9 What Katy Did - Stephanie Poppins

What Katy Did is an 1872 children's book written by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey under her pen name "Susan Coolidge". It follows the adventures of a twelve-year-old American girl Katy Carr, and her family who live in the fictional lakeside Ohio town of Burnet in the 1860s.

In this episode, Katy realizes, that being as good as Aunt Helen is not as easy as it appears!

Read by Stephanie Poppins

Transcript

You're listening to S.

D.

Hudson Magic What Katie Did By Susan Coolidge This story follows the adventures of a 12-year-old American girl,

Katie Carr,

And her family,

Who live in the fictional lakeside Ohio town of Burnett in the 1860s.

Chapter 9 Dismal Days If anybody had told Katie that first afternoon that at the end of a week,

She would still be in bed and in pain and with no time fix for getting up,

I think it would have almost killed her.

She was so restless and eager that to lie still seemed one of the hardest things in the world.

But to lie still and have her back ache all the time was worse yet.

Day after day she asked Papa with a quivering lip,

Mayn't I get up and go downstairs this morning?

And when he shook his head the lip would quiver and tears would come.

But if she tried to get up it hurt her so much that in spite of herself she was glad to sink back again on the soft pillows and mattress which felt so comfortable to her poor bones.

Then there came a time when Katie didn't even ask to be allowed to get up.

A time when sharp dreadful pain,

Such as she'd never imagined before,

Took hold of her.

When days and nights got all confused and tangled up together and Aunt Izzy never seemed to go to bed.

A time when Papa was constantly in her room.

When other doctors came and stood over her and punched and felt her back and talked to each other in low whispers.

It was all like a long bad dream from which she couldn't wake up,

Though she never tried so hard.

Now and then she would rouse a little and catch the sound of voices or be aware that Clover or Elsie stood at the door crying softly.

Or that Aunt Izzy in creaking slippers was going through the room on tiptoe.

Then all these things would slip away again and she would drop off into a dark place where there was nothing but pain and sleep which made her forget pain and so seemed the best thing in the world.

We will hurry over this time for it is hard to think of our bright Katie in such a sad plight.

By and by the pain grew less and the sleep quieter.

Then as the pain became easier still Katie woke up as it were and then began to notice of what was going on about her.

How long have I been sick?

She asked one morning.

It is four weeks yesterday replied Papa.

Four weeks?

Said Katie.

Why I didn't even know it was so long as that.

Was I very sick Papa?

Very,

Very dear but you are a great deal better now.

When you fell out of the swing you struck against one of the knobs on your spine and bruised the membrane inside and the nerve inflamed and gave you a fever in the back.

Do you see?

A little,

Said Katie,

Not quite understanding but too tired to question further.

After she had rested a while she said,

Is the fever well now Papa?

Can I get up again and go downstairs?

Not right away I'm afraid,

Said Dr.

Carr trying to speak cheerfully.

Katie didn't ask any more questions then.

Another week passed and another and the pain was almost gone.

It only came back now and then for a few minutes.

She could sleep and eat and be raised in bed without feeling giddy but still the once active limbs hung heavy and lifeless and she was not able to walk or even stand alone.

My legs feel so queer,

She said one morning.

What do you suppose is the reason Papa?

Won't they feel natural soon?

Not soon,

Answered Dr.

Carr.

Then he said to himself,

Poor child,

She better know the truth.

So he went on aloud,

I'm afraid my darling we must make up your mind to stay in bed for a long time.

How long,

Said Katie looking frightened,

A month more?

I can't exactly tell how long,

Answered her father.

The doctors think as I do that the injury to your spine is one which you will outgrow because you're so young and strong but it might take a good while to do it.

It may be you'll have to lie here for months or it may be more.

The only cure for such a hurt is time and patience.

Katie began to sob wildly but you have hope to help you along.

Think of poor cousin Helen bearing all these years without hope.

Oh Papa,

Gasped Katie between sobs,

Doesn't it seem dreadful that just getting into the swing for a few minutes should do so much harm?

Such a little thing is that.

Yes,

Such a little thing,

Repeated Dr.

Carr sadly.

And it was only a little thing too forgetting Aunt Izzie's order about the swing.

Years afterwards,

Katie told somebody the six longest weeks of her life were those which followed this conversation.

Now that she knew there was no chance of getting well at once,

The days dragged dreadfully.

Each seemed duller and dismal than the day before.

She took no interest in anything.

Aunt Izzie bought her books but she didn't want to read or to sew.

Nothing amused her at all.

Clover and Ceci would come but hearing them talk about their plays and the things they'd been doing made Katie cry so miserably that Aunt Izzie wouldn't let them come again.

They were very sorry for Katie but the room was so gloomy and Katie was so cross that they didn't much mind not being allowed to see her.

