Kate: Trials of a Victorian Shop Girl - Part II

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Gossip Column #5

 Kate and Rose had been born to middle class parents, living on the outskirts of London. Their mother had died shortly after Kate was born, and their father had passed away several years later. There were no additional surviving children.

After their father died, the pair were raised by a variety of relatives, passed around from relation to relation like lost parcels. Their various caregivers had seen to it that both girls received an education, that they had clothes to wear and food to eat, but beyond that they had little time for two girls who were not their own. Both girls worried about their future.

Rose had managed to escape a life of "dignified" poverty by marrying a kind and wealthy merchant. Kate, however, had found herself relegated to the role of "poor relation." A fate common for women in her situation.

She manage to eke out a living by taking on a succession of governess jobs, and stashing away as much of her meager salary as she reasonably could. Yet she wanted so much more. In the quiet of the night, Kate dreamed of becoming a shop girl, leading perhaps, one day, to owning her own shop.

Kate dreamed of becoming a shop girl..


...and of one day owning her own shop.


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