What Katy Did 2 - Bedtime Story

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 and her siblings go for a picnic in the place they call 'Paradise'.

Transcript

You're listening to S.

D.

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

Katie Carr,

And her family who live in the fictional lakeside Ohio town of Burnett in the 1860s.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy listening.

Chapter two.

The place to where the children were going was a sort of marshy thicket at the bottom of a field near the house.

It wasn't a big thicket but it looked big because the trees and bushes grew so closely that you could not see just where it ended.

In the winter the ground was damp and boggy so that nobody went there excepting cows who didn't mind getting their feet wet.

But in summer the water dried away and then it was all fresh and green and full of delightful things.

Wild roses and sapphires and birds nest.

Narrow winding paths ran here and there made by the cattle as they wandered to and fro.

This place the children called paradise and to them it seemed as wide and endless and full of adventure as any forest of fairyland.

The way to paradise was through some wooden bars.

Katie and Ceci climbed these with a hop,

Skip and a jump while the smaller ones scrabbled underneath.

Once past the bars they were fairly in the field and with one consent they all began to run till they reached the entrance of the wood.

Then they haunted with a queer look of hesitation on their faces.

It was always an exciting occasion to go to paradise for the first time after the long winter.

Who knew what the fairies might not have done since any of them had been there to see.

Which path should we go in by asked Clover at last.

Suppose we vote said Katie.

I say by the pilgrim's path and the hill of difficulty.

So do I chimed in Clover who always agreed with Katie.

The path of peace is nice suggested Ceci.

No no we want to go by Saffra's path cried John and Dory.

However Katie as usual had her way.

It was agreed they should first try pilgrim's path and afterwards make a thorough exploration of the whole of their little kingdom and see all that had happened since last time they were there.

So in they marched.

Casey and Ceci heading the procession and Dory with his great trailing bunch of boughs bringing up the rear.

Oh there's the dear rosary all safe cried the children as they reached the top of the hill of difficulty and came upon a tall stump out of the middle of which waved a wild rosebush budded over with fresh green leaves.

This rosary was a fascinating thing to their minds.

They were always inventing stories about it and were in constant terror lest some hungry cow should take a fancy to the rosebush and eat it up.

Yes said Katie stroking a leaf with her finger.

It was in great danger one night last winter but it escaped.

Oh how tell us about it cried the others but Katie's stories were famous in the family.

It was Christmas Eve continued Katie in a mysterious tone.

The fairy of the rosary was quite sick.

She'd taken a dreadful cold in her head and the poplar tree fairy just over there told her that Sassafras tea is good for colds.

So she made a large acorn cupful and then cuddled herself in where the wood looked so black and soft and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night when she was storing soundly there was a noise in the forest and a dreadful black bull with fiery eyes galloped up.

He saw our poor rosy posy and opening his big mouth he was just going to bite her in two but at that minute a little fat man with a wand in his hand popped out behind the stump.

It was Santa Claus of course.

He gave the bull such a rap with his wand that he moved dreadfully and then put up his fore paw to see if his nose was on or not.

He found it was but it hurt him so much that he moved again and galloped off as fast as he could into the woods.

Then Santa Claus woke up the fairy and told her that if she didn't take better care of rosy posy he should put some other fairy into her place and set her to keep guard over a prickly scratchy blackberry bush.

Is there really any fairy?

Asked Dory who had listened to this narrative with open mouth.

Of course answered Katie then bending down towards Dory she added in a voice intended to be a wonderful sweetness.

I'm a fairy Dory.

Was Dory's reply.

You're a giraffe.

Pa said so.

The path of peace got its name because of its darkness and coolness.

High bushes almost met over it and trees kept it shady even in the middle of the day.

A sort of white flower grew there which the children called polypods because they didn't know the real name.

They stayed a long while picking bunches of these flowers and then John and Dory had to grab up an armful of sassafras roots so that before they had fairly gone through Toadstool Avenue,

Rabbit Hollow and the rest the Sun was just over their heads and it was noon.

I'm getting hungry said Dory.

Oh no Dory you mustn't be hungry till the bower's ready cried the little girls alarmed for Dory was apt to be disconsolate if he was kept waiting for his meals so they made haste to build the bower.

