# Della Wetherby — Pollyanna Grows Up character guide

> Della Wetherby in Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Della, Miss Wetherby, Miss Della Wetherby

**First appearance:** 0002-i-della-speaks-her-mind

## Snapshot

A brisk, life-loving nurse who breezes past closed doors and closed hearts, she refuses to let her grieving sister Ruth drown in wealth and bitterness.

## Who they are

Della Wetherby sweeps into her sister's gloomy Commonwealth Avenue mansion radiating health and capability, cheerfully overriding the maid's protests that Mrs. Carew is seeing no one. Where Ruth clings to eight years of mourning for a lost son, Della insists on action, sympathy, and the search that moping cannot accomplish. Her visits crack open the shut-in world of the Carew household, making her the human bridge by which Pollyanna eventually enters it.

## Relationships

### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly)

_friendship_

Aunt Polly and Della Wetherby are close friends and confidantes, often sharing news and supporting each other.

### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier)

_friendship_

Della Wetherby is a warm, maternal friend to Pollyanna, offering guidance and affection.

### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier)

_friendship_

Della Wetherby is a warm, maternal friend to Pollyanna, offering guidance and affection.

### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly)

_friendship_

Aunt Polly and Della Wetherby are close friends and confidantes, often sharing news and supporting each other.

### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly)

_friendship_

Aunt Polly and Della Wetherby are close friends and confidantes, often sharing news and supporting each other.

### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier)

_friendship_

Della Wetherby is a warm, maternal friend to Pollyanna, offering guidance and affection.

## In the story

### [Della Speaks Her Mind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/i-della-speaks-her-mind)

Visits her sister Mrs. Carew and passionately argues for bringing Pollyanna into the home to lift the gloom.

### [Some Old Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/ii-some-old-friends)

Writes a persuasive letter to Aunt Polly requesting Pollyanna's company to help her sister; a nurse with a cheerful disposition.

### [A Dose of Pollyanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/iii-a-dose-of-pollyanna)

Arranges Pollyanna's stay with Mrs. Carew; deliberately leaves Pollyanna alone with her sister after the station meeting, hoping Pollyanna's nature will win Mrs. Carew over.

### [IV: The Game and Mrs. Carew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/iv-the-game-and-mrs-carew)

Mentioned in Mrs. Carew's thoughts as the one who told her about the Glad Game and who advocates living 'one minute at a time.'

### [A Surprise for Mrs. Carew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xi-a-surprise-for-mrs-carew)

Responds to Mrs. Carew's letter; visits Jamie but cannot confirm if he is the lost nephew; suggests adoption but is rebuffed.

### [Aunt Polly Takes Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xv-aunt-polly-takes-alarm)

Writes a letter to Aunt Polly describing the positive changes in Mrs. Carew and Jamie due to Pollyanna.

### [Two Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xix-two-letters)

Writes the initial letter to Pollyanna asking about a boarding place, and later writes a second letter with updates about Mrs. Carew, Jamie, and Sadie Dean.

### [Jimmy and John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxix-jimmy-and-john)

Referenced as Pollyanna's mother, whose past relationship with John Pendleton creates Pollyanna's sense of obligation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/della_wetherby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters