Upon the times of the old days, there was a young Upon the times of the old days, there was a young

lady, she was sixteen years old, her name was lady, she was sixteen years old, her name was Julie, Julie,

her parents had abandoned her, she wasn’t very her parents had abandoned her, she wasn’t very

rich, she didn’t have much clothes, she lived on rich, she didn’t have much clothes, she lived on the the

streets, living on the left over's of the people who streets, living on the left over's of the people who

were more fortunate then her. She wasn’t one of were more fortunate then her. She wasn’t one of

the fortunate kids.the fortunate kids.

Day by day, night by night young Julie’s starvation Day by day, night by night young Julie’s starvation was getting worse, weighing only just thirty-four was getting worse, weighing only just thirty-four kilograms, she was under weight. Her life was kilograms, she was under weight. Her life was very very hard, it wasn’t easy getting pointed at by every hard, it wasn’t easy getting pointed at by every person that walked past you. Julie slowly became person that walked past you. Julie slowly became depressed thinking every minute, if her life was depressed thinking every minute, if her life was worth living, it surely didn’t seem like it. worth living, it surely didn’t seem like it.

Julies confidence was dropping slowly, everyday. Julies confidence was dropping slowly, everyday.

Until one wealthy man offered her to take herUntil one wealthy man offered her to take her

home, was it luck ?, was her poverty going tohome, was it luck ?, was her poverty going to

come to an end ?, was there a catch, with all come to an end ?, was there a catch, with all thesethese

questions in her mind, she was hesitating to questions in her mind, she was hesitating to accept, accept,

but she looked forward and realized her life but she looked forward and realized her life wasn’twasn’t

going anywhere so with that final thought going anywhere so with that final thought crossing crossing

her mind she accepted. her mind she accepted.

When Julie arrived to the wealthy family man’sWhen Julie arrived to the wealthy family man’s

home which happened to be in George Street, home which happened to be in George Street,

Sydney. The man had spoke something which didSydney. The man had spoke something which did

not cross her mind at the time, Julie’s acceptance not cross her mind at the time, Julie’s acceptance

of the offer wasn’t such a great one, the man of the offer wasn’t such a great one, the man

spoke dark words which Julie didn’t like the sound spoke dark words which Julie didn’t like the sound

of, those words were “You are now my slave.” of, those words were “You are now my slave.”

[Pictures Ahead.][Pictures Ahead.]

Julie’s mind was confused, Julie was confused Julie’s mind was confused, Julie was confused

herself, not sure on what to reply with. Julies heart herself, not sure on what to reply with. Julies heart

and soul was broken, the thought of suicide wasand soul was broken, the thought of suicide was

constantly going through her mind, but then she constantly going through her mind, but then she

thought to herself every life is worth living, so thought to herself every life is worth living, so with with

her strong mental mind, she vanished the her strong mental mind, she vanished the thought.thought.

Julie’s mind was confused, Julie was confused Julie’s mind was confused, Julie was confused

herself, not sure on what to reply with. Julies heart herself, not sure on what to reply with. Julies heart

and soul was broken, the thought of suicide wasand soul was broken, the thought of suicide was

constantly going through her mind, but then she constantly going through her mind, but then she

thought to herself every life is worth living, so thought to herself every life is worth living, so with with

her strong mental mind, she vanished the her strong mental mind, she vanished the thought.thought.

Another thought Julie was having, was the Another thought Julie was having, was the thoughtthought

of devising a plan to escape the slavery, but she of devising a plan to escape the slavery, but she

didn’t have the time to think as the man called didn’t have the time to think as the man called her her

her name loudly, the reason behind the man’s call her name loudly, the reason behind the man’s call

was to call her to duty for her first task. Her first was to call her to duty for her first task. Her first tasktask

was none other than the dirty laundry. Back in was none other than the dirty laundry. Back in thosethose

days laundry was done differently then to how it days laundry was done differently then to how it is is

done now, it was done by hand using a copper.done now, it was done by hand using a copper.

(a large container in which water was boiled.)(a large container in which water was boiled.)

Julie had finished her first task, but it was now Julie had finished her first task, but it was now time time

for her second, once she had found this out, she for her second, once she had found this out, she

was none to pleased about it, but she had to do was none to pleased about it, but she had to do

what she had to do. Her second task was to put what she had to do. Her second task was to put saltsalt

on the meat, the family had recently bought. on the meat, the family had recently bought.

Back then they also didn’t have refrigerators, so Back then they also didn’t have refrigerators, so thethe

only way to keep them fresh was to put salt on only way to keep them fresh was to put salt on

them. them.

