Poems (Bell)/The Katy-Did

by Clara L. Bell

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!"