Poor and Proud

or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn

by Oliver Optic (William Taylor Adams)

English, published in 1858

Category: Young Readers

A story for young folks

Excerpt

the pun; and he had the condescension to laugh heartily, though somewhat unnaturally, at the jest.

"Will you give me a flounder, Tommy?" said the little ragged girl, as she glanced into his well-filled basket.

"What do you want of him, Katy?" asked Tommy turning round and gazing up into her sad, pale face.

Katy hesitated; her bosom heaved, and her lips compressed, as though she feared to answer the question.

"To eat," she replied, at last, in a husky tone.

"What's the matter, Katy?"

The face of the child seemed to wear a load of care and anxiety, and as the young fisherman gazed a tear started from her eye, and slid down her cheek. Tommy's heart melted as he saw this exhibition of sorrow. He wondered what could ail her.

"My mother is sick," replied Katy, dashing away the tell-tale tear.

"I know that; but what do you want of flounders?"

"We have nothing to eat now," said Katy, bursting into tears. "Mother has not been able to do any work for more than three months: and we haven't go

ReviewsAdd a review for this title.

2005.07.03
roxanne Ettinger

I was thrilled beyond belief to find this little gem on the internet. As a child in the l940's, I was given a copy of this wonderful little book and it became the most prized book of my childhood. Somewhere along the way, it was lost , and I despaired of ever finding it again and began wondering if it really had existed. I cannot tell you what it meant to me to be able to re-read it. I have vivid memories of that poor child pulling the molasses candy and burning her fingers. I can still picture my self reading that book and crying at her plight all those many years ago.
Thank you for printing it on the internet. ( I love my computer--it has found me my childhood friend!)