Eleanor: By Barbra Cooney

A baby, Anna Eleanor was born and was a disappointment to the mother. She was christened and her father called her “a miracle from heaven”. Although she rarely saw her father, she idolized him. Eleanor felt he was the only person in the world that really cared for her. When Eleanor was two and a half she sailed for Europe with her family on the S.S. Britannic. Her father was not well. The first day out in the thick fog the Britannic was rammed by another ship. Eleanor was dropped off the ship into a life boat into her father’s arms. From then on she was terrified of the ocean and heights. Eleanor was left behind for the summer with her great aunt Gracie while her father and mother sailed again. At home Eleanor spent most of her time with her nanny who only spoke to her in French. When the nanny took her to the park she shied away from other children and clung closely to her nanny’s skirt. Both her father and mother lived busy lives: fox-hunting, sailing, polo matches, the opera, dinners, and balls. Eleanor loved watching her mother get ready for parties. Her mother was beautiful, Eleanor was not and she knew it and sadly her mother knew it too. One afternoon her mother had a guest over. Eleanor stood waiting to be summoned into the parlor. He mother told her guest she called her “Granny” because she is funny and old-fashioned looking. Eleanor soon realized that not everyone lived in luxury like her. She went with her father to help serve Thanksgiving dinner at a lodging house for poor newsboys. Some of the ragged children lived in shacks on vacant lots, and even boxes. Once Eleanor paid a visit to “Hell’s Kitchen”; one of the saddest and poorest sections in New York City. Eventually Eleanor had two younger brothers, Ellie and Brudie. So much younger than Eleanor and had all of the affection of their mother. Soon their father left them and their mother had died of diphtheria when Eleanor was eight. They moved to West 37^th St with their Grandma Hall and some aunts and uncles. That same winter Ellie died. One spring day her father reappeared and they comforted each other. His visits always put Eleanor in bright spirits. One day Eleanor went walking with her father and his three fox terriers. Her father left her with the dogs while he went to a club. Six hours later the doorman took Eleanor and the dogs home. Because her father forgave Eleanor for her faults she forgave him for his faults. She always idolized him. He sent her letters and when she was nine he was killed in a fall. She kept his letters all her life. Now Eleanor was truly an orphan. Her and Brudie would spend winderts in Grandma Hall’s house where it was lonely and grim. The aunts and uncles were older and off doing their own business and the governess was mean. Eleanor was dressed funny as well. She studied hard craving approval. Summer was happier. She and her aunts and uncles and grandmother would spend it at a house near the Hudson river in Tivoli. Eleanor learned to jump her pony and played croquet, and she learned how to iron. But she was often alone with her day dreams. On rainy days Eleanor would read books, mostly about orphans and outcasts. On pleasant mornings her and Aunt Pussie would get up before dawn stole bread and butter from the pantry, take the boat into town, and be back before breakfast. Sometimes Eleanor would visit her Uncle Ted and Aunt Edith in Oyster Bay on Long Island. Uncle Ted loved her. But Eleanor had some trouble keeping up with the wild and fun family. Her cousin, Alice, said she was too serious. Every Christmas Eleanor went with her Grandmother to trim a tree for the babies in the hospital. Every year Aunt Corinne had a Christmas party and when Eleanor was fourteen she was finally permitted to go. The other girls were dressed like young ladies while Eleanor was still dressed like a little girl with blue bows on each shoulder and a skirt above her knees. She stood against a wall in misery.

When Eleanor was just turning fifteen, her grandmother told her that her mother wanted Eleanor to attend boarding school. The next year Eleanor arrived at Allenswood a school near London. Eleanor was ready to not be pitied anymore or teased. Mlle. Souvestre looked at Eleanor and realized that she could give a great deal to her. Eleanor had never been happier than at Allenswood. Only French was to be spoken. Her old Nanny had taught her well. Her eagerness to learn impressed many and her kindness to the others, especially those who were lonely, gained her many friends. Eleanor idolized Mlle. Souvestre who taught her to think for herself, ask questions, be passionately committed to life and the lives of others. Mlle. Was an exciting person filled with energy and opinions. She encouraged Eleanor to have a dress made which she wore on Sundays and everyday evenings. Eleanor was Mlle.’s favorite yet no girl was jealous of this role. They both traveled together. Mlle. Opened the world up to Eleanor. After three happy years at Allenswood, Eleanor returned home poised and confident, and brave. She eventually entered the white house and became the First Lady of the United States. Her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president four times. They had 4 boys and one girl. Because of her concern for social betterment, she worked with woman’s organizations and championed the poor and disadvantaged.