What Katy Did
'What Katy Did ' Summary
12-year-old Katy Carr lives with her widowed father and her two brothers and three sisters in Burnet, a small Midwestern American town. Her father is a very busy doctor who works long hours; the children are mostly in the care of his sister Aunt Izzie, who is very particular and something of a scold. Bright, headstrong Katy can hardly avoid getting into mischief almost daily under these circumstances, but she is unfailingly remorseful afterward. She behaves somewhat kindly to the children and dreams of some day doing something "grand" with her life: painting famous pictures, saving the lives of drowning people, or leading a crusade on a white horse. She also wants to be "beautiful, of course, and good if I can." When her mother died four years earlier, she hoped Katy would be a little mother to her siblings: in practice, she is the kind of big sister who is sometimes impatient and cross with them but leads them into all sorts of exciting adventures.
When Cousin Helen, an invalid, comes to visit, Katy is so enchanted by her beauty and kindness that on the day of Helen's departure she resolves to model herself on Helen ever afterward. The very next day, however, Katy wakes in an ill humor, quarrels with her aunt and pushes her little sister so hard that she falls down half a dozen steps. Afterward, sulky and miserable, Katy decides to try out the new swing in the woodshed although Aunt Izzie has forbidden it. Had Aunt Izzie actually explained that the swing was unsafe because one of the staples supporting it had cracked, "all would have been right," but she believes that children should unquestioningly obey their elders. Katy swings as high as she can and then, as she tries to touch the roof with her toes, the staple gives way. She falls hard, bruising her spine.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1872Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Author
Susan Coolidge
United States
Sarah Chauncey Woolsey was an American children's author who wrote under the pen name Susan Coolidge. Woolsey was born on January 29, 1835 into the wealthy, influential New England Dwight family, in...
More on Susan CoolidgeDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Mother West Wind 'Why' Stories by Thornton Burgess
Thornton W. Burgess was a conservationist and prolific author of children's books. His gently humorous stories about the animals of the meadows and wo...
Another Brownie Book by Palmer Cox
Brownies, like fairies and goblins, are imaginary little sprites, who are supposed to delight in harmless pranks and helpful deeds. They work and spor...
Stories of Old Greece and Rome by Emilie Kip Baker
The Stories of Old Greece and Rome is an easy to read summary of all of the famous and not so famous Greek and Roman mythological stories. All of the...
The Snow Queen and Other Stories by Hans Christian Andersen
The story began with a young girl that grew up with a step mom and two sisters. The mother did not like Martha and everyday make her work harder then...
Folk-Lore and Legends: Scandinavian by Charles John Tibbits
Embark on an enthralling journey into the mystical heart of Scandinavia with "Folk-Lore and Legends: Scandinavian" by Charles John Tibbits. Delve into...
Manx Fairy Tales by Sophia Morrison
Enter the enchanted world of Manx Fairy Tales, where magic and wonder await. Sophia Morrison's classic collection of Manx fairy tales is a timeless t...
Uncle Wiggily's Airship: Bedtime Stories by Howard R. Garis
Embark on a whimsical bedtime adventure with "Uncle Wiggily's Airship: Bedtime Stories" by Howard R. Garis. In this enchanting collection, young reade...
Fairy Tales from Gold Lands Volume Two by May Wentworth
From the Land of Gold comes a new collection of fairy tales, full of magic, adventure, and wonder... Fairy Tales from Gold Lands Volume Two by May We...
Ivan the Fool by Leo Tolstoy
"Ivan the Fool" (also known as "Ivan the Fool and his Two Brothers") is an 1886 short story (in fact, a literary fairy tale) by Leo Tolstoy, published...
Stories of Siegfried, Told to the Children by Mary Esther Miller MacGregor
It tells the story of the legendary hero Siegfried, a brave warrior who embarks on a quest to slay a dragon and win the hand of a beautiful princess....
Reviews for What Katy Did
No reviews posted or approved, yet...