Katie Robertson

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23795

Title

Katie Robertson

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A poignant 1885 novel following thirteen-year-old Katie Robertson, a delicate but determined girl who leaves her widowed mother to work in a paper mill. Blending factory life with moral trials, the story explores themes of poverty, independence, and Christian forgiveness as Katie navigates suspicion, illness, and the harsh realities of early industrial labor.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the industrial village of Squantown in 1885, Margaret E. Winslow's *Katie Robertson* chronicles the poignant journey of a thirteen-year-old girl forced into the workforce after her father, a doctor, dies of a contagious disease. Leaving her widowed mother in financial straits, Katie's brothers find employment in a bindery, but the frail yet determined Katie seeks work in the dangerous paper mill to support her family. Her mother, who had always guarded her tenderly, initially resists the idea of her daughter working among rough men and women, fearing the moral and physical toll of factory life. However, the family's dire circumstances and the encouragement of Mr. Sanderson, a superintendent and former friend of the family, eventually persuade Mrs. Robertson to let Katie try her luck in the mill. Once employed, Katie faces immediate challenges, including the stigma of working alongside adults and the constant fear of contracting the prevalent "fever," likely tuberculosis or typhoid. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Katie is called to nurse her former playmate, Bertie Sanderson, who has fallen ill with the fever at her own home. Despite the risk of infection and the incompetence of Bertie's selfish mother, who refuses to isolate the patient or care for her own children, Katie chooses to stay. In a delirious state, Bertie falsely accuses Katie of theft, damaging her reputation among peers and teachers. Despite the slander and the temptation to flee, Katie embodies Christian virtues of forgiveness and self-sacrifice. She remains by Bertie's bedside, nursing her through the night and caring for the other sick children in the house. The story details the grim conditions of the makeshift hospital and the community's struggle to maintain moral integrity amidst poverty and disease. Through Katie's resilience, faith, and refusal to retaliate against her accuser, the novel offers a realistic yet hopeful look at the dignity of labor. It highlights the strength required to overcome social prejudice and personal tragedy, ultimately presenting a model of honorable independence and the spiritual reward found in faithfully performed work and service to others.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Young Women