Poems (Bell)/The Katy-Did
THE KATY-DID.
Patsey and Katy
One calm summer night
Went out for a walk
And the stars shone bright,
Yes the evening was still
And all down the road
"Not a creature was stirring
Not even a" toad.
So gay and happy
Were Patsey and Kate
He said he "hoped
Not a creature they'd mate."
"For I've something quite private
To say to ye, Kate."
(Katy-did, Katy-did.)
He said "I was hearing
That on one foine day
You rode with O'Neil
Down the old high-way."
Said Katy "I never
You're wrong thus to say,
I have'nt seen Michael
This many a day."
Then out on the night air
In tones harsh and unbid
Cried out a voice saying
"She did, Katy-did."
"O, What's that!" Cried Patrick
Shure faith, I ne'er heard
So saucy a fellow
No, it must be a bird!"
"A bird," then quoth Katy:
"Now listen, now hark,
For I never heard birds
That would sing after dark."
"And faith, (said the maiden)
I'll never more walk
By night in a country
Where birds can talk.
She did, Katy-did.
And the poor Celtic maiden
Then burst into tears
And her face (on Pat's shoulder)
A doleful look wears.
"Ah, never mind, Katy,"
Quoth Patrick in glee,
"Be my bride and forget it
And come home with me,
We'll leave old America
Birds, that so loudly snore,
And will hie away
To old Ireland's shore."
Then be it recorded
In annals of bliss,
The quarrel was settled
In one ling'ring kiss,
And as onto Pat's shoulder
Kate's bonny head slid
A voice still betrays them,
Saying: "she did, Katy-did!"
One calm summer night
Went out for a walk
And the stars shone bright,
Yes the evening was still
And all down the road
"Not a creature was stirring
Not even a" toad.
So gay and happy
Were Patsey and Kate
He said he "hoped
Not a creature they'd mate."
"For I've something quite private
To say to ye, Kate."
(Katy-did, Katy-did.)
He said "I was hearing
That on one foine day
You rode with O'Neil
Down the old high-way."
Said Katy "I never
You're wrong thus to say,
I have'nt seen Michael
This many a day."
Then out on the night air
In tones harsh and unbid
Cried out a voice saying
"She did, Katy-did."
"O, What's that!" Cried Patrick
Shure faith, I ne'er heard
So saucy a fellow
No, it must be a bird!"
"A bird," then quoth Katy:
"Now listen, now hark,
For I never heard birds
That would sing after dark."
"And faith, (said the maiden)
I'll never more walk
By night in a country
Where birds can talk.
She did, Katy-did.
And the poor Celtic maiden
Then burst into tears
And her face (on Pat's shoulder)
A doleful look wears.
"Ah, never mind, Katy,"
Quoth Patrick in glee,
"Be my bride and forget it
And come home with me,
We'll leave old America
Birds, that so loudly snore,
And will hie away
To old Ireland's shore."
Then be it recorded
In annals of bliss,
The quarrel was settled
In one ling'ring kiss,
And as onto Pat's shoulder
Kate's bonny head slid
A voice still betrays them,
Saying: "she did, Katy-did!"