Paulina and her Pets

In Short

This vintage narrative follows Paulina Evering, a girl of exceptional kindness who dedicates her time and resources to caring for disabled animals and supporting those in need. Set in a time when moral instruction for children was often delivered through character sketches, the story serves as a gentle testament to the virtue of empathy. It has endured as a classic piece of juvenile literature because it champions the quiet, consistent practice of benevolence, grounding grand concepts of humanity in the tangible, daily care of creatures both great and small.

The Story

Paulina Evering is an exceptionally intelligent and kind-hearted girl who distinguishes herself through her deep empathy for the "brute creation." While many of her peers value animals only as long as they remain pristine and fashionable pets, Paulina views every living thing as a purposeful creation. This worldview is put to the test when she visits her cousins and witnesses their cold-hearted decision to discard their dog, Fido. Once a pampered house pet, Fido has become disfigured after a kitchen accident, losing an eye and much of his fur. Because he no longer meets his owners' aesthetic standards, they prepare to hand him over to a group of boys known for their cruelty. Paulina intervenes, rescuing the dog and taking him to her "little hospital"—a collection of creatures she has saved from neglect or abuse.

Her sanctuary is an eclectic refuge. It houses a dog with a broken paw, a cat missing an ear, a blind squirrel, and a sparrow with broken wings for whom she constructs a tiny ladder. She also tends to a thrush that can no longer walk but still sings, and a rabbit she rescued from boys intending to set a dog upon it. Her parents support this pursuit, providing her with the funds to care for her charges, while her brothers contribute gifts from college.

As Paulina matures, her capacity for kindness expands beyond the animal kingdom. During a trip to the market, she encounters a young woman named Mary who is weeping over two lambs she is forced to sell due to poverty. Mary, whose husband is at sea, is struggling to care for her infirm mother-in-law and had hoped these lambs would start a small flock. Learning that the lambs represent Mary's only fortune, Paulina performs a significant act of generosity. She pays Mary for the animals but insists that Mary keep them, allowing the young woman to return home and maintain the foundation of her future flock.

The narrative concludes by reflecting on Paulina’s development into young womanhood. Her life becomes a continuous cycle of benevolence; she uses the resources she has been given to alleviate the suffering of others. By consistently choosing empathy over indifference, she earns the love of her neighbors and finds personal happiness. The story suggests that her life is successful not because of material accumulation, but because she recognized the inherent dignity in all living things and acted upon that recognition every day.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of empathy. Paulina is introduced as a girl of twelve who finds purpose in nurturing the garden and caring for the suffering. She believes that extending kindness to the smallest creatures is a way to honor the source of her own life and health.

The rescue of Fido. Paulina discovers her cousins planning to abandon their scarred dog to cruel neighborhood boys. She forcefully advocates for the animal, rescuing him from a life of mistreatment and bringing him home to her private sanctuary.

The menagerie of the injured. The reader learns of the various creatures Paulina has saved, each of which receives specific, adaptive care. From a ladder for a disabled sparrow to a safe home for a rabbit, Paulina ensures that her pets live with dignity.

A human connection. Paulina encounters a woman named Mary at the market who is distraught over selling her lambs to survive. Paulina’s intervention provides not just temporary financial relief, but the restoration of Mary's hope for her family's future.

A life of sustained virtue. As Paulina grows, her philanthropic spirit remains a defining trait. The story ends by illustrating how her childhood habit of caring for the vulnerable leads to a lifetime of community regard and internal contentment.

The People

Paulina Evering is the heart of the story. Driven by a genuine moral curiosity and a sense of duty, she wants to protect those who cannot protect themselves. She stands in the way of apathy and cruelty, ultimately proving that empathy is a lifelong commitment rather than a passing phase.

Emily, Paulina’s cousin, represents the inverse of Paulina’s character. She is motivated by aesthetics and social convenience, valuing Fido only as long as he is beautiful. When the dog becomes scarred, her affection vanishes, exposing a shallow nature that prefers "a little beauty" over true devotion.

Mary is the young woman at the market whose struggle brings out Paulina’s maturity. Burdened by the weight of supporting an infirm mother-in-law while her husband is away, she represents the human cost of poverty. Her gratitude highlights the impact of Paulina’s choices.

The Father and Mother serve as facilitators of Paulina’s growth. By increasing her pocket money specifically to support her charity, they validate her values and show the importance of a household that encourages a child’s natural inclinations toward goodness.

In Its Own Voice

She looked upon everything that drew breath as the handiwork of that Being to which she owed her own existence.

Paulina’s philosophy serves as the foundation for her daily actions toward animals.

"I beg of you, do not let the hard-hearted fellows have him; give him to me, and I will take him to my little hospital, and nurse him as long as he lives."

When she sees her cousin’s dog in danger, Paulina takes immediate responsibility for its welfare.

She was loved by her neighbors, rich as well as poor, and was happy herself, because she tried to make others so.

The narrative summarizes the ultimate outcome of a life lived through the lens of consistent kindness.

What It's Really About

The central argument of the book is that true character is forged in the quiet spaces of our daily lives—the way we treat those who are "dumb" or powerless. It posits that there is a fundamental link between how we treat animals and how we treat our fellow humans. The book explores the tension between aesthetic vanity and genuine empathy, suggesting that beauty is fleeting and often superficial, while the ability to provide comfort to the broken is an enduring, noble pursuit. It poses the question of whether our blessings are for personal enjoyment or for the stewardship of others.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate quiet, moralizing literature from the 19th century will find this story touching. It feels like a relic of a bygone era of childhood instruction, where the focus was less on plot twists and more on cultivating a specific type of disposition. The language is formal and occasionally didactic, carrying the earnest tone of Victorian-era juvenile fiction.

You will encounter some period attitudes toward animal welfare that feel strikingly modern, alongside a social structure where a child’s charity is still heavily mediated by the support and pocket money of her parents. For the modern reader, the appeal lies in the book's gentle, steady rhythm. It doesn't rush to thrill; instead, it asks you to sit with the idea of a girl who spends her time building ladders for birds and nursing scarred dogs. What stays with you is the quiet power of Paulina’s agency—she doesn't wait for permission to be kind; she simply sees a need and fills it. It is a brief, sentimental read that acts as a soothing tonic to more cynical modern stories, reminding us that even the smallest gestures of protection can define a life.