Pollyanna Grows Up · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The book is dedicated to the author's cousin, Walter.
Chapter 2
Pollyanna Grows Up
Pollyanna reflects on her journey from childhood to young adulthood, embracing the Glad Game and her evolving relationships with family and friends.
Chapter 3
Della Speaks Her Mind
Della Wetherby visits her sister, Mrs. Carew, and tries to persuade her to break out of her grief-stricken isolation. She suggests that Mrs. Carew take in Pollyanna, a cheerful young girl known for her 'glad game,' hoping the child's optimism might help her sister. After initial resistance, Mrs. Carew reluctantly agrees, though she warns that if Pollyanna preaches to her, she will send her back.
Chapter 4
Some Old Friends
Pollyanna learns about Mrs. Carew, Miss Della Wetherby's sister, and eagerly anticipates meeting her, believing sisters are alike. Aunt Polly exchanges letters with Della Wetherby, who requests Pollyanna's company to help heal Mrs. Carew's grief. Dr. Chilton reads a letter from Dr. Ames revealing the tragic history of the Wetherby family, including the disappearance of little Jamie Kent. Meanwhile, Pollyanna says farewell to her Beldingsville friends, including Jimmy Pendleton, who is now adopted and resentful of her departure.
Chapter 5
A Dose of Pollyanna
Pollyanna arrives in Boston to stay with Mrs. Carew, who is resentful and anxious about the arrangement. Della Wetherby leaves them alone immediately after the meeting, forcing Mrs. Carew to manage the child. Pollyanna's cheerful and talkative nature disarms Mrs. Carew, who finds herself unable to send her away despite her irritation. The chapter ends with Mrs. Carew writing to Della in exasperation, admitting she cannot bring herself to reject Pollyanna's innocent gratitude.
Chapter 6
IV: The Game and Mrs. Carew
Pollyanna explores Boston and her new home on Commonwealth Avenue, attends church with Mrs. Carew, and tries to share the Glad Game with her. Mrs. Carew, still grieving the loss of her nephew Jamie, resists Pollyanna's optimism but eventually reveals her tragic story, leading Pollyanna to suggest she can play the game by hoping to find Jamie alive.
Chapter 7
Pollyanna Takes a Walk
On a beautiful September Saturday, Pollyanna, left to her own devices, decides to explore Boston. She discovers the Public Garden, mistakes it for a private party, and learns it is a public park. She tries to make friends, first with a grim ex-convict and then with a lonely shop girl, both of whom she engages in conversation, attempting to spread her glad philosophy.
Chapter 8
Jerry to the Rescue
Pollyanna gets lost while exploring Boston, but is helped by a friendly newsboy named Jerry who guides her back to Commonwealth Avenue and Mrs. Carew's home. She receives a scolding for wandering alone, yet remains glad she was found.
Chapter 9
A New Acquaintance
Pollyanna, now under strict supervision after her adventurous walk, is allowed to visit the Boston Public Garden alone but with many rules. There she meets Jerry Murphy and a lame boy who loves reading and naming the birds and squirrels after characters from books. Pollyanna and the lame boy share a wonderful hour feeding the animals and talking about knights and stories, forming a new friendship.
Chapter 10
Jamie
Pollyanna meets a boy named Jamie in the Garden who cannot walk and lives in poverty with the Murphy family. She learns about his Jolly Book, his chronic pain, and his uncertain past. Pollyanna becomes convinced that Jamie is the lost Jamie Kent that Mrs. Carew has been searching for, but she decides not to reveal her suspicion yet to avoid raising false hopes.
Chapter 11
Plans and Plottings
Pollyanna tries to persuade Mrs. Carew to go for a walk in the Public Garden so she can reunite her with Jamie, but rain and then cold weather thwart her plans. After several failed attempts, Jerry Murphy arrives with news that Jamie is sick and wants to see Pollyanna. Despite Mrs. Carew's initial refusal, Pollyanna reveals her belief that the boy is Mrs. Carew's long-lost nephew Jamie, prompting Mrs. Carew to agree to go immediately.
Chapter 12
In Murphy's Alley
Pollyanna brings Mrs. Carew to visit Jamie in his impoverished tenement home in Murphy's Alley. Mrs. Carew questions Jamie about his past, hoping he might be her lost nephew, but finds no conclusive evidence. Pollyanna urges Mrs. Carew to help Jamie regardless, and Mrs. Carew, moved by the squalor, resolves to improve the tenements she owns.
Chapter 13
A Surprise for Mrs. Carew
Mrs. Carew, haunted by the possibility that the crippled boy Jamie might be her lost nephew, writes to her sister Della for advice. Della visits but cannot confirm the boy's identity. Mrs. Carew struggles with her doubts and the emotional weight of the approaching Christmas season. Meanwhile, Pollyanna is deeply affected by the poverty she witnesses in Murphy's Alley and urges Mrs. Carew to help more, but Mrs. Carew resists, citing the role of charitable institutions. Ultimately, Mrs. Carew decides to take Jamie in, but he refuses, sensing that she does not truly want him for himself, only as a substitute for the real Jamie.
