What Katy Did Part 12: Bedtime Story

Hello, beloveds.

This is my reading of part twelve of What Katy Did, by Susan Coolidge. I loved reading this, so I hope you enjoy listening, dear ones.

This is a delightful story following the adventures of a twelve-year-old girl, Katy Carr, and her family, who live in the fictional lakeside Ohio town of Burnet in the 1860s. Katy is a tall, untidy tomboy, forever getting into scrapes but wishing to be beautiful and beloved. Our story follows Katy's adventures as she learns some very important life lessons.

Have a beautiful day.

Transcript

Hello,

Dear ones,

And welcome to today's reading,

What Katie Did.

Chapter Twelve Two Years Afterward It was a pleasant morning in early June.

A warm wind was rustling the trees,

Which were covered thickly with half-opened leaves,

And looked like fountains of green spray thrown high into the air.

Dr Carr's front door stood wide open.

Through the parlour window came the sound of piano practice,

And on the steps,

Under the budding roses,

Sat a small figure,

Busily sewing.

This was Clover.

Little Clover still,

Though more than two years had passed since we last saw her,

And she was now over fourteen.

Clover was never intended to be torn.

Her eyes were as blue and sweet as ever,

And her apple-blossomed cheeks as pink.

But the brown pigtails were pinned up into a round knot,

And the childish face had gained almost a womanly look.

Old Mary declared that Miss Clover was getting quite young ladyfied,

And Miss Clover was quite aware of the fact,

And mightily pleased with it.

Very soon,

The side gate swung open,

And Filly came round the corner of the house.

He had grown into a big boy.

All his pretty baby curls were cut off,

And his frocks had given place to jacket and trousers.

In his hand,

He held something.

What Clover could not see.

What's that?

She said,

As he reached the steps.

I'm going upstairs to ask Katie if these are ripe,

Replied Phil,

Exhibiting some currants,

Faintly streaked with red.

Why of course they're not ripe,

Said Clover,

Putting one into her mouth.

Can't you tell by the taste?

They're as green as can be.

I don't care.

If Katie says they're ripe,

I shall eat them,

Answered Phil,

Defiantly,

Marching into the house.

What did Filly want?

Asked Elsie,

Opening the parlour door,

As Phil went upstairs.

Only to know if the currants are ripe enough to eat.

Have you got through practising?

It doesn't seem like an hour yet.

Oh,

It isn't.

It's only 25 minutes.

But Katie told me not to sit more than half an hour at a time without getting up and running round to rest.

I'm going to walk twice down to the gate and twice back.

I promised her I would.

And Elsie set off,

Clapping her hands briskly before and behind her as she walked.

What is Bridget doing in Papa's room?

She asked,

As she came back the second time.

She's flapping things out of the window.

Are the girls up there?

I thought they were cleaning the dining room.

They're doing both.

Katie said it was such a good chance,

Having Papa away,

That she would have both the carpets taken up at once.

There isn't going to be any dinner today,

Just bread and butter and milk and some cold ham,

Oven Katie's room,

Because Debbie is helping too,

So as to get us through and save Papa all the fuss.

And Katie's making a new cover for Papa's pincushion and I'm hemming the ruffle to go around it.

How nicely you hem,

Said Elsie.

I wish I had something for Papa's room too.

There's my washstand mats,

But the one for the soap dish isn't finished.

Do you suppose if Katie would excuse me from the rest of my practising that I could get it done?

I've a great mind to go ask her.

There's her bell,

Said Clover,

As a little tinkle sounded upstairs.

I'll ask her if you like.

Oh no,

Let me go,

I'll see what she wants.

But Clover was already halfway across the hall,

And the two girls ran up side by side.

There was often a little strife between them as to which should answer Katie's bell.

Both liked to wait on her so much.

Katie came to meet them as they entered.

Not on her feet,

That,

Alas,

Was still only a far-off possibility,

But in a chair with large wheels,

Which she was rolling herself across the room.

This chair was a great comfort to her.

Sitting in it,

She could get to her closet and her bureau drawers and help herself to what she wanted without troubling anybody.

It was only lately that she had been able to use it.

Dr Carr considered her doing so as a hopeful sign,

But he had never told Katie this.