In those days,

Katie made Aunt Izzie keep the blinds shut tight and she lay in the dark thinking how miserable she was and how wretched all the rest of her life was going to be.

Everybody was very kind and patient but she was too selfishly miserable to notice it.

Aunt Izzie was on her feet all day running up and down the stairs trying to get something that would please her but Katie hardly said thank you and never saw how tired she looked.

But doleful as the days were,

They were not so bad as the nights.

After Aunt Izzie was asleep,

Katie would lie awake and cry.

All these times she would think of all the plans she'd made for doing beautiful things when she was grown up and now I shall never do any of them,

She would say to herself.

I shan't get well by and by and even if I do I shall have wasted all these years and the others will grow up and get ahead of me.

How dreadful this is.

The first thing which broke in upon this sad state of affairs was a letter from Cousin Helen which Papa bought one morning and agreed to come and visit Katie.

For the next week Katie was feverish with expectation.

At last Cousin Helen came.

This time Katie was not on the steps to welcome her but after a little while Papa bought Cousin Helen in his arms and sat her in a big chair beside the bed.

How dark it is,

She said after they'd kissed each other.

I can't see your face at all.

Would it hurt your eyes to have a little more light?

Oh no,

Answered Katie,

It don't hurt my eyes but I hate to have the sun come in,

It makes me feel worse somehow.

Push the blind open a little bit then Clover,

Said Cousin Helen and Clover did so.

It was a forlorn looking child which she saw lying before her.

Katie's face had grown thin and her eyes had red circles about them from continual crying.

Her hair was brushed twice that morning but Katie had run her fingers impatiently through it till it stood out above her head like a frowzy bush.

She wore a calico dressing gown which though clean was particularly ugly in pattern and the room for all its tidiness had a dismal look with a chair set up against the wall and a row of medicine bottles on the chimney piece.

Isn't it horrid,

Sighed Katie as Cousin Helen looked around.

Everything's horrid but I don't mind so much now you've come.

Oh Cousin Helen,

I've had such a dreadful,

Dreadful time.

I know,

Said her cousin pityingly.

I've heard all about it Katie and I'm very sorry for you.

It is a hard trial my darling.

But how do you do it,

Cried Katie.

How do you manage to be so sweet and beautiful and patient when you're feeling bad all the time and can't do anything?

Then her voice was lost in sobs.

Cousin Helen didn't say anything for a little while.

She just sat and stroked Katie's hands.

Katie,

She said at last,

Has Papa told you he thinks you're going to get well by and by?

Yes,

Replied Katie,

He did.

But perhaps it won't be for a long time and I wanted to do so many things and I can't do any at all now.

What sort of things?

Study and help people and become famous and teach the children.

Mama said I must take care of them and I didn't mean to and now I can't go to school or learn anything myself and if I ever do get well the children will be almost grown up and then they won't need me.

But why must you wait till you get well,

Asked Cousin Helen,

Smiling.

Why Cousin Helen,

What can I do here lying in bed?

A good deal.

Should I tell you Katie,

What I would say to myself if I were in your place?

Yes,

Please,

Replied Katie,

Wonderingly.

I should say this.

Now Katie Carr,

You wanted to go to school and learn to be wise and useful and here's a chance.

God is going to let you go to his school where he teaches all sorts of beautiful things.

Perhaps he'll only keep you for one term or it might be three or four but whichever it is you must make the very most of the chance.

But what is the school,

Asked Katie.

I don't know what you mean.

It is called the School of Pain,

Replied Cousin Helen with her sweetest smile.

The place the lessons are to be learned is in this room of yours.

The rules are pretty hard but the good scholars who keep them best find out after a while how right and kind they are.

The lessons aren't easy either but the more you study the more interesting they become.

What are the lessons,

Asked Katie,

Getting interested and beginning to feel as if Cousin Helen were telling her a story?

Well,

There's a lesson of patience.

That's one of the hardest studies.

You can't learn much of it at a time but every bit you get by heart makes the next bit easier.

And there's the lesson of hopefulness.

That class has ever so many teachers.

The son is one.

He sits outside the window all day waiting for a chance to slip in and get at his pupil.

He's a first-rate teacher too.

I wouldn't shut him out if I were you.

Then there's the lesson of neatness.

School rooms must be kept in order,

You know.

A sick person ought to be as fresh and dainty as a rose.

But it's such a fuss,

Pleaded Katie.

I don't believe you any idea what a bother it is to always be nice and in order.

You never were careless like me,

Cousin Helen.

You were born neat.

Nor was I,

Said her cousin.

Well,

Katie,

We won't dispute that point.

When I was younger,

After my father was gone away,

I sent for a looking-glass.

