD;

OR, THE FORTUNES OF KATY REDBURN.