Chapter 14
From Behind a Counter
Pollyanna and Mrs. Carew go shopping the day after Christmas. Pollyanna spots a salesgirl she met earlier in the Public Garden and joyfully reunites with her. The salesgirl, bitter and exhausted from the Christmas rush, reveals her lonely, hard life. Pollyanna invites her to see the Christmas tree, but Mrs. Carew's coldness and the salesgirl's pride create tension. The salesgirl delivers a poignant speech about the need for preventive kindness, not just rescue work.
Chapter 15
A Waiting and a Winning
As Pollyanna's departure approaches, Mrs. Carew realizes how much Jamie and Pollyanna have changed her life. She finally asks Jamie to stay, and he agrees when he sees she truly cares. Pollyanna also brings Sadie Dean into Mrs. Carew's life, helping her understand the loneliness of working girls. The chapter culminates in a successful New Year's Eve party and Mrs. Carew's growing emotional connections.
Chapter 16
Jimmy and the Green-Eyed Monster
Pollyanna returns to Beldingsville and visits old friends, discussing her time in Boston and her concerns about social inequality. She talks with Mr. Pendleton about the divide between rich and poor, and later faces jealousy from Jimmy Pendleton when she speaks warmly of Jamie.
Chapter 17
Aunt Polly Takes Alarm
Aunt Polly receives a letter from Della Wetherby detailing the remarkable transformation in Mrs. Carew's life and attitude, all thanks to Pollyanna's influence. While Dr. Chilton celebrates Pollyanna as a 'cure,' Aunt Polly worries that such praise might spoil the child and make her self-conscious. She decides to take Pollyanna to Germany with them to keep her sweet and unspoiled.
Chapter 18
When Pollyanna Was Expected
Beldingsville buzzes with excitement as Pollyanna Whittier, now twenty, prepares to return home after six years abroad with her Aunt Polly and the late Dr. Chilton. The town knows of Dr. Chilton's death and the family's financial ruin. Nancy prepares the old Harrington homestead, and Jimmy Pendleton eagerly awaits Pollyanna's arrival. John Pendleton and Jimmy discuss Pollyanna's growth, her appearance, and her enduring spirit, while expressing concern over the challenges she and her aunt face.
Chapter 19
When Pollyanna Came
Pollyanna and Aunt Polly return to Beldingsville after the doctor's death. Aunt Polly is deeply grieving and bitter, wearing a black veil and refusing to acknowledge the townspeople. Jimmy Pendleton meets them at the station with Timothy's carriage. At home, Nancy has decorated the house to welcome them, but Aunt Polly reacts coldly, hiding her grief behind anger. Pollyanna comforts Nancy and expresses her own sorrow, while also discussing the family's financial troubles and her desire to find a way to earn money.
Chapter 20
A Matter of Adjustment
Pollyanna and Aunt Polly struggle to adjust to their reduced circumstances in Beldingsville. Pollyanna confides in Jimmy Pendleton about her desire to earn money, and they discuss the Glad Game and its impact on their lives.
Chapter 21
Two Letters
Pollyanna receives a letter from Della Wetherby asking if she knows of a quiet place in Beldingsville where Mrs. Carew, her secretary Sadie Dean, and her adopted son Jamie can board for the summer. Pollyanna excitedly proposes that they stay at her aunt's house, convincing Aunt Polly to allow it as a way to earn needed money. Later, Pollyanna writes back and gives the letter to Jimmy Pendleton to mail, though Jimmy feels jealous of Jamie. A second letter from Della arrives, confirming their plans and providing updates about Mrs. Carew's happiness, Jamie's condition, and Sadie Dean's work.
Chapter 22
The Paying Guests
Pollyanna prepares the Harrington homestead for the arrival of Mrs. Carew, Jamie, and Sadie Dean, overcoming Aunt Polly's disapproval and her own initial panic. The guests settle in, and later John Pendleton and Jimmy call, sparking a strange sense of recognition in Mrs. Carew toward Jimmy.
Chapter 23
Summer Days
Pollyanna's summer is filled with social gatherings and outings as the Carews and Pendletons become close friends. Despite her duties as a boarding mistress, she is frequently persuaded to join picnics and excursions. The chapter culminates in a camping trip organized by John Pendleton, during which Pollyanna becomes acutely aware of Jamie's physical limitations and the careful efforts of others, especially Sadie Dean, to preserve his dignity.