And I was such a sight,

Katie.

My hair was a mouse's nest and I'd frowned so much my forehead was all criss-crossed with lines.

Katie stared at Cousin Helen's smooth brow and glossy hair.

I can't believe it,

She said.

Your hair could never be rough.

Yes,

It was.

A great deal worse than yours looks now.

But that peep in the glass did me good.

I began to think how selfishly I was behaving.

And I wanted to do better.

And after that,

When the pain came on,

I would lie and keep my forehead smooth with my fingers and try not to let my face show what I was enduring.

So by and by,

The wrinkles wore away.

And although I'm a good deal older now,

They've never come back.

It was a great deal of trouble at first,

Too,

To have to think and plan to keep my room looking nice.

But after a while,

It grew to be a habit.

And now it's easy.

And the pleasure it gave my dear father repaid for it all.

He'd been proud of me when I was an active,

Healthy girl.

But I think I was never such a comfort to him as his sick one,

Lying there in bed.

My room was his favourite sitting place and he spent so much time there,

That now that room and everything in it makes me think of him.

There were tears in cousin Helen's eyes as she stopped speaking.

But Katie looked bright and eager.

Do you really think I could be as neat and tidy as you?

She asked.

Yes,

She said.

I'm sure you can if you try.

But what should I do first?

Asked Katie,

Who now her mind had grasped a new idea,

Was eager to begin.

First,

I would open the blinds and make the room look less dismal.

Are you taking all those medicines in the bottles now?

No,

Only that big one with a blue label.

Then you might ask Aunt Tizzy to take away the others.

And I'd get Clover to pick you a bunch of fresh flowers every day.

By the way,

I don't see the little white vase I gave you.

No,

It got broken the very day after you went away.

The day I fell out of the swing,

Said Katie sorrowfully.

Never mind pet,

Don't look so doleful,

Said cousin Helen.

I know the tree those vases grow upon and you shall have another.

Then after the rooms made pleasant,

I would have all my lesson books fetched up if I were you and study a couple of hours every morning.

Oh,

Cried Katie,

Making a wry face at the idea.

I know,

Said cousin Helen.

It sounds like dull work.

But if you make the effort,

You'll be glad by and by.

You won't lose so much ground you see.

You won't slip quite so far back in your education.

Studying's like working at a garden.

Every flower you raise will be a sort of triumph,

And you will value it twice as much as a common flower,

Which has cost no trouble.

I'll try,

Said Katie rather forlornly,

But it won't be a bit nice studying without anybody to study with me.

Just then the door creaked and Elsie timidly put her head into the room.

Oh,

Elsie,

Run away,

Cried Katie.

Cousin Helen and I are talking.

Don't come in now.

Katie didn't speak unkindly,

But Elsie's face fell and she looked disappointed.

She shut the door and stole away.

Katie,

Said cousin Helen at last,

You were saying just now one of the things you were sorry about,

That was that you could be of no use to the children.

I don't think you have that reason for being sorry.

Why not?

Said Katie,

Astonished.

Because you can be of use.

You have more of a chance to be with the children now than you ever could have had when you were well.

You might do almost anything you liked with them.

I can't think what you mean,

Said Katie sadly.

Why,

Half the time I don't even know where they are or what they're doing,

And I can't get up and go after them,

You know.

But you can make your room such a delightful place they'll want to be in.

Don't you see,

A sick person has one splendid chance.

She's always on hand.

Everybody who wants her knows just where to go.

And if people love her,

She gets naturally to be the heart of the house.

But I didn't mean to preach a sermon.

I'm afraid you're tired.

I'm not a bit,

Said Katie.

I'm not a bit,

Said Katie.

You can't think how much better I feel.

Oh cousin Helen,

I will try.

It won't be easy,

Replied her cousin.

There will be days when your head aches and you feel cross,

And there'll be other days when Clover and the rest will come in as Elsie did,

And you'll be doing something else.

But you must recollect every time you forget,

And are impatient or selfish,

You will chill them and drive them away.

They are loving little things and are so sorry for you just now.

By and by,

They'll get used to having you sick,

And if you haven't won them as friends,

They'll grow away from you as they get older.

Just then,

In came Dr.

Carr.

I've come to take cousin Helen,

He said.

I think the big invalid and the little invalid have talked quite long enough.

For a minute,

Katie felt just like crying.

Then she choked back the tears.

My first lesson in patience,

She said to herself,

And she managed to give a faint watery smile.

That's right,

Dear,

Whispered cousin Helen,

And one last word.

In this school to which you and I belong,

There's one great comfort,

And that is the teacher is always at hand.

He never goes away.

Try to think of this,

Darling,

And don't be afraid to ask him for help if the lesson seems too hard.

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