It did not take long being composed of boughs hung over skipping ropes which were tied to the very popular tree where the fairy lived who had recommended sassafras tea to the Fairy of the Rose.

When it was done they all cuddled in underneath.

It was a very small bower just big enough to hold them and the baskets and the kitten.

I don't think there would have been room for anybody else not even another kitten.

Katie who sat in the middle untied and lifted the lid of the largest basket while all the rest peeped eagerly to see what was inside.

First came a great many ginger cakes.

These were carefully laid on the grass to keep till wanted.

Buttered biscuits came next three apiece with slices of cold lamb laid in between and last of all were a dozen hard-boiled eggs and a layer of thick bread and butter sandwiched with corned beef.

Aunt Izzy had put up lunches for Paradise before you see and knew pretty well what to expect in the way of appetite.

Oh how good everything tasted in that bower with a fresh wind rustling the popular leaves sunshine and sweetwood smells about them and birds singing overhead.

No grown-up dinner party had ever half so much fun.

Every mouthful was a pleasure and when the last crumb had vanished Katie produced the second basket and there,

Oh delightful surprise,

Were seven little pies.

Molasses pies baked in saucers each with a brown top and crisp candified edge which tasted like toffee and lemon peel and all sorts of good things mixed up together.

There was a general shout.

Even Demurr Sessie was pleased and Dory and John kicked their heels on the ground in a tumult of joy.

Seven pairs of hands were held out at once towards the basket.

Seven sets of teeth went straight to work without a moment's delay.

In an incredibly short time every vistage of pie had disappeared and a blissful stickiness pervaded the party.

What shall we do now?

Asked Clover whilst little Phil tipped the baskets upside down as if to make sure there was nothing left that could possibly be eaten.

I don't know replied Katie dreamily.

She had left her seat and was half sitting half lying on the low crooked bow of a butternut tree which hung almost over the children's heads.

Let's play when we grown up said Sessie and tell what we mean to do.

Well said Clover.

You begin.

What do you mean to do?

I mean to have a black silk dress and pink roses in my bonnet and a white muzzling long shawl said Sessie and I mean to look exactly like Minerva Clark.

I should be very good too as good as Mrs.

Bettle only a great deal prettier.

All the young gentlemen will want me to go and ride but I shan't notice them at all because you know I should always be teaching in Sunday school and visiting the poor and someday when I'm bending over an old woman and feeding her current jelly a poet will come along and see me and he'll go home and write a poem about me concluded Sessie triumphantly.

Poo said Clover.

I don't think that would be nice at all.

I'm going to be a beautiful lady the most beautiful lady in the world and I'm going to live in a yellow castle with yellow pillars on the portico and a square thing on top like Mr.

Sawyer's.

My children are going to have a playhouse up there.

There's going to be a spyglass in the window to look out of.

I shall wear gold dresses and silver dresses every day and diamond rings and have white satin aprons to tie on when I'm dusting or doing anything dirty.

In the middle of my backyard there'll be a pond full of scent.

Whenever I want any I'll just go out and dip a bottle in it and I shan't teach in Sunday schools like Sessie because I don't want to but every Sunday I'll go and stand by the gate and when her scholars go past on their way home I'll put some scent on their handkerchiefs.

I mean to have just the same cried Elsie whose imagination was fired by this gorgeous vision.

Only my pond will be the biggest.

I'll be a great deal beautifuller too,

She added.

You can't said Katie from overhead.

Clover is going to be the most beautiful lady in the world.

But I'll be more beautiful than the most beautiful persisted poor little Elsie.

And I'll be big too and know everyone's secrets and everybody will be kind and never run away and hide and there won't be any post offices or anything disagreeable.

What will you be Johnny?

Asked Clover anxiously to change the subject.

For Elsie's voice was growing plaintive.

But Johnny had no clear idea as to her future.

She laughed a great deal and squeezed Dorrie's arm very tight but that was all.

Dorrie was much more explicit.

I mean to have turkey every day he declared and battered puddings not boiled ones you know but little baked ones with brown shiny tops and a great deal of pudding sauce to eat on them and I shall be so big then that nobody will say three helps is enough for a little boy.

Oh Dorrie you pig cried Katie while the others screamed with laughter.

Dorrie was much affronted.

I shall go and tell Aunt Lizzie what you called me he said getting up in a great pet.

But Clover who was a born peacemaker caught hold of his arm and her coaxing and entreaties consoled him so much he finally said he would stay especially as the others were quite grave now and promised they wouldn't laugh anymore.

And now Katie it's your turn said Ceci.

Tell us what you're going to be when you grow up.

I'm not sure about what I'll be replied Katie from overhead.

Beautiful of course and good if I can only not so good as you Ceci because it would be nice to go and ride with a young gentleman sometimes.

And I'd like to have a large house and spend different garden and then you could all come and live with me and we'd play in the garden and Dorrie could have turkey five times a day if he liked and we'd have a machine to darn the stockings and another machine to put the bureau drawers in order and we'd never sew or knit garters or do anything we didn't want to do.

That's what I'd like to be.

But now I'll tell you what I mean to do.

Isn't it the same thing?

Asked Ceci.

Oh no replied Katie quite different for you see I mean to do something grand.

I don't know what yet but when I'm grown up I shall find out.

Poor Katie always said when I'm grown up forgetting how very much she had grown already.

Perhaps she went on it'll be rowing out in boats and saving people's lives like that girl in the book.

Or perhaps I shall go nurse in the hospital like Miss Nightingale.

Or else I'll head a crusade and ride on a white horse with armor and a helmet on my head and carry a sacred flag.

Or if I don't do that I'll paint pictures or sing or sculpt.

What is it?

You know make figures in marble.

Anyhow it shall be something and when Aunt Izzie sees it and reads about me in newspapers she'll say the dear child I always knew she would turn out an ornament to the family.

People very often say afterward they always knew concluded Katie sagaciously.

Oh Katie how beautiful it'll be said Clover clasping her hands.

Clover believed in Katie as she did in the Bible.

I don't believe the newspapers would be so silly as to print things about you Katie Carr put in Elsie vindictively.

Yes they will said Clover and gave Elsie a push.

By and by John and Dory trotted away on a mysterious errand of their own.

Wasn't Dory funny with his turkey remarked Ceci and they all laughed again.

If you won't tell said Katie I'll let you see Dory's journal.

He's kept it once for about two weeks and then gave it up.

I found the book this morning in the nursery closet.

All of them promised and Katie produced it from her pocket.

It began thus.

March 12th.

Have resolved to keep journal.

March 13th.

Had roast beef for dinner and cabbage and potato and apple sauce and rice pudding.

I do not like rice pudding when it's like ours.

Charlie slacks kind is real good.

Mush and syrup for tea.

March 19th.

Forget what did.

John and me saved our pie to take to school.

March 21st.

Forget what did.

Griddle cakes for breakfast.

Debbie didn't fry enough.

March 24th.

This is Sunday.

Corned beef for dinner.

Studied my Bible lesson.

Aunt Izzie said I was greedy.

Have resolved not to think so much about things to eat.

Wish I was a better boy.

Nothing particular for tea.

March 25th.

Forget what did.

March 27th.

Forget what did.

March 29th.

Played.

March 31st.

Forget what did.

April 1st.

Have decided not to keep a journal anymore.

Here ended the extracts and it seemed as if only a minute had passed since they stopped laughing over them before the long shadows began to fall and Mary came to say that all of them must come home in time to get ready for tea.

It was dreadful to have to pick up the empty baskets and go home feeling that the long delightful Saturday was over and that there wouldn't be another for a week but it was comforting to remember that paradise was always there and that at any moment when fate and Aunt Lizzie were willing they had only to climb a pair of bars,

Very easy ones and without any fear of an angel with flaming sword to stop the way,

Enter in and take possession of their Eden.

I hope you enjoyed this episode.

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Reviews

My mother's favourite stories when she was growing up. Now I see why. Helps me to know her better, planning her celebration of life for June. Beautifully written with colourful surroundings and kindness. 🙏🕊🦋thank you.
Edit:
You are wonderful to offer. Thank you, this would be amazing. 🙏💐😘

Thank you Stephanie for another chapter. I’m enjoying this story and looking forward to the next one 🙏🤶

What an enchanting grove and journey they had— that all children could have such sweet safe havens of nature to delight in ❤️‍🩹🙏🏽💕🍁