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Poem
December 8, 1877
Virginia Free Press
Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A cautionary narrative poem about Katy Delay, a pretty child who procrastinates on learning at her mother's urging, resulting in a foolish, joyless old age due to her stubborn ways and failure to seize tomorrow.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The Old Family Journal.
POOR KATY DELAY.
With cheeks like pink roses abloom in May.
And eyes like the stars, so sparkling were they!
With breath like sweet clover, or new-mown hay,
Ah! pretty and sweet was Katy Delay
And good and wise we should find her this day,
Had it not been for a very bad way
She had, whenever her mother would say,
"Come, Miss Katy, and learn!" of crying. "I'll stay
Just five minutes more!" or "Dear mother, pray
Wait till to-morrow, -I want so to play!"
Now she is old and wrinkled and gray,
And knows no more than they do at college,-
Foolish and old, and never a ray
Of hope or joy for her who once was so gay;
And all because she would have her own way.
Somehow or other, 'tis always to-day.
She never has found, I'll venture to say,
Any to-morrow. Poor Katy Delay!
-From St. Nicholas
POOR KATY DELAY.
With cheeks like pink roses abloom in May.
And eyes like the stars, so sparkling were they!
With breath like sweet clover, or new-mown hay,
Ah! pretty and sweet was Katy Delay
And good and wise we should find her this day,
Had it not been for a very bad way
She had, whenever her mother would say,
"Come, Miss Katy, and learn!" of crying. "I'll stay
Just five minutes more!" or "Dear mother, pray
Wait till to-morrow, -I want so to play!"
Now she is old and wrinkled and gray,
And knows no more than they do at college,-
Foolish and old, and never a ray
Of hope or joy for her who once was so gay;
And all because she would have her own way.
Somehow or other, 'tis always to-day.
She never has found, I'll venture to say,
Any to-morrow. Poor Katy Delay!
-From St. Nicholas
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Procrastination
Katy Delay
Childhood Learning
Moral Lesson
Old Age Regret
What entities or persons were involved?
From St. Nicholas
Poem Details
Title
Poor Katy Delay.
Author
From St. Nicholas
Subject
Cautionary Tale On Procrastination And Delaying Learning
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Ah! Pretty And Sweet Was Katy Delay
And All Because She Would Have Her Own Way.
Somehow Or Other, 'Tis Always To Day.
She Never Has Found, I'll Venture To Say,
Any To Morrow. Poor Katy Delay!