Walking along till she came to a store where there appeared to be several clerks she entered.
"Buy some candy ?" she said, addressing a salesman near the window, as she raised up her ware so that he could see them.
The clerk made no reply, but coming round from behind the counter, he rudely took her arm, opened the door, and pushed her into the street.
Katy's cheek burned with indignation at this unprovoked assault, and she wished for the power of ten men, that she might punish the ill-natured fellow as he deserved.

But it was all for the best, for, in pushing her out of the shop, the clerk threw her against a portly gentleman on the street, whose soft, yielding form alone saved her from being tumbled into the gutter.

He showed no disposition to resent the assault upon his obesity, and kindly caught her in his arms.
"What is the matter my dear ?" said the gentleman, in soothing tones.
"That man pushed me out of the store," replied Katy, bursting into tears, for she was completely overcome by the indignity that had been cast upon her.
"Perhaps you didn't behave well." "I am sure I did.

I only asked him to buy some candy: and he shoved me right out the door, just as though I had been a dog." "Well, well, don't cry, my dear; you seem to be a very well-behaved little girl, and I wonder at finding you in such low business." "My mother is sick, and I am trying to earn something to support her," sobbed Katy, who, with her independent notions of trade in general, and of the candy trade in particular, would not have revealed this humiliating truth, except under the severe pressure of a wounded spirit.
"Poor child!" exclaimed the portly gentleman, thrusting his hand deep down into his pocket, and pulling up a handful of silver.

"Here is half a dollar for you, for I know you tell the truth." "O, no, sir; I can't take money as a gift." "Eh ?" The gentleman looked astonished, and attempted to persuade her; but she steadily protested against receiving his money as a gift.
"You are a proud little girl, my dear." "I am poor and proud; but I will sell you some candy." "Well, give me half a dollar's worth." "I haven't got so much.