13 What Katy Did - Bedtime Tales 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, the final episode, there is some wonderful news!

Read and Abridged 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.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy listening.

Chapter 13 At Last One day,

Clover and Elsie were busy downstairs and were startled by the sound of Katie's bell ringing in a sudden and agitated manner.

Both ran up two steps at a time to see what was wanted.

Katie was sitting in her chair,

Looking very much flushed and excited.

Oh girls!

She exclaimed.

What do you think?

I stood up!

What?

Cried Clover and Elsie.

I really did.

I stood up on my feet all by myself.

The others were too much astonished to speak,

So Katie went on explaining.

It was all at once,

You see.

Suddenly,

I had the feeling if I tried,

I could.

And almost before I thought,

I did try.

And there I was,

Up and out of the chair.

Only I kept hold of the arm all the time.

I don't know how I got back.

I was so frightened.

Oh girls!

Then Katie buried her face in her hands.

Do you think I'll ever be able to do it again?

She asked,

Looking up with wet eyes.

Of course you will,

Said Clover,

While Elsie danced about crying out anxiously.

Be careful!

Do be careful!

Katie tried,

But the spring was gone.

She could not move out of the chair at all.

She began to wonder if she had dreamed the whole thing.

But the next day,

When Clover happened to be in the room,

She heard a sudden exclamation and turning round,

There stood Katie,

Absolutely on her feet.

Papa!

Papa!

Shrieked Clover,

Rushing downstairs.

Dory!

John!

Elsie!

Come!

Come and see!

Papa was out,

But all the rest crowded up at once.

This time Katie found no trouble in doing it again.

It seemed as if her will had been asleep,

And now it had woken up,

The limbs recognised its orders and obeyed them.

When Papa came in,

He was as much excited as any of the children.

He walked round and round the chair,

Questioning Katie and making her stand up,

And sit down again.

Am I really going to get well?

She asked,

Almost in a whisper.

Yes,

My love,

I think you are,

Replied Dr Carr,

Seizing Phil and giving him a toss into the air.

None of the children had ever before seen Papa behave so like a boy,

But pretty soon,

Noticing Katie's burning cheeks and excited eyes,

He calmed down,

Sent all the others away,

And sat down to soothe and quiet her with gentle words.

I think it is coming,

My darling,

He said,

But it will take time and you must have a great deal of patience.

After being such a good girl all these years,

I am sure you won't fail now.

Remember,

Any imprudence will put you back.

You must be content to gain a very little at a time.

There is no royal road to waking any more than there is to learning.

Every baby finds that out.

Oh Papa,

Said Katie,

It's no matter if it takes a year,

If only I get well at last.

How happy she was that night.

Too happy to sleep.

Papa noticed the dark circles under her eyes in the morning and shook his head.

You must be careful,

He told her,

Or you'll be laid up again.

A course of fever will put you back for years.

Katie knew Papa was right and she was careful,

Though it was by no means easy to be so with that new life tingling in every limb.

Her progress was slow,

As Dr Carr had predicted.

At first she only stood on her feet a few seconds,

Then for a minute,

Then for five minutes,

Holding tightly all the while by the chair.

Next,

She ventured to let go of the chair and stand alone.

And after that,

She began to walk a step at a time,

Pushing the chair before her,

As children do when they're learning the use of their feet.

Clover and Elsie hovered about her as she moved like anxious mamas.

It was droll and a little pitiful to see tall Katie with her feeble,

Unsteady progress and the active figures of the little sisters following her,

Protecting them.

But Katie did not consider it either droll or pitiful.

To her it was delightful,

The most delightful thing possible.

No baby of a year old was ever prouder of his first steps than she.

Gradually she grew adventurous and ventured on a bolder flight.

Clover,

Running upstairs one day to her own room,

Stood transfixed at the sight of Katie sitting there,

Flushed,

Panting,

But enjoying the surprise she caused.

You see,

She explained in an apologising tone,

I was seized with a desire to explore.

It's such a time since I saw any room but my own.

