Cotton Mill
Working in the cotton mills (textile industry) was the most common job for children at one time. Employers did not feel that working in the cotton mills was a hazard considering it did not require any major strength or manual labor; this is true. Most of the children who worked in the mills were sweepers, spinners, or doffers. The girls who worked as spinners picked the lint off the machines and tied broken strings as quickly as possible. The boys who worked as doffers had to fill the bobbins as soon as they were empty. This job was dangerous because the kids were often times so young they had to stand on boxes. If they lost their balance, their clothes could catch on the machines or they could fall in altogether.
Children in the mills usually worked 11-12 hours a day for 5-6 days a week. Since wet, warm places helped the cotton, they kept the windows to the mill closed. This also meant all the lint from the cotton filled the air, covered the children's clothes, and filled their lungs. The employers often hired entire families to work in the mills together, but it was no place to fellowship.
Children in the mills usually worked 11-12 hours a day for 5-6 days a week. Since wet, warm places helped the cotton, they kept the windows to the mill closed. This also meant all the lint from the cotton filled the air, covered the children's clothes, and filled their lungs. The employers often hired entire families to work in the mills together, but it was no place to fellowship.