Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-05-11
PETS THINGS.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.

i am llLtle MISS Nay. Oseu W pc
qoyernesssa Mr.. Peter Grosyenor's
when his daughter-now Mrs. Nor
daunt Malcom-was in her teens. A
dreadful little firt she was, in short
dresses. There's great difference
in girls, let me assure you. Some
are children at sixteen; | knew q girl
at seventeen who played with her
doll on the sly. Others are coquettes
at ten.
Pet was one of the latter kind.
What was her name? Well, prop
erly she was Petronel, for they had
expected boy when she was born,
and had him all named-Peter Gros-
venor, Junior-and when the child
proved a girl,they came near it as pos
sible in giving her name. Her f:t-
ther always called her Petronel.
Everybody else called her Pet. al
ways did.
AT fourteen she hadn't any mother,
and 1 came to Poppywalks to take
charge Of her education. You never
saw anything like the little string of
gallants that child had then! To
take her to picnics, to attend her to
church, to invite her to drive. Mr..
Grosvenor didn't care-seemed to be
amused by it; but 1 was very much
shocked and sincerely sorry. or
course the girls head was full of
beaux and nothing else.
I talked with Mr.. GrosvenOr about
it.
He said he knew that Petronel was
fond of society-young society; her
mother had been. He didn't see any
harm in it. He guessed I'd find that
the child would study.
Well, she did learn her lessons
somehow; l can't say l ever saw her
study. She was quick, with q grasp
of mental power, like all her fathers
family. And she was very apt at
music; that delighted her father,
and while she improved in that, l
think he wouldn't have taken it to
heart if she learned nothing else.
1 had begun by being dissatisfied
with my charge; but l couldn't find
much fault with Pet. She liked to
please-to please me as well as her
father and her beaux-and so she
did her task every day, and was al
ways respectful and sweet-tempered,
and learned to love her dearly. So
perhaps l was not the less anxious
about the child's welfare, and close
ly observed her outgoings and incom-
ings at Poppywalks. For Mr.. Gros-
venor had never given me authority
over Pets conduct, only so far as l
was concerned as teacher.
She was, in reality, the little mis-
tress of the house-sat at the head of
her fathers table, played hostess to
his guests witha very pretty grace.
And men of sixty did homage to her
pretty dark eyes and bronze-brown
curls, just like boys of sixteen did.
| used to think SO much attention,
and flattery and compliments, would
spoil her, but she was one of those
Interchangeable people whom nothing
seems to alter-she was herself al
ways. I really don't see much
change in Mrs. Malcolm, now that
she is thirty, and the mother of q
family. She is the same sweet, win
ming creature she always was.
Well, the time came when l knew
all Pets beaux. and l can't say that
ever knew any harm of them. Nor
dannt Malcolm, at fifteen, was quite
favorite of mine, and l really hoped
that when the young folks were o.
proper age something would come
of his visits to Poppywalks.
On Pets fifteenth birthday, Mr.
Grosvenor gave his daughter birth
day party. There were several stran
gers to be present on that occasion
among them young man who wa:
visiting the Elberts. Glyndoh Fan'
they said his name was; twenty-five
wears old, very handsome and bold
looking.
He evidently took great fancy t.
l Pet, and though l didn't see he
much in his company that evening
he called the next morning, and sh'
. asked leave to be excused from he
French lesson for half an hour to g
down and see him. As she evidentl,
did not seem like studying after tn
previous nights excitement, | con
sented, though Mr.. Fame had mo
recommended himself to me, and
was not pleased that he had called.
But he came to Poppywalks often
: and Pet frequently went to walk o
drive with him-sometimes in pal
ty, as often alone. / really though
}. it very improper, and if Mr.. Gres
: venor had been at home, should hav
demonstrated with him against it