Chapter 24
Comrades
The chapter depicts a harmonious summer retreat where Pollyanna, Mrs. Carew, Jamie, Sadie Dean, Jimmy, and John Pendleton enjoy close companionship in the woods. Conversations reveal Jamie's uncertainty about his identity as Jamie Kent, his gratitude for Mrs. Carew's love, and his efforts to help Jerry and his mother. Pollyanna shares her wish to write stories to support Aunt Polly, while Mrs. Carew and Sadie Dean credit Pollyanna for inspiring positive changes in their lives. The chapter emphasizes the joy of authentic relationships and the healing power of nature.
Chapter 25
XXIII: “Tied to Two Sticks”
On the last day of camp, Pollyanna, Jimmy, and Jamie go on a hike to 'the Basin' for a final fish dinner. Pollyanna falls behind to help Jamie over obstacles, then climbs a stone wall to pick goldenrod. A bull charges her, and Jimmy rescues her just in time. Afterward, Jamie, who could not help due to his crutches, breaks down in anguish over his helplessness. Pollyanna and Jimmy console him and persuade him to return.
Chapter 26
XXIV: Jimmy Wakes Up
Jimmy Pendleton realizes he is in love with Pollyanna, but fears that Jamie Kent also loves her. He struggles with the decision to give Jamie a fair chance, despite his own feelings. Pollyanna, meanwhile, feels constrained and guilty after the bull incident, and tries to be extra kind to Jamie, which Jimmy misinterprets as mutual affection. Sadie Dean's comment that Pollyanna and Jamie 'worship each other' deepens Jimmy's despair, leading him to withdraw and seek comfort in Mrs. Carew's company.
Chapter 27
The Game and Pollyanna
Pollyanna reflects on the impact of the glad game after Mrs. Snow tells her how it has transformed lives in Beldingsville and beyond. She struggles with her own ability to play the game, especially concerning Aunt Polly. After the Carews leave, Pollyanna misses Jimmy Pendleton, who becomes distant and moody. To help with the family's financial worries, she decides to enter a prize-story contest, hoping to win money to surprise Aunt Polly.
Chapter 28
John Pendleton
Pollyanna submits her story for a contest and must wait until April for results. Christmas at the Harrington homestead is bleak due to Aunt Polly's refusal to celebrate. John Pendleton visits and talks at length about Mrs. Carew and Jimmy, leading Pollyanna to believe that Jimmy is in love with Mrs. Carew. She struggles with jealousy and heartache, trying to apply the glad game to her feelings.
Chapter 29
The Day Pollyanna Did Not Play
Pollyanna, exhausted by caring for a gloomy Aunt Polly, decides to stop playing the Glad Game for a day to show her aunt what it feels like. She complains and acts discouraged, which eventually makes Aunt Polly realize how difficult she has been and prompts her to promise to try playing the game herself.
Chapter 30
Jimmy and Jamie
Jimmy Pendleton struggles with his feelings for Pollyanna, believing she loves Jamie. Jamie reveals his literary success and his love for Sadie Dean, not Pollyanna. Misunderstandings arise when Jamie suggests Pollyanna might be in love with John Pendleton, causing turmoil for both Jimmy and Mrs. Carew.
Chapter 31
Jimmy and John
Jimmy Pendleton confronts Pollyanna about her feelings for John Pendleton, leading to a tense emotional exchange where Pollyanna admits her love for Jimmy but insists she must first determine if John Pendleton cares for her romantically, due to a sense of obligation stemming from his past heartbreak over her mother. Jimmy refuses to stand aside and declares he will fight for her.
Chapter 32
John Pendleton Turns the Key
John Pendleton visits Pollyanna in the garden and, after a tense conversation in the summerhouse, reveals that he loves Mrs. Carew, not Pollyanna. Overjoyed, Pollyanna writes to Jimmy, who immediately catches a train to Beldingsville.
Chapter 33
After Long Years
Pollyanna reveals her love for Jimmy to Aunt Polly, who vehemently opposes the match due to Jimmy's unknown lineage. Jimmy learns of the objection and, realizing he cannot provide information about his father without opening a sealed packet, decides to open it. The packet reveals that Jimmy is actually Jamie, the long-lost nephew of Mrs. Carew. Jimmy and John Pendleton plan to visit Mrs. Carew to share the news, but Jimmy worries about the impact on the other Jamie.
Chapter 34
A New Aladdin
John Pendleton and Jimmy travel to Boston. John arranges a meeting with Mrs. Carew, during which Jimmy is revealed as her nephew. John also announces his engagement to Mrs. Carew. Jamie and Sadie Dean then announce their own engagement. Finally, John produces Pollyanna, who has been invited for a visit, and Jimmy openly embraces and kisses her, confirming their love.
Chapter 35
Endnotes
This chapter contains the endnotes for the book, referencing sources such as Blanchard, Lyric Offerings, and Hidden Joys.