But oh dear,

How long that hall is!

I'd forgotten it could be so long.

I shall have to take a good rest before I go back.

Katie did take a good rest,

But she was very tired the next day.

The experiment however did no harm.

In the course of two or three weeks she was able to walk all over the second story.

By the end of August she was grown so strong she began to talk about going downstairs.

But Papa said,

Wait,

It will tire you much more than walking about on a level.

You'd better put it off a little while until you're sure of your feet.

I think so too,

Said Clover.

And besides,

I want to have the house all put in order and made nice before your sharp high seat,

Mrs Housekeeper.

You shall fix a day to come down,

Katie,

And we'll all be ready for you and have a celebration amongst ourselves.

That would be just lovely.

How soon may she,

Papa?

Well,

In ten days,

I should say,

It might be safe.

Ten days!

That will bring it to the 7th of September,

Won't it,

Papa?

Said Katie.

Then if I may,

I'll come down for the first time on the 8th.

That was Mama's birthday,

You know.

So it was settled.

How delicious,

Cried Clover,

Skipping about and clapping her hands.

I never,

Never did hear of anything so perfectly lovely.

Papa,

When are you coming downstairs?

I want to speak to you dreadfully.

Right away,

Rather than have my coattails pulled off,

Answered Dr Carr laughing,

And they went away together.

Katie sat looking out of the window in a peaceful,

Happy mood.

Oh,

She thought,

Can it really be?

Is school going to let out just as Cousin Helen's hymns said?

Am I going to bid this sweet goodbye to pain?

But there was love in the pain,

I see it now.

How good that dear teacher has been to me.

Clover seemed to be busy all the rest of the next week.

She was having the windows washed,

She said,

But this explanation hardly accounted for her long absences and the mysterious exultation on her face,

Not to mention certain sounds of hammering and sawing which came from downstairs.

The other children had evidently been warned to say nothing,

For once or twice,

Philly broke out with,

Oh,

Katie,

And then hushed himself,

Saying,

I almost forgot.

Katie grew very curious,

But she saw the secret,

Whatever it was,

Gave immense satisfaction to everybody except herself.

So,

Though she longed to know what was happening,

She concluded not to spoil the fun by asking any questions.

The next day dawned fresh and fair,

The very ideal of a September day.

Katie,

Said Clover,

As she came in from the garden with her hands full of flowers,

That dress of yours is sweet,

You never looked so nice before in your life.

And she stuck a beautiful carnation pink under Katie's breast pin and fastened another in her hair.

There,

She said,

Now you're adorned,

Papa is coming up in a few minutes to take you down.

Then Elsie and Johnny came in,

They had on their best frocks,

And so had Clover.

It was evidently a festival day to all the house.

Ceci followed,

Invited over for the special purpose of the day,

Ceci followed,

Invited over for the special purpose of seeing Katie walk down the stairs.

She,

Too,

Had on a new frock.

How fine we all are,

Said Clover,

As she remarked this magnificence.

Turn round,

Ceci.

A paleo,

I do believe,

And a sash,

You're getting awfully grown up,

Miss Hall.

None of us will ever be so grown up as Katie,

Said Ceci,

Laughing.

And now Papa appeared.

Very slowly,

They all went downstairs,

Katie leaning on Papa,

With Dory on her other side and the girls behind,

While Finny clattered ahead.

And there were Debbie and Bridget and Alexander peeping out of the kitchen door to watch her,

And dear old Mary with the apron at her eyes,

Crying for joy.

Oh,

The front door is open,

Said Katie,

In a delighted tone.

How nice!

And what a pretty oilcloth.

That's new since I was here.

Don't stop to look at that,

Cried Finny,

Who seemed in a great hurry about something.

It isn't new,

It's been there ever and ever so long.

Come into the parlour instead.

Yes,

Said Papa.

Dinner isn't quite ready yet.

You'll have time to rest a little after your walk downstairs.

You have borne it adamantly,

Katie.

Are you very tired?

Not a bit,

Replied Katie cheerfully.

