Jon and Sara Cautslin had just moved from their home in Norway to a small mining town in eastern Pennsylvania during the late-1880s. They had brought their daughter Julia with them from their home across the Atlantic. Neither Jon nor Sara could speak English very well, so Jon chose to be something in which he was neither required to speak the language or to have prior training. Julia picked up the language quickly from the children in the small school in the middle of town. She taught her parents as best she could, but they never really learned the language very well.

A little less than a year later, Sara gave birth to a son. She and Jon named him Oswald. Julia called him Ozzie. The two children were very good friends. Ozzie never learned his parents’ language. He was forbidden from speaking it, ever. Sara wanted her son to speak only English, never Norwegion. She thought that it was bad enough that her daughter knew their language and have the accent in such a land of opportunity. She wanted the best for her son. She wanted him to have an American accent so he could get a well-paying job outside the mining town.

The four members of the Cautslin family were very happy in their little town and in their little house. They lived as the four of them until part of the mine collapsed in 1895, killing Jon. Since he had just signed a contract binding him and his family to the mining company, someone in the family had to take his place. Sara was too week. Her heart was failing since her husband’s death. Ozzie was only eight, far too young to work in the mine. Julia was the only one left.

At the age of fifteen, Julia went to work in the mines. She cut her hair short so it wouldn’t get in the way and wore her father’s extra pair of coveralls to the mine. For four years she worked in that mine, taking care of her mother and brother on her meager paycheck. About halfway through the first year, her mother died of a broken heart. She and her brother were left to fend for themselves. Since Julia still held a contract with the mining company, she and Ozzie were allowed to live in their house until the contract was up. The mining company informed her that the contract would not be renewed at the end of its term. Ozzie wanted to drop out of school when he was ten, but Julia insisted that he stay in school.

At the end of the four years, Julia packed her things up and took Ozzie away from the mining town. She decided to move to New York City. She’d read about it in school many years before, how it was far more prosperous than any other city. Little did she know that what she’d read did in no way relate to her.

In New York, Julia found a boarding house in Manhattan that asked for little in rent. She and Ozzie lived there for a few months on her savings from the mine. She spent her time out looking for a job, but her looks and accent frequently hindered her efforts. She continued to force Ozzie to pursue his schooling. Since he could not attend public school, Julia sent him to the library to read. Ozzie didn’t mind; he actually enjoyed reading. His favorites were the medical journals from the Civil War.

After two months in the city, she wandered into Brooklyn on her daily quest for a job. Her hair had grown to her shoulders and kept getting in her face, so she was frequently brushing it out of the way. One of the newsies on the street noticed her as she stumbled over a loose cobblestone, not seeing it because her hair had gotten in her eyes.

This girl was quite lovely, quite tall, too. She had brown hair to her shoulders and was skinny. She looked like she had a lot of muscle under her shirtsleeves, but the boy wasn’t sure. She wore black pants that looked to be just hanging off her hips, held in place by a brown leather belt. On her torso, she wore a tanktop undershirt with three buttons at the collar and a blueish-grey button-down shirt tucked into her pants. She wore her black boots like most other boys her age would wear. Her only problem was that she had nothing to tie her hair back with.

The boy went over to help her up. He offered her a hand. She looked up at him, curious about his identity, but decided to take his hospitality. “Da name’s Spot Conlon,” the boy introduced once she got to her feet.

“Julia Cautslin,” she replied through her Norwegion thick accent.

“Say, where you’se from?” Spot asked, wondering about her accent.

“I grew up in Pannsylvania, but my family was originally from Norway,” she answered, trying to subdue her accent.

Spot shrugged. “What cha doin’ in Brooklyn?” he inquired.

“I’m looking for a job,” she answered.

“What kind a job?”

“Somesing that I can live on.”

“Ya got any special skills?”

“Coal mining.”

Spot blinked and looked at her. He recovered quickly. “Ya evah thought a sellin’ papes?” he asked, hefting his own papers onto his shoulder. He began walking down the street. She followed alongside him.

Julia thought about it for a moment. “Is that what you are?” she asked.

“Yup,” he answered, nodding.

“And this is good work? I can live on what I’m paid?” she said.

“More er less, yeah, if yer good at it,” he answered, selling a paper to a pretty schoolgirl.

“I have a brother. He is twelve. He is a smart boy, reads all the time. What of him?” she replied, looking off down the street.

“Well, ‘e kin be a newsie, too, if ‘e wants,” he explained.

Julia thought again. “We live in a boarding house in Manhattan. Would we move here, to Brooklyn?” she wondered.

“Not if ya don’t wanna. I gots some friends in Manhattan dat kin look aftah yer bruddah if ya want. If ya want ‘im da be a newsie, ‘e kin join up wit’ one a dem ‘n’ sell dