A Flock of Girls and Boys

In Short

Nora Perry’s collection brings together eleven domestic tales following nineteenth-century American youths as they navigate the subtle social anxieties and moral choices of everyday life. Set in boarding schools, seaside hotels, New England parlors, and Western forts, the narratives trace misunderstandings born of gossip, pride, and class prejudice. Characters encounter false rumors, misplaced jealousy, and family separations, ultimately choosing grace over retaliation. The collection endures because Perry treats the inner lives of young people with dignity, showing how small acts of consideration alter the course of daily life.

The Story

The volume opens at a seaside resort, where the social circle surrounding Agnes Brendon and Tilly Morris buzzes with news of the aristocratic Pelham family's impending arrival. When a quiet, plainly dressed girl registered as "Mrs. Smith and niece" appears, Agnes spreads a rumor based on a newspaper report, claiming the girl is the daughter of a notorious swindler named Smithson. Tilly instinctively defends the newcomer, Peggy, even while secretly fearing the story might be true. The tension breaks when Tom Raymond reveals that "Miss Smith" is actually Margaret Pelham, who allowed the mistaken identity to persist as a harmless joke, exposing the quiet snobbery of her accusers.

Subsequent stories shift focus across various settings, exploring themes of generosity and social responsibility. Young girls gather painted eggs for an Easter celebration, only to discover that the finest decorated specimens were anonymously contributed by Jimmy Barrows, an aspiring professional artist who modestly disclaims superior talent while encouraging his peers. On a Western military post, "Major Molly," the beloved daughter of a fort commander, promises an Indigenous girl named Wallula a Christmas gift. When a sudden blizzard threatens to disrupt her plans, Molly risks the dangerous journey across the plains accompanied by a ranchman, ensuring her promise is kept and averting potential conflict.

In an urban setting, young Polly, an orphan girl living at a children's home, learns about Valentine's Day for the first time. Eager to show affection to her friend Jane, Polly empties her savings bank to purchase a fine paper valentine, giving up her dream of buying a paint-box. Her unselfish choice brings unexpected joy when the shopkeeper who witnessed her sacrifice visits the home to reward her kindness. Meanwhile, during the Revolutionary era in Boston, young Sibyl Merridew aids the colonial cause by smuggling a secret message to a patriot shoe-maker concealed inside the heel of her dancing slipper, directly leading to the capture of a British supply ship off Lechmere's Point.

At a girls' boarding school, Cordelia, an awkward newcomer from the Western plains, feels ostracized by her classmates until a moment of shared grief reveals her deep sensitivity, prompting students like Alice and Eva to practice genuine compassion. Elsewhere, Laura Brooks visits her classmate Esther Bodn in a modest neighborhood, looking past elite school gossip to discover Esther’s cultured home and a rare art etching that solves an international art query. In a retail shop, Becky, a working-class girl, defends her integrity against envious co-workers who accuse her of theft.

The collection draws toward its conclusion with Ally, an orphan divided between two uncles' households, who learns to look past her own defensive temper after realizing her family genuinely cares for her health. An April Fool’s prank involving forged letters brings a lesson in fairness to high school friends, and the book closes on Thanksgiving, where a young girl’s secret invitation reconciles her mother with an estranged uncle, bringing peace back to the family table.

How It Unfolds

The resort rumors spread Agnes Brendon announces the arrival of the wealthy Pelham family, provoking a debate among the hotel guests about social standing and pedigree. When a quiet girl named Peggy arrives under the name of Smith, Agnes quickly spreads a damaging rumor that Peggy is the daughter of a disgraced defaulter.

The identity is revealed Tilly Morris defends Peggy against the gossip, consulting her grandmother and searching local newspapers to uncover the truth. At the tennis court, Tom Raymond steps forward to identify Peggy as Margaret Pelham, instantly deflating the rumor and exposing the prejudice of the resort circle.

A promise kept in the storm On Christmas Eve at a Western fort, Major Molly prepares to send a bright tartan dress across the plains to Wallula. Despite a sudden blizzard and delays from the ranchman, Molly ensures the gift arrives, fulfilling her pledge and preventing a potential conflict with the local tribe.

The orphan's sacrifice rewarded Little Polly discovers Valentine's Day at the Orphan's Home and breaks her savings bank to buy a costly valentine for her older friend Jane. Her selfless act touches a visiting shopkeeper, who brings Polly her own festive surprise and explains the spirit of Saint Valentine.

A patriot's slipper carries the word In Revolutionary Boston, Sibyl Merridew receives a repaired shoe containing a hidden military message from Shoemaker Styles. By covertly passing the message, she helps the patriot forces capture an essential British supply brig before the enemy evacuates the city.

The boarders bridge the gap At Miss Milwood's school, Cordelia sits weeping, convinced her classmates despise her awkward manners and simple clothes. Eva and Alice comfort her, realizing their own assumptions were wrong and resolving to welcome her into their circle with warmth.

An etching solves the search Laura Brooks ignores her friend's snobbish warnings and visits Esther Bodn's home on McVane Street. During an art lecture, guest speaker Pierre Baudouin mentions a lost Munich etching, which Esther and Laura reveal is hanging safely in Esther's own parlor.

Reconciliation at Thanksgiving Young Elsie secretly mails a Thanksgiving dinner invitation to her estranged Uncle John, whom her mother has avoided for a year. Upon his unexpected arrival, the mother witnesses his genuine love for the children and sets aside her bitter resentment to welcome him home.

The People

• Tilly Morris: A blunt, quick-tempered girl from New York who despises snobbery. She resists the elitist talk of the Boston set and stands up for Peggy, wanting only fairness and honesty in her friendships.
• Agnes Brendon: A status-conscious young woman who uses gossip to maintain her social standing. Her desire to feel superior leads her to spread false claims, leaving her humiliated when the truth emerges.
• Peggy Pelham: A wealthy, unpretentious young woman who allows herself to be misidentified as "Miss Smith." She desires genuine connections based on character rather than family fame, reacting to social slights with quiet amusement.
• Major Molly Elliston: The spirited daughter of a Western fort commander, named for her position as the post darling. She values integrity and honor, risking a ride through a winter storm to keep her word to a friend.
• Polly Price: The youngest orphan at the Home, earnest and entirely unversed in social customs. She wants to show love to her protector Jane, giving up her savings without a second thought.
• Cordelia: A lonely boarding school student from the Western plains. Her awkward dress and defensive demeanor mask a deep sensitivity, which transforms into open trust once her peers offer sincere affection.
• Ally Fleming: A sensitive, orphaned girl shuttled between her two uncles' homes every six months. Fearing she is an unwanted burden, she guards herself with a sharp temper until she realizes her family truly loves her.

In Its Own Voice

"'I don't know as they've done anything. It's what they are. They are very rich and aristocratic people.'"

Agnes Brendon explains the social importance of the Pelham family to her companions on the hotel porch.

"'It's all right, little mistress. I heard the click of the tunnel-box last night, for I hadn't turned in, and afore many minutes I was up and off in my boat with the message in my head; I burnt the paper!'"

Shoemaker Styles informs young Sibyl Merridew that her secret message was safely delivered to the American patriots.

"'We meant to be good to you, dear; but we did not think enough that you had been unused to a big family,--that you were a little ewe lamb that had been transplanted into a great crowded fold...'"

Aunt Kate comforts Ally, recognizing how difficult it has been for the orphaned girl to adjust to her new home.

What It's Really About

Beneath its domestic plots, Perry’s work examines how social posturing and hasty judgments isolate young people from one another. The stories consistently contrast artificial class distinctions with genuine integrity. Characters who rely on family names, fine clothes, or resort prestige are gently exposed, while those who act with unselfish kindness find real connection. Perry argues that true maturity begins when a young person looks past surface impressions—whether an unfamiliar name, a plain dress, or a defensive temper—to recognize the dignity in others. The collection insists that small everyday choices, like keeping a minor promise or refusing to spread a rumor, build the foundation of personal character.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers looking for historical juvenile fiction will find this collection remarkably crisp and readable. Nora Perry captures nineteenth-century speech and social anxieties without heavy-handed preaching, offering a lively glimpse into Victorian girlhood across different American settings. The writing moves quickly, using natural dialogue and vivid local color—from the porch chatter of summer resorts to the winter winds of Western military outposts. While readers should expect period assumptions about class, gender roles, and regional stereotypes, Perry’s focus remains firmly on universal moral choices: handling gossip, accepting outsiders, and conquering personal pride. It is an ideal read for anyone who enjoys the domestic warmth of Louisa May Alcott or Susan Coolidge. What stays with you is the gentle insistence that quiet empathy is far more powerful than social position.

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<Elicitation label="Analyze the historical settings in Perry's stories" query="Analyze the setting and historical context of nineteenth-century America as depicted in Nora Perry's 'A Flock of Girls and Boys'."/>

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