My name is Mary Ellen Kelly, I’m 19 years old, I work in the spinning room of Forbes mill, bang on the door - "Are you up ? " Yes I`m up.
I live with my sister and baby brother at number 6 Tea lane in the city of Belfast. We live alone , both are parents are dead, my Father was a tenter in Forbes mill, 18 months ago he caught his arm in a piece of machinery he was fixing in the spinning room. He bled to death before they could get the doctor. My Mother died 6 months later giving birth to my baby brother. There`s only me to look after him and my sister Maggie. Our Maggie comes to the mill with me now. She’s nine now and a half timer like I was at her age.
She spends half her week at school and half the week working as a doffer working in the mill. The few coffers she earns makes all the difference. We manage, but it’s hard. I still have to go to my work everyday, so I have to get the wee one minded. I leave him with Tilly round the corner. I wouldn`t leave him there if I didn`t have to. Tilly`s alright, but you couldn’t trust her, she takes a "wee drop”, if you know what I mean. Och well , she`s had it hard.
"Och its yerself Mary Ellen" ."And who else would it be at this hour of the morning?"
"here take him (baby) quick, cos if I`m late for my work one more time, It`ll be the sack for me."
The craic`s good in the mill with all the over women. We keep each other going, and its hard work and the day is awful long. Six in the morning until six at night , watching them bobbins spinning round and round and making sure your ends don`t break. I`ll never forget my first day in the spinning room. I was only a wee doffer at 8 years old. It was my job to doff full bobbins from the machines. When the doffin` mistress blew her whistle, we all had to run as quick as we could to get the bobbins off.
I though I`d never stick it, the awful thundering noise of the machines, and the heat and the smell made me sick, and having to work up to your ankles in water, but I got used to it, well you can get used to anything.
If it wasn`t for auld Andy Noblett our spinning master it wouldn`t be too bad at all. He really has it in for me, always fineing me for talking at my frame or coming in late.
"Hey you , Kelly, thought I wouldn`t see you didn`t you. Late again."
"Sorry Mr Noblett the child kept me back, it won`t happen again"
"You`re right, for if I have to write your name one more time in this book, I`ll be taking it to Mr Forbes himself ! Lets see now, late coming in , singing at you work, going to the toilet without permission, combing your hair. You could find yerself out of a job if you don`t stop this carryin` on. Now get up them stairs and get to your frame and get on with yer work!"
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