Industrial Life

910 Words2 Pages

As I grew up, my mother was a very hard woman. I could never quite understand why she kept herself distant from me, and how she usually refused to show any kind of love towards me. All through childhood I never understood who she really was, and why she raised me like she did. So this is the story of her life, June Alcott’s life, and how she came to be who she is today. June was born to Sarah and Laurence Alcott in the autumn of 1796, in east Lancashire. Laurence was a textile factory owner, and would subsequently mover from upper-middle to upper class whilst June grew up, as his textile business boomed. She got to experience the best childhood, as she was the youngest of 9, with six sisters and two brothers. Being the youngest she was able to experience growing up with her father’s newfound riches the most. June didn’t enjoy schooling with her governess very much, preferring to play games with her sister closest in age Betty or run around the factory. Her other siblings became rather jealous of June, particularly the older ones who had moved out and married. Her eldest sibling Margarite was 20 when she was born. They compared their upbringing to June’s, which was far stricter and without the small luxuries June was allowed. Although her siblings could occasionally be mean to her, her parents thought the world of her and always defended June. As June got older it became apparent that she was an excellent seamstress. She made the finest clothes with frills and lace, much nicer than anyone else in her family could make. At the many events her family was invited to she would war her favourite dresses. She made others for the females in the family too. Some older woman would say that June’s dresses were too inappropriate, but in fact... ... middle of paper ... ... went against every belief society had for women and raised an illegitimate child on her own. She still works as a seamstress, and poor Frank is very old. He says he will give mother the shop when he dies. We are at peace now. She admits now she was a terrible mother. I tell her not to be so hard on herself she did her best. She tells me her story with tears in her eyes, telling me to write it down so my children and their children after won’t make the same mistakes. I believe her mistakes all ended up okay. I turned out okay. She turned out okay, from an over-indulged young woman to a hardened lady who knew what suffering really was. I only need to know my extended family and my father through her stories. Perhaps one day one will find us, or one day June and I will visit. But for now, we are content; we have found a harmony that ‘proper’ families may never reach.

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