A journey back to the Victorian time

Sheila: Hello this is Sheila Newman from BBC and we’re here in the biggest lab of England which belongs to one of the greatest inventors of the world: Professor Brian Brain.
The reason for our coming is his latest invention, the time machine called “Tar-di-Ness” which is an ironically name for such a machine I think. In our last episode we announced our visit in the lab because Professor Brian Brain invited us to use his time machine for a little time travel back to the Victorian time to the year 1840. We wanted this year because in this time it was usually that children under ten had to work for example underground. We are very grateful that the Professor invited us and thank God he accompanies me and my team.
Maybe we even can make some interviews with the Victorian people.
Professor, I would say let’s start and let’s hope that the machine’s name doesn’t come true.

About half an hour later the BBC-team and the Professor land with a loud noise in an alley beside a busy street. There are no cars and also no traffic lights. Some people come towards the machine and watch how the Professor and the TV-team get out of Tar-di-Ness.

S: Wow that cannot be true. Am I dreaming? We are in a street with no cars and nothing like this. I can’t believe that it worked. Professor, what do you say about this achievement?

Professor Brian Brain: I also can’t believe it. We are really in the Victorian time. This is my greatest invention. It was my dream to travel back to the passed times but I never was sure that it would work. We are the first persons who are able to experience the ancient times and… Oh, look at this! I want to know what this strange thing was for.
I would say we meet at this place again in about five hours. That’s quite enough time to make an interview and that’s enough for me to discover their world a little bit. Bye.

S: Off you go. Let’s look for a person for my interview.
Wow look at this. The sky is grey because of the dust. People in these times should learn about the consequences of this air pollution. We’re in London, but it is so strange. All the carriages and the workers, everything looks grey. Oh look at this! There is a train. It looks very funny.

After an hour walking and wondering through the streets:

S: Hey, you! Little girl! Do you have a little bit time left for me? I’ve got some questions to you. Is that okay?

O: What do you want? Why do you wear such strange clothes?

S: I don’t think that you would believe it but the truth is that we travelled from the 21st century to your time. I know it sounds unbelievable, but that’s the truth.

O: I don’t believe you, you’re mad.

S: No, I could show you my world or I could show you some of my things. Look, that’s my watch, that is my handy, my digital camera and this is our camera to make a report about this time.
I didn’t think that girls like you were allowed to talk to grown-ups in this way.

O: No, you can’t come from the future. That’s impossible.

S: No, it is possible. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here.
Let’s make a deal. This is my digital camera. If you answer some of my questions I’ll show you how to handle it and maybe you want it as a present that you helped me. And I promise you, that I only want to ask you a few questions. Okay?

O: Okay, but I don’t have plenty of time. My Master wants me to bring him these new clothes.

S: Thank you very much. So, I would say tell me something about your life. I mean your age, your place and so on.

O: My name’s Octavia, I am twelve years old and I am working for my rich master Mr Miller. I have… no, I had three brothers and two sisters. My family is very poor and so my parents sent me and my brothers and sisters to work. Previous my father worked as an engineer, but then he got injured by the train and since that he isn’t able to work anymore. Before the accident we also had to work, but not this kind of work.
Two of my brothers, both nine years old, were sent to work in mines and my youngest brother, who was seven years old, had to clean the chimneys from the rich people. This is a very dangerous work because chimney sweepers often fall off the roofs and the dust of the chimneys also is very poisonous.
There are also my two sisters who have to work in factories because of their small hands. Such hands are used to tie the cotton together or to clean the machines.

S: I’m very sorry for you, Octavia. But why did you say you HAD three brothers and two sisters?

O: Oh, that’s because two of them died. Bill and Jim who worked in a mine died when there was a big explosion. Before the explosion they had to work with the light of one candle. They hardly had breaks and had to work more than ten hours a day. They got up when it was dark and went to work underground. When they finished work it also was dark outside. My two brothers and all the others in the mines hardly saw the daylight and only had a very dusty air to breathe.
My two sisters nearly have the same destiny. When they started to work in the factory they were healthy, but now they hardly can work because of the pain of their hands which got so injured. Also their lungs get worse and worse because of the dust in the air.
I feel so bad because I have got a good job.

S: Wow. I knew that people this time weren’t good to children and I knew that this had happened, but to hear it from you is so real. I feel so sorry that I asked you the last question. Let us change the topic. Tell me, what are your duties in that house? Do you have to clean and do you get punished if you do something wrong?

O: Yes of course, it’s usual to become hit if you’ve done something wrong. In the house I am working I have to help the mistress with the household. At half past four I get up and have to make fire. Then I have to help in the kitchen and to keep the house clean. I’m also like a servant for the master’s children. This is the worst part in my duties because they treat me very bad. In their eyes I’m not a girl. They think that they are something better because of their money. My master even doesn’t send his children to school. They have an own teacher, called governess, and I can’t understand why they don’t like to be taught. My master’s children mainly are taught with a religious content and they write on slates with slates pencils. In schools nowadays boys are more worth and are better threatened than girls. I would say, that are some reasons why the rich children don’t like to go to school. I would give everything to learn something or to live together with my family. These rich children don’t know what happiness means. But I’m not allowed to grumble because I’ve got a place to sleep and everyday I get something to eat. My sisters and brothers didn’t have such luck. And that’s the reason why I feel guilty every day because I’ve one of the best workplaces a poor twelve years-old girl can get.

S: Octavia, I’m speechless. I admire your adjustment. But don’t you ever think how it would have been if you were Mr Millers daughter? Aren’t you angry with God?

O: No, why should I? I’ve got a good job and a place to sleep. I trust and believe in God and I’m thankful that I’ve got such a good life, but of course I’m also often sad that my master’s family has such a good life. By the way my master’s family are supporter to the Oxford Movement and they are very strict religious and that’s good because they should thank God for this life they’re living.
Oh, can you hear it? The church bells are ringing, it’s half past six. I should have been at my workplace since half an hour. May I go on now because if I’m not “at home” on time I’ll get hit?

S: Of course. Thank you very much, Octavia.

Sheila showed her how to handle the camera and gave her some sweets. Then she went back to Tar-di-Ness and after half an hour they were back in the 21st century, but it wasn’t the last time travel they made.

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