Anita

The Diary Of Margaret Stella
<3AnitaMae(: March 5th, 2010 Did you know that kids ages 8 and up had to work at a factory? You might know that kids now days cant work till there at least 14-16. But you might not know that it was really dangerous for girls and boys to work at the weaving factory because they would either get anywhere from there arms to legs cut off. This historical fiction you are about to read will give you a sneak peek about how life was in the 1800's.

__What is the historical setting of this story?__  I have set my story to be in the 1800's in Georgia, where some kids had to work in weaving factories to make money for their families. The working conditions in the factories were dangerous, but kids worked there to support their families.

__What is true in this story?__ Kids working in the factory that they got their arms and legs cut off. Some kids were also forced to work in a factory. Having to do chores after they go done working.

 __What is fictional in this story?__ I think that the date of this story and where it takes place if factional. The name of the main person in my story isn't real. This story is about a girl named Margaret Stella, Who's dad passed away while fighting in the war. She is getting a job at a weaving factory to help her mom out with money around the house. And so her and her mom can travel places that her dad said they would go.

June 25,1864 Atlantic Georgia

My name is Margaret Stella. I have red hair that turns blondish as the sun hit my hair, my hair really long. It hits my thighs. I have brown eye, and I am 17 years of age. I am a girl who thinks strongly that women should have equal rights as men. My mom Erika has brown hair witch was cut to her shoulders. She has brown eyes and is very tall. My dad Weston had Blondish curly hair and had light blue pretty eyes and he was a giant compared to my mom. I have just hit that age where I think that I am old enough to work at the factory. I have no idea on how well I am going to be at working. But I think that I can manage. I think I want to help my mom out with money because I want us to be able to have money to get food and to help my mom. My father was stabbed twice and shot four. So I'm willing to sacrifice working at the factory. When I look at his picture I think proudly about working. And working at the factory is almost the same as doing chores. I don’t know how my mom will take it, because kids get anything between their arms to their legs cut off.  After my dad passed away, my mom never smiled as much. Whenever I did my chores outside she would just sit by the fireplace in a wooden rocking chair, and she wasn’t her normal outgoing self anymore. She just sat in the rocking chair rocking back and forth, back and forth repeating. I’d wish for days that my mom would be happy again; but I don’t think that will happen. Because even if that happens both you and I know that no one can ever replace that place in our heart we had for my dad. "I got it! I'll work part time at the factory than come home and do chores for my mom."

 August 5,1864

The days are going by fast and I sure hope I get this job. I have prayed and prayed every night since I asked for this job that I would get accepted to work at the factory. As I continue my days with chores, this boy named David comes up to me, towering over me with his short cute black curly hair, and his dark brown eyes and whispers, "Do you remember me?'' then whispers again saying I love you. And that he has loved my since the few weeks after I met him. He was one of my really good friends. So I told him that I am trying to get a job at the factory but he said, “Please don’t, I just told you that I loved you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.“ But I didn’t listen, I just glanced at him for a while cocked my neck and then walked back inside. I didn’t care all. I had on my mind was getting accepted to job at the factory. He and my mom always told me, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.“ That’s a longer version of saying if you quit you’re never going to be a winner. That’s the quotes that I always go by.  August 8, 1864

Today is the day that I’m pretty sure that I am going to get this job. My mom has been sitting on that chair that rocks back and forth for days and it squeaks while I'm trying to sleep it drives me insane. The reason why I want to do this is so my mom and me can travel and so my mom will be happy somewhere else instead of being sad and lost all the time. I really miss my mom, because it kind of feels like I lost her too along with my dad. My mom and dad always and forever will be my caring, loving parents. While I was heading to the factory, I bumped into this guy that I used to like named Paul he was tall but I'm almost his size, He has this amazing hair color that has like brown, black, blond and red in it. With his hazel color eyes. The weird part is that he liked me also and the bad part is I don't think that he would approve of me going to the factory. I used to tell him and David everything. So I decided to talk to him where no one could see us because he would have got in to trouble. So Paul and me went toward my house and started talking. He said, “Margaret is that you?“ I said “No.“ he said, “You can’t lie to me“ I said, “How did you know it was me?“ He said, “I can never forget the most beautifulest girl that I have ever liked.“ That sent a funny feeling down my stomach. And he said, “how come you want to work at the factory?” I said "So I can help my mom and go travel around the earth with her, to help her with getting a new husband." "He said “Why what’s wrong with your dad.“ I replied, “Umm, he Passed away trying to fight in the war, he was stabbed twice and shot four times.” In the kindest way he said, “Oh I’m sorry to hear that.“ Then he hugged me and I looked at him and in a split second (I didn’t see it coming) he kissed me and said “I love you, please don't work at the factory, you can get your arms or legs cut off from working there. Please, please don't.“ I had tears running down the side of my face. Just when I think no one cares about me. Two of my really good friends that I used to have, fell in love with me. But that gave me second thoughts on working at the factory because after hearing that I couldn’t help but cry. After talking to Paul and David I decided to go cheek out the factory. It took a while to walk there but good thing I brought extra water and a couple snacks with me. So right when I got there they put me straight to work. I had to weave in the factory. It was tough work and they kept me longer than they kept any other person that was working there. I got a huge cut to my bone on my left leg from getting tired and slowing down on the weaving process. And it burned, but I still had to work. I had ten minutes left. I had to walk all the way home, with the cut on my leg, I got used to the pain after a while because it was chilly out and it felt like my whole leg was fake. As soon as I got home I walked in quietly thinking that mom would be asleep. Mom was actually herself when I got back home. She asked me, "Where were you?” And what happened to your leg?" I said, "I was at work, and the string in the factory cut me because I slowed down and they turned the machines up. She told me to sit down, and wrapped my leg. Then she sat down, she played with my hair to calm me down, and she said, “Look I heard and saw what you guys were saying in back of the house.” Mom gave me a hug and said, “if you really wanted to do that for me, than I wouldn't do anything, it was the way you were thinking that set a smile on my face about your dad. But I'm not going to get remarried for a while. I’m kind of getting used to have it just you and me in the house. And that’s the way it’s going to be hopefully for a while.“