School Days

Little Eleanore grew and was the apple of her Fathers' eye.

The truly noticable problems began when Eleanore was four

years old. One of the maids spoke to the lady of the house

saying her broach was missing. This broach was given to

her before she left Ireland to come to America.

Mrs.Gainesbourgh had an idea where to locate the missing

item. While Eleanore was at the home of another child she

went through her daughters box af secrets. While looking

through the contents she found one of her own diamond

earbobs and her husbands pearl tie pin.

On returning home Eleanore was sent to see her Mother

in her small office. From here household accounts and

problems were addressed.

Eleanore stared her Mother right in the eye the entire time

she was speaking. Her Mother sat straighter in her chair

than ever refusing to break eye contact. Her Mother

demanded Eleanore return the broach to the maid,

confess what she had done and apologize.

Eleanore took the broach in her little hand. She ran as

fast as her little legs could carry her and was out the back

door before anyone knew exactly what was happening.

She ran to the outdoor privy,opened the door and threw the

piece of jewlery down one of the holes.

On returning to the house Mrs. Gainesbourgh knew exactly

what had happened having questioned the maid who was now

in tears. She grabbed her daughter by the hand and led

her to the office where she was given a sound spanking. Eleanore

was then sent to her room and would receive no supper.

Mr. Gainesbourgh took the maid to the finest jeweler in Philiadelphia

and allowed her to have the broach of her choice. Expense was

not a factor.

It was when her Mother and Father went to bed that night that Eleanores

revenge was discovered. Her Mothers favorite pearl necklace

was destroyed and pearls were strewn all over the room.

Eleanore began school when she was five years old. She

and her Mother entered the schoolroom. Eleanore and the

teacher introduced themselves. Eleanore wrinkled her nose

as the teacher had a strong body odor. Eleanore could not

abide people who smelled bad. She took her seat and folded

her hands on the desktop.

Many of the children were crying begging their parents not to

leave them behind. Eleanore did no such thing. She carefully

inspected her surroundings and the other students. She

decided then and there to be the best at everything. Because

she knew she was the best of the lot.

Eleanore was not popular with the other little girls. She did not

hesitate to comment on a dress worn twice in one week or

even everyday. She noted tattered shoes and dirty fingernails.

The little boys on the other hand loved Eleanore. At lunchtime

she was quick to share the cake or candies placed in her

lunch pail. She told them stories about the other little girls in

the class that made them roar with laughter.

She refused to sit beside Mildred Vogelsong because as she

informed the teacher before the entire class,"she smells like

peepee." Mildred cried and had to be comforted by the

teacher.

Her marks were indeed the best of the class. Her parents

would have been proud of her achievements had not the reports

and complaints from other parents been so dismal.

By the time she was fourteen an incident took place that could

not be ignored. Eleanore was caught with the stable boy and

both were naked. The stable boy was engaged to one of the

cooks helpers. The stable boy was dismissed straight away.

He was however, given a handsome bonus and a glowing

letter of reference.

Mr. Gainesbourgh was outraged, but was assured by his wife

that their daughter had not been raped, or in anyway out-

raged.

The cooks helper also left the Gainesbourgh employ. She

quickly found work in another kitchen. She told the story

everywhere she went. She and the stable boy did not marry.

It was now decided that Eleanore should complete her

education at a convent school. Eleanore did not argue.

she went along peacefully and allowed herself to be fitted

for the school uniform. The school insisted the girls each

have at least two uniforms, Eleanore Gainesbourgh left home

with seven.

The Mother Superior had never experienced anyone like her.

She refused to wear the uniform. She left the school

grounds whenever she pleased and was an accomplished

liar. It was discovered she had brought several bottles of

her Fathers liquor in her numerous trunks. She bribed the

other girls to maintain her wardrobe. She insisted on a hot

bath every single night with rosewater. She would not sleep

on the same sheets two nights in a row and had a fit of anger

if the sheets were wrinkled.

Mother Superior took her before the Bishop. Eleanore smiled

at him, her secret smile that promised all manner of delightful

things. He was charmed. He was also respectful of the huge

donation the girls Father had made to the school.

Speaking to Mother Superior alone the Bishop suggested

she see Eleanore as her cross, her burden. Humbly the woman

agreed.

On graduation day two years later the Mother Superior wept

openly with relief.

Eleanore was by this time sixteen years old.