She had grown accustomed to her life at last and was cheerful in it,

And he thought it unwise to make her restless by exciting hopes which might after all end in fresh disappointment.

She met the girls with a bright smile as they came in and said,

Oh Clovey,

It was you I rang for.

I'm troubled to fear Bridget will meddle with the things on Papa's table.

You know he likes them to be left just so.

Will you please go and remind her that she is not to touch them at all,

After the carpet is put down,

I want you to dust the table so as to be sure that everything is put back in the same place.

Will you Clover?

Of course I will,

Said Clover,

Who was a born housewife and dearly loved to act as Katie's Prime Minister.

Katie,

Said Elsie,

Those mats of mine are most done and I would like to finish them and put them on Papa's washstand before he comes back.

May I stop practising now and bring my crochet up here instead?

Will there be plenty of time to learn the new exercises before Miss Phillips comes,

If you do?

I think so,

Plenty.

She doesn't come till Friday,

You know.

Well then,

It seems to me that you might just as well not.

And Elsie,

Dear,

Run into Papa's room first and bring me the drawer out of his table.

I want to put that in order myself.

Elsie went cheerfully.

She laid the drawer across Katie's lap and Katie began to dust and arrange the contents.

Pretty soon,

Clover joined them.

Here's the cushion,

She said.

Now we'll have a nice quiet time all by ourselves,

Won't we?

I like this sort of day when nobody comes in to interrupt us.

Somebody tapped at the door as she spoke.

Katie called out,

Come!

And in marched a tall,

Broad-shouldered lad with a solemn,

Sensible face and a little clock carried carefully in both his hands.

This was Dory.

He has grown and improved very much since we last saw him and is turning out clever in several ways.

Among the rest,

He has developed a strong turn for mechanics.

Here's your clock,

Katie,

He said.

I've got it fixed so that it strikes all right now,

Only you must be careful not to hit the striker when you start the pendulum.

Have you really?

Said Katie.

Why,

Dory,

You're a genius.

I'm ever so much obliged.

It's four minutes to eleven now,

Went on Dory,

So it'll strike pretty soon.

I guess I better stay and hear it so as to be sure that it's all right.

That is,

He added politely,

Unless you are busy and would rather not.

I'm never too busy to want you,

Old fellow,

Said Katie,

Stroking his arm.

Here,

This drawer is arranged now.

Don't you want to carry it into Papa's room and put it back into the table?

Your hands are stronger than Elsie's.

Dory looked gratified.

When he came back,

The clock was just beginning to strike.

There,

He exclaimed.

That's splendid,

Isn't it?

But,

Alas,

The clock did not stop at eleven.

It went on.

Twelve,

Thirteen,

Fourteen,

Fifteen and sixteen.

Oh,

Dear me,

Said Clover.

What does all this mean?

It must be the day after tomorrow,

At least.

Dory stared with open mouth at the clock,

Which was still striking as though it would split its sides.

Elsie,

Screaming with laughter,

Kept count.

Thirty,

Thirty-one,

Thirty-two,

Thirty-three,

Oh,

Dory,

Thirty-four.

You've bewitched it,

Dory,

Said Katie,

As much entertained as the rest.

Then they all began counting.

Dory seized the clock,

Shook it,

Slapped it,

Turned it upside down,

But still the sharp vibrating sounds continued,

As if the clock,

Having got its own way for once,

Meant to go on until it was tired out.

At last,

At the one hundred and thirtieth stroke,

It suddenly seized,

And Dory,

With a red amazed face,

Faced the laughing company.

It's very strange,

She said,

But I'm sure it's not because of anything I did.

I can fix it,

Though,

If you'll let me try again.

May I,

Katie?

I promise not to hurt it.

For a moment,

Katie hesitated.

Clover pulled her sleeve and whispered,

Don't.

Then,

Seeing the mortification on Dory's face,

She made up her mind.

Yes,

Take it,

Dory,

I'm sure you'll be careful,

But if I were you,

I'd carry it down to Wetherall's first of all,

And talk it over with them.

Together you could hit on just the right thing,

Don't you think so?

Perhaps,

Said Dory.

Yes,

I think I will.

Then he departed with the clock under his arm,

While Clover called after him teasingly.

Lunch at a hundred and thirty-two o'clock,

Don't forget,

Dory.

