orian, or the general scholar, there are few
more interesting studies than that of names. It is a pursuit of rare
delight to trace out the derivation of those with which we have been
long familiar, and to follow up the associations that have rendered them
dear, curious or ridiculous, as the case may be. The names themselves
may be of no value, but the spot or circumstance that gave them birth
cannot fail to throw around them an atmosphere of peculiar interest. The
subject is a broad one and may be, with time and inclination,
extensively cultivated; and, even in the limits of a short article, many
phases of it of general importance and interest may be satisfactorily
treated, and it is proposed in the following paragraphs to present only
a few of them.

In the present rage for nicknames, pet names, diminutives and
contractions there is fair prospect of an abundant harvest of trouble
and perplexity to the genealogist and historian of the future. In fact,
the students of the present day are already beginning to realize, in no
small degree, the annoyance that arises from the custom. The changes are
so many and intricate that to understand them fully requires much
valuable time and the patience that could better be employed in more
important work.

The difficulty arises, of course, from indifference, inadvertence or
carelessness, rather than from set purpose; yet the result is the same
in its evil effects. It is true there are some of these nicknames that
have been so long in use, and have become so common that no one is
disturbed by them and their employment, and they are readily understood.
Many of these, however, have served their turn and are gradually going
out of use, and will, in a short time, be only "dead words" to the
community.

Of this class are the familiar favorites of our grandparents, such as
Sally, for Sarah; Polly or Molly, for Mary; Patty, for Martha, and
Peggy, for Margaret, representative names of the class. Some of these,
with perhaps slight changes, have become legitimatized, and their origin
has been nearly, or quite, forgotten. Of such we recognize Betsy, or its
modern equivalent, Bettie or Bessie, as a very proper name. Few,
perhaps, of our present generation would recognize in "Nancy," the
features of its parent, "Ann" or "Nan."

Some of these old nicknames have already gone nearly or quite out of
use, so much so that many of our young people will be surprised to learn
that Patty was, not long