Journal Entry

Dear Journal,
Today was not a normal day at the Mills. Normally on regular working days, I work hard from five AM in the morning, to nine or ten at night. But today, the boss made me stay until twelve thirty. It was a horrible, tiring day. Life in child labor is cruel and unfair. I have been working here since I was six years old. That's seven years already! The other kids and I are forced to work here for the rest of our lives.

We are not allowed to make time for breakfast, sit for dinner, or drink tea. Our breakfast is water-porridge and oatcake with onions with milk. After that, we have to go straight back to work. I'm not allowed to leave until my job is completely done. Which is the reason I came home this late today. I just wish all of this could end. It isn't fair putting children to work in factories all day. Most Mill workers die in their early thirties because of all the acids and gas. They cause severe damage our health! We get dust in our face and on our clothes from cleaning, gas clogging our lungs and noses, and the sounds of the machines in the factory make me tremble.

I remember my first day working in the Mill factory so clearly as if it were just yesterday. I walked into the factory with my new boss. I was only six years old. I was traumatized by all of the machines and seeing the other children working like slaves in the factory. The smell in there was very unpleasant It was the worst day of my life. And so was every day after that. I am hoping and praying every night that one day I will wake up and all of this will end. But there is not much I can do to stop all of this. I am just one kid. I cannot make a difference.

-John Birley