The family was going for there first night out withThe family was going for there first night out with

Julie in the house, they trusted poor Julie and put Julie in the house, they trusted poor Julie and put

their massive house on young Julie’s hands. their massive house on young Julie’s hands.

The family was going out, to the circus, the circus The family was going out, to the circus, the circus

was very popular in the 20was very popular in the 20thth Century of Australia. Century of Australia.

Other forms of entertainment included Other forms of entertainment included

comedy acts as well as going to the movies, as wecomedy acts as well as going to the movies, as we

do now days. do now days.

It was getting late and dark and with all that Juliewas getting scared, in the mean time she decided wash the dishes whilst they were gone, to take her minds of things. Midnight was approaching, and Julie’s fear was becoming worse, she received a call from the hospital later, it turns out the man haddied from the ‘Bubonic Plague.’Back then, health and medical technology wasn’t as good as it is today.

Australia had only recently federated during the Australia had only recently federated during the

1900s. The Australian economy needed more 1900s. The Australian economy needed more

people to migrate to Australia, and thus they gave people to migrate to Australia, and thus they gave

information about the excellent work conditions of information about the excellent work conditions of

Australia. Although nowhere near modern Australia. Although nowhere near modern

standards, the condition in Australia was better standards, the condition in Australia was better

than the conditions in many other countries, and than the conditions in many other countries, and

this persuaded people to migrate. this persuaded people to migrate.

Voting time was approaching and the fact that theVoting time was approaching and the fact that the

man left his wealthy fortune to his wife meant man left his wealthy fortune to his wife meant thatthat

her vote was worth a lot more than someone who her vote was worth a lot more than someone who

didn’t have as much as money as her, the same didn’t have as much as money as her, the same

system applied with how much land you had too.system applied with how much land you had too.

Voting time had come, the wife of her late Voting time had come, the wife of her late

husband, was going to vote, she ordered that ahusband, was going to vote, she ordered that a

chariot were to come and pick her up and that chariot were to come and pick her up and that

happened, the chariot was propelled by twohappened, the chariot was propelled by two

beautiful, black Australian Stock Horses. She went beautiful, black Australian Stock Horses. She went

inside the hall, to cast her valuable vote. She had inside the hall, to cast her valuable vote. She had

casted it, and she off to home she went.casted it, and she off to home she went.

Whilst, the woman had been voting and making aWhilst, the woman had been voting and making a

return to her large and beautiful home, Julie was return to her large and beautiful home, Julie was

cleaning the dishes and polishing the shoes of the cleaning the dishes and polishing the shoes of the

wealthy family. When the women had returned wealthy family. When the women had returned

she was in tears and grieving for her late husbandshe was in tears and grieving for her late husband

Julie attempted to comfort her, and let me tell youJulie attempted to comfort her, and let me tell you

her attempt was successful. her attempt was successful.

A change of mind had occurred, the wife of her A change of mind had occurred, the wife of her

late husband has realized something, she had late husband has realized something, she had

realized that the personal servant living in their realized that the personal servant living in their

house, looking after the family's mess was a veryhouse, looking after the family's mess was a very

kind and kind hearted young lady. Her views of kind and kind hearted young lady. Her views of

on her, changed dramatically and straight awayon her, changed dramatically and straight away

she was no longer a personal servant nor a she was no longer a personal servant nor a servant servant

in any way, she was a free and independent in any way, she was a free and independent youngyoung

girl. girl.

The widow also gave Julie a offer, the offer was to The widow also gave Julie a offer, the offer was to

live with her family, but not to help with cooking, live with her family, but not to help with cooking,

nor with housework of any sort, just to be treatednor with housework of any sort, just to be treated

like one of her children. The offer looked at Julie like one of her children. The offer looked at Julie

seriously, the offer wasn’t going to vanish from seriously, the offer wasn’t going to vanish from her her

mind any time soon, so without any further mind any time soon, so without any further thoughtsthoughts

she accepted, but this time it was for her own she accepted, but this time it was for her own

cause.cause.

This time Julie felt a sense of satisfaction, she wasThis time Julie felt a sense of satisfaction, she wasnow a strong and independent young lady, now a strong and independent young lady, who could freely roam the streets of Sydney, who could freely roam the streets of Sydney, without and hassle. without and hassle. Julie was a free and independent, like everybody Julie was a free and independent, like everybody in the world should be to this day. in the world should be to this day. The end of the story has come, but a new The end of the story has come, but a new beginning shall come. beginning shall come.

By Roshen Ayavoo.By Roshen Ayavoo.