Katie Robertson: A Girl's Story of Factory Life
by Margaret E. Winslow (1885)
Meet Katie Robertson, only daughter of the late Dr. Robertson. Though her two elder brothers have already taken jobs in the factory to help support the fatherless family, times are hard, and it is Katie's deepest desire to help. Small for her age, but honest and faithful, will Katie be able to get a job in the paper mill? And will she tire of it quickly? When, through gossip, Katie is considered dishonest by her circle of friends, will she clear herself at the cost of exposing a fellow schoolmate? As disease rages through the town, who will succumb to it, and who will come out the better spiritually? With talents that would be make her an excellent schoolteacher, will Katie have the opportunity for more education?
Come along with Katie, as she learns and applies the truth of the verse: "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Character Lessons:
Enduring Temptation, Contentment, Trust in God, Thankfulness, Faithfulness, Diligence, Honesty, Patience, Forgiveness, Holiness.
Elements for Parental Consideration:
Katie's mother grumbles and complains, and expects the worst; a girl is called a "puss" playful or coquettish young woman (undeserved); the mother imagines that her daughter may be brought home on a board "bruised and maimed" after her first day at the factory; A girl is snobbish, rude, disrespectful to authority, and comes to hate Katie; Katie notices the lack of love for Christ in her Sunday school teacher, Miss Etta. Etta is is neither immoral nor godly, but rather thoughtless and irreverent; one of Katie's brothers makes a comment that shows that he believes breaking rules is fine, as long as one is not found out (the other brother quietly corrects him with "God would know."); "pussy" = cat; Katie and group of people "join the church" (denomination is not specified, but one of the girls' cousins are Congregationalists); a story is related of a young boy who was drinking and either fell or was pushed off a cliff and died; mentions of beer & whiskey, smoking, wine & champagne; A man says that in the past he had occasionally drunk a glass or two of wine and champagne, but because of the aforementioned death, has decided to never again touch a drop of alcohol; I Cor. 8:13 is "added to" in a quotation; it is stated that a teenage boy began to pay more attention to a specific girl (walking her home from school, carrying her books, helping her with homework, etc.) It is later revealed that he intends to marry her, "but that is a long way off."
*Much emphasis on "good works", but very little on clear salvation.
This title can be found for free:
Multiple formats: gutenberg.org
Kindle format: amazon.com
Internet Archive: archive.org