The Lowell Offering

Sign Petition?

2009-02-27T11:33:00.003-05:00

One day one of the older women at the mills said that the mill girls were slaves, but I did not think so. She recited a poem to me ,but I still did not understand what the woman was trying to say. Afterward she tried to convince me by having me sign a petition to help the girls. I did not sign, for I knew I would be blacklisted. I wonder what you would do about signing the petition? I would appreciate your comments!

Enough Pay?

2009-02-27T11:22:00.002-05:00

I don’t think that mill girls get enough pay. I get $1.25 a week but if we're late we have to pay 12 ½ cents! We have to pay 2 cents for medical insurance. We also have to pay for board. It is very hard to save money with the little pay that we get.

Better Conditions Please!

2009-02-27T11:20:00.000-05:00

As you probably know, the conditions in the mills are horrible. If they don’t get better, all of us mill girls will get sick and lose money. The dark and dirty rooms we work in aren’t healthy. The boarding houses are overcrowded. The looms are dangerous and you can get seriously hurt from them. The overseers are too mean (14 hour days, I mean). We should meet sometime, December 5^th, maybe? Let’s meet and discuss what we should do about this. Anyone interested, meet in the old town hall on 43^rd street on Sunday, December 5^th. Come at 7:30pm. Thank you!