I could do it all alone,

I think.

Oh,

The bookcase door's been mended.

How nice it looks.

Then Papa opened the parlour door.

Katie took one step into the room,

Then stopped.

The colour flashed over her face,

And she held the doorknob to support herself.

What was it that she saw?

Not merely the room itself,

With its fresh muslin curtains and vases of flowers.

Not even the wide,

Beautiful window,

Which had been cut toward the sun.

Or the inviting couch and table,

Which stood there evidently just for her.

No,

There was something else.

The sofa had been pulled out,

And there upon it,

Supported by pillows,

Lay Cousin Helen.

When she saw Katie,

She held out her arms.

Clover and Ceci agreed afterwards they never were so frightened in their lives as this moment,

For Katie,

Forgetting her weakness,

Let go of Papa's arm and absolutely ran towards the sofa.

Oh,

Cousin Helen,

Dear Cousin Helen,

She cried.

Then she tumbled down by the sofa somehow,

And the two pairs of arms and two faces met.

And for a moment or two,

Not a word more was heard from anybody.

Isn't it a nice surprise?

Shouted Filly.

Then a perfect hubbub of questions and exclamations began.

Cousin Helen's going to stay three weeks this time.

Isn't that nice?

Said Elsie,

While Clover anxiously questioned.

Are you sure you didn't suspect,

Katie?

Not one bit.

Not the least tiny meanie,

Mate.

No,

Indeed,

Said Katie.

Said Katie,

Not the least.

How could I suspect anything so perfectly delightful?

Such a short day,

That seemed.

There was so much to see,

So much to talk about,

That the hours flew.

And before they knew it,

Evening dropped upon them all like another great surprise.

Cousin Helen was perhaps the happiest of the party.

Beside the pleasure of knowing Katie to be almost well again,

She had the additional enjoyment of seeing for herself how many changes for the better had taken place during the four years among the little cousins she loved so much.

It was very interesting to watch them all.

Elsie and Dory seemed to her the most improved of the family.

Elsie had lost her plaintive look and little injured tone,

And was as bright and beaming a maiden of twelve as anyone could wish to see.

Dory's moody face had grown open and sensible,

And his manners were good-humoured and obliging.

He was still a sober boy,

And not especially quick in catching an idea,

But he promised to turn out a valuable man.

And to him,

As to all the other children,

Katie was evidently the centre and the sun.

They all revolved about her and trusted her for everything.

But best of all,

She saw the change in Katie's own face,

The gentle expression of her eyes,

The womanly look,

The pleasant voice,

The politeness,

The tact in advising the others without even seeming to advise.

"'Dear Katie,

' said Helen,

A day or two after her arrival,

"'this visit is a great pleasure to me.

You can't think how great.

"'It's such a contrast to the last time,

When you were so sick and everybody so sad.

"'Do you remember?

' "'Indeed I do,

' said Katie.

"'And how good you were,

Cousin Helen.

"'How you helped me.

I shall never forget that.

' "'I'm glad.

But what I could do was very little.

"'You've been learning by yourself all this time.

"'I want to tell you how pleased I am to see how bravely you've worked your way up.

"'I can perceive it in everything.

"'In Papa,

In the children,

And in yourself.

"'You have won the place,

Which,

You recollect,

"'I once told you an invalid should try to gain,

"'of being to everybody the heart of the house.

' "'Oh,

Cousin Helen,

Don't,

' said Katie,

Her eyes filling with sudden tears.

"'I haven't been brave.

You can't think how badly I sometimes have behaved.

"'How cross and ungrateful I've been,

And how stupid and slow.

"'Every day I see things which ought to be done,

And I don't do them.

"'It's too delightful to have you praise me.

"'But you mustn't.

I don't deserve it.

' "'But even though,

' Katie said,

She didn't deserve it.

"'I think that Katie did.

Don't you?

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Reviews

An amazing and wonderful story full of delight and charm. Love it thanks Stephanie 🪷🦋💜

Amazing that Katy is able to walk still!❤️ thank you 🙏🏽