These stories were written based on notes taken about life for working children in Victorian Britain. They use a ’story mountain’ model: see category ‘teachers’ for more information.
Story Mountain, by Alice
This morning I got up very early, probably about 6 o’clock. Do you know why? I had to get up early just because of that big, horrible person who we all have to call BOSS! I got this dirty job all because of that cheeky, turnip headed boy! I then looked at my clock, which is fine, you could say. I saw that the time was about 6:30 when I’m supposed to arrive at 3:15. I went there all rushing because I totally got worried and scared that my BOSS will sack me! I arrived at the filthy factory and I saw that my BOSS was looking very angry indeed! I had to explain why I was late and he said that if I ever did this again then he’ll definitely sack me! I went to do my work straight away; my job was cleaning the dirty machines all day! I was cleaning the big, gigantic machine until the machine started working all by itself when it’s not supposed to! I never knew until I heard a noise, I panicked, I shouted to everyone but nobody will listen. The machine is very fast so then I got my whole arm chopped off! Then everyone didn’t ignore me! The boss came running out of his room and saw everything! He told me to take the rest of the day off! That is why I’m so exhausted today and I’m lying down on the little blanket!
Story Mountain, by Masum
This morning I got up early to work in a rich house and it was so big I started walking fast, and then I arrived. I put on my work clothes and worked instantly and I started cleaning when I nervously cleaned ten people’s clothes. Then when I finished I started cleaning my clothes because it had dirt because I cleaned ten people’s clothes. And that’s why I’m so exhausted!
Story Mountain, by Nazma
This morning I got up very early and went to work. I went and I saw a boy and a girl were crying for food and money so I gave them some money and food. Then I went to work and I was very late for work. I got late for work and my boss told me off and said “you will get kicked out if I come late again.” “But boss I saw poor children crying for food and money so that’s why I’m late.”
The next day I went to work and I saw people crying for money so I gave money. I didn’t want to get late so I gave them money and I ran as fast as I could and then I got in time for work and my boss said “well done for coming to work on time” so he gave me my money. I worked then I went home and that’s why I’m so exhausted!
Story mountain, by Ruhanara
This morning I got up very early, about 1’oclock and I drank dirty water from the river. I was going down the cellar from an old, creepy cottage. I didn’t even think about whether to touch the machine. One day I cut my finger because of that machine. I even had a boss who made me do my work all day. I get paid 1p a day, how cruel can he be? He knows about my injury, he tells me the whole day, even today, to do my work. This nasty job can’t make me wait for a long time. I liked doing cotton wool. It was very boring but even when he was eating; he gave me some sandwich, how sweet. Now he pays me every day 1p each, I don’t mind now and that’s why I am so exhausted, because a chopped finger wasn’t enough!
Story Mountain, by Salam
This morning I got up and went walking and I was very tired and I couldn’t walk properly, and then I saw old people walking. Then I finally reached the dairy. In the dairy we make cheese, cream and butter. When I was working I thought I was finished but I really wasn’t finished. When I was working, after I thought I was finished but the machine was broken. I kept on trying to fix it then finally I was finished, and then I carried on making cream, butter and cheese. After that I was looking around the dairy to see if the entire machine is working I carried on making cream, butter and cheese. It was night so I was going to go home. When I was walking home on my own I saw poor children walking on the field finally I reached home. That’s why I’m so exhausted!
Story Mountain, by Shobna
This early morning, I got up, well very early and went in the chocolate factory. I put the sweet sugar into the big, fat, and hot bowl. Suddenly the sweet, special sugar fell on the clean, shiny, floor, but it was so snowy white that I couldn’t see my bossy, worse boss. My boss came until he was so near me that he was boiling like a kettle until his face went red. I told my boss the whole truth that he got angry and after I ran away. I woke up the next morning, and then I had a call from the chocolate factory that we have a new, special boss. And that’s why I am so exhausted! Story Mountain, by Siobhan
One sunny day I woke up very early, then I went to see if anyone wanted to get their shoes polished but no one was out so I went to sell some newspapers. I was waiting and waiting. After a while, some people came out of their houses. We sold about 10 newspapers, and then I went to sweep the roads. I was hot and tired, and then a man came up to me and said “here you go” and gave me some Money. So I went to the bakers to get some bread. When I came out of the bakers I saw a young child, he must have been about 5, all on his own. When I saw him he looked very sad so I have gave him some of my bread. After I gave him some of my bread he said “thank you” and then I went back to sweeping. After sweeping the road we went to sell some pens and buttons. We sold about 15 buttons and 6 pens. And that’s why I’m so exhausted! Story mountain, by Syeda
Right in the morning I went to the rich house where I am a maid. When I went there I started cleaning the windows in the house, there was so many windows. I had to clean all of them. Then suddenly the cloth tore into 2 pieces, I didn’t know what to do but then I had an idea. I could go to the shops and buy another one, so then I went. I was near the door when my boss was tapping his shoes behind me. That’s why I am so exhausted! The next morning I went to work as usual and I took a new cloth with me. When I went there I started sweeping the whole floor, all of them, and it took me the whole day. The next day I went to work as usual. On that day I really didn’t want to go because I was really exhausted!