No,

I won't,

Said Dory.

Two years before,

He would not have borne to be laughed at so good-naturedly.

How could you let him take your clock again,

Said Clover,

As soon as the door was shut?

He'll spoil it,

And you think so much of it.

I thought he would feel mortified if I didn't let him try,

Replied Katie.

I don't believe he'll hurt it.

Wetherall's man likes Dory,

And he'll show him what to do.

You were real good to do it,

Responded Clover,

But if it had been mine,

I don't think I could.

Just then the door flew open,

And Johnny rushed in,

Two years taller,

But otherwise looking exactly as she used to.

Oh,

Katie,

She gasped,

Won't you please tell Philly not to wash the chickens in the rainwater tub?

He's put in every one of Speckles,

And it's just beginning on Dane Durden's.

I'm afraid one little yellow one is dead already.

Why he mustn't,

Of course he mustn't,

Said Katie.

What made him think of such a thing?

He says they're dirty,

Because they've just come out of eggshells,

And he insists that the yellow on them is yolk.

I told him it wasn't,

But he wouldn't listen to me,

And Johnny wrung her hands.

Clover,

Cried Katie,

Won't you run down and ask Philly to come up to me please?

Speak pleasantly,

You know.

I spoke pleasantly,

I spoke real pleasantly,

But it wasn't any use,

Said Johnny,

On whom the wrongs of the chicks had evidently made a deep impression.

What a mischief Philly's getting to be,

Said Elsie.

Papa says his name ought to be Pickle.

Pickle turns out very nice sometimes,

You know,

Replied Katie,

Laughing.

Pretty soon Philly came up,

Escorted by Clover.

He looked a little defiant,

But Katie understood how to manage him.

She lifted him into her lap,

Which,

Big boy as he was,

He still liked extremely well,

And talked to him so affectionately about the poor little shivering chicks that his heart was quite melted.

I didn't mean to hurt them,

Really and truly,

He said,

But they were all dirty and yellow,

With egg,

And I thought you'd like me to clean them up.

But that wasn't egg,

Philly,

It was dear little clean feathers,

Like a canary bird's wings.

Was it?

Yes,

And now the chickens are as cold and forlorn as you would feel if you tumbled into a pond and nobody gave you any dry clothes.

Don't you think you ought to go and warm them?

How?

Well,

In your hands,

Very gently,

And then I would let them run around in the sun.

I will,

Said Philly,

Getting down from her lap,

Only kiss me first,

Katie,

Because I didn't mean to,

You know.

Philly was very fond of Katie.

Miss Pettingill said it was wonderful to see how that child let himself be managed.

But I think the secret was that Katie didn't manage,

But tried to be always kind and loving and considerate of Phil's feelings.

Before the echo of Phil's boots had fairly died away of the stairs,

Old Mary put her head into the door.

There was a distressed expression on her face.

Miss Katie,

She said,

I wish you'd speak to Alexander about putting the woodshed in order.

I don't think you know how bad it looks.

I don't suppose I do,

Said Katie,

Smiling,

And then sighing.

She had never seen the woodshed since the day of her fall from the swing.

Never mind,

Mary,

I'll talk to Alexander about it and he shall make it all nice.

Mary trotted downstairs satisfied,

But in the course of a few minutes she was up again.

There's a man come with a box of soap,

Miss Katie,

And here's the bill.

He says it's resated.

It took Katie a little time to find her purse,

And then she wanted her pencil and account book,

And Elsie had to move from her seat at the table.

Oh dear,

Said Katie,

I wish people wouldn't keep coming and interrupting us.

Who will be next,

I wonder?

This time half an hour went by without any more interruptions.

Then the doorbell rang.

And Bridget,

With a disturbed face,

Came upstairs.

Miss Katie,

She said,

It's old Mrs Warratt,

And I reckon she's come to spend the day,

For she's brought her bag.

Whatever shall I tell her?

Katie looked dismayed.

Oh dear,

She said,

How unlucky.

What can we do?

Mrs Warratt was an old friend of Aunt Izzy's,

Who lived in the country,

About six miles from Burnet,

And was in the habit of coming to Dr Carr's for lunch on days when shopping or other business brought her into town.

This did not occur often,

And,

As it happened,

Katie had never had to entertain her before.