Story Mountain, by Zuned This morning I woke up early and went to work in the huge countryside. Then after about 10 minutes I arrived at work, it was a very rainy day and then I started working. After a few minutes I got barged by someone and fell on my knees on the damp, wet floor and ripped a tear on both sides, plus it was on my new trousers. After a few hours later, at about 1pm it stopped raining and I was all soaked. My knees got soaked the most because it had huge holes on both sides of my trousers. The next morning I woke up at 6am and went to work again, but this time it was quite sunny so I felt a little bit happy and I think the boss will be in a good mood. Then I worked really nicely, and then it started to rain again so I stopped working. The boss got angry and sacked me so that’s why I’m so exhausted!
Story Mountain, By Meju
This morning, I got up very early and felt suspicious. I ate breakfast and went to work. This old, dirty owner came in and saw me doing something stupid that I shouldn’t be doing. I decided to hoover so I get in trouble because I don’t like this job. When I was hoovering, I got angry because that was an anachronistic in Victorian times. I decided to go under this tunnel when my owner went out. I found some coal. I touched the coal and it was very disgusting. I ran out of the tunnel and got back to work but suddenly I saw my owner looking for me. I got so scared; I went to the owner and said I had to go somewhere because it was very important. When I said I went somewhere, he was very angry at me so I decided to say sorry. I said to my owner “I won’t do that again.” The owner said to me that he is going to give me one more chance. I had a fresh start and got to work. And that’s why I’m so exhausted! Story Mountain, by Rummena
This morning I got up very early and went to work in the dirty coalmine. When I got there, I was working until the angry owner came marching in. I was cleaning the floor and it was a bit wet, I slipped and there was a big thump “Boom.” The owner came in and shouted “what’s going on you sleepy head? You’re still tired aren’t you, GET OUT OF HERE!!!” That is why I am so exhausted! My friend knocked on my door “BANG, BANG” I opened the door she told me. “I heard the owner telling you to get, are you sacked?”“Hope not” I answered back. She whispered “today is pay day, here is your money, and the manager gave you a bit less, because you left early”.“Thanks” I told her. My friend is a good friend to have she respects me and I respect her. I appreciate to having her as my best friend. Story mountain, by Sinead
This morning I got up very early and went to work as a maid in the rich people’s house. I put on my work clothes and started dusting all the dirt in the house. Then I started sweeping the floor because there was a lot of dirt all over it. I started washing all the plates, cups, forks and they had food all over them. I picked up a plate and started washing it; suddenly it slipped out of my hands and fell on to the floor. It had smashed, I heard the owner of the house coming downstairs. I was so scared I didn’t know what to do, he came in the kitchen and shouted at me, he told me that if it, I didn’t have enough money to pay for it, I would be sacked. I didn’t have enough money so he sacked me and that’s why I’m so exhausted!
Story Mountain, by Tasnim
This morning I got up early and went to work at the market and sold fruit to get money. Then I dropped all the fruit. My boss got very angry and he never gave my money, I was jealous. I didn’t do my job so my boss fired me, he told me to go some where else. So I tried to get another job but no one wanted me. The place I should live, in a foster home, they didn’t want me. I was left in the street and I was poor. No one gave me money, if I found 1p at least, I took it I collected 1ps I had enough money to buy at list some food. I had to get old clothes from the bin. I had no where to get it from. I am really poor and I’m so exhausted!