Tell her you're busy and can't see her,

Suggested Bridget,

There's no dinner nor nothing,

You know.

The Katie of two years ago would probably have jumped at this idea,

But the Katie of today was more considerate.

No,

She said,

I don't like to do that.

We must just make the best of it,

Bridget.

Run down Clover,

Dear,

That's a good girl,

And tell Mrs Warratt that the dining room is all in confusion,

And that we're going to have lunch here,

And after she's rested,

I should be glad to have her come up.

And oh,

Clovey,

Give her a fan the first thing,

She'll be so hot.

Bridget,

You can bring up the luncheon just the same.

Only take out some canned peaches by way of dessert,

And make Mrs Warratt a cup of tea.

She drinks tea always,

I believe.

I can't bear to send the poor old lady away when she has come so far,

She explained to Elsie,

After the others were gone.

Pull the rocking chair a little this way,

Elsie,

And push all those little chairs back against the wall.

Mrs Warratt broke down in one last time she was here,

Don't you recollect?

It took some time to cool Mrs Warratt off,

So nearly twenty minutes passed before a heavy,

Creaking step on the stairs announced that the guest was on her way up.

Elsie began to giggle.

Mrs Warratt always made her giggle.

Katie had just time to give her a warning glance before the door opened.

Mrs Warratt was rather a large person,

And her face was extremely red.

In the coldest weather,

She appeared hot,

And on a mild day,

She seemed absolutely ready to melt.

Her bonnet strings were flying loose as she came in,

And she fanned herself all the way across the room.

Well,

My dear,

She said as she plumped herself into the rocking chair.

And how do you do?

Very well,

Thank you,

Replied Katie.

And how's your paw?

Inquired Mrs Warratt.

Katie answered politely,

And then asked after Mrs Warratt's own health.

I seem to have fleshed up a bit recently.

I can't get the hooks and eyes to meet on my black silk.

So I came to town to see if Miss Pettigrew could fix it up for me,

And I had business at the bank,

Continued the visitor.

But while I got there,

Miss Pettigrew was out,

So I've had my walk for nothing.

Do you know where she's sewing now?

No,

Said Katie,

Feeling her chair shake,

And keeping her own countenance with difficulty.

She was here for three days last week to make Johnny a school dress,

But I haven't heard anything about her since.

Elsie,

Don't you want to run downstairs and ask Bridget to bring a glass of water for Mrs Warratt?

She looks warm after her walk.

Luncheon was brought up,

And Mrs Warratt made a good meal and seemed to enjoy everything.

She was so comfortable that she never stirred until four o'clock.

How long that afternoon did seem to the poor girls,

Sitting there and trying to think of something to say to their last visitor.

Well,

She said,

Tying her bonnet strings.

I've had a good rest,

And I feel all the better for it.

Ain't some of you young folks coming out to see me one of these days?

I'd like to have you,

First-rate,

If you will.

Taint every girl would know how to take care of a fat old woman and make her feel to home,

As you have me,

Katie.

I wish your aunt could see you all as you are now.

She'd be right pleased,

I know that.

And Mrs Warratt got out of her chair and prepared to depart.

This sentence rang pleasantly in Katie's ears.

Oh,

Don't laugh at her,

She said later in the evening,

When the children,

After their tea in the clean,

Fresh-smelling dining room,

Were come up to sit with her,

And Cece,

In her pretty pink lawn and white shawl,

Had dropped in to spend an hour or two.

She is a real kind old woman,

And I don't like to have you laugh at her.

It isn't her fault that she is fat,

And Aunt Izzy was fond of her,

You know.

It is doing something for her when we can show a little attention to one of her friends.

I am sorry when she came,

But now it's over.

I'm quite glad.

Isn't Katie sweet?

Cece whispered to Clover.

Isn't she?

Replied Clover.

I wish I was half as good.

Sometimes I think I shall be really sorry if she ever gets well.

She's such a dear old darling to all of us,

Sitting there in her chair,

That it wouldn't seem so nice to have her anywhere else.

But then I know that's horrid of me,

And I don't believe she'd be different or grow slam-bang and horrid,

Like some of the girls,

Even if she were well.

Of course she wouldn't,

Replied Cece.

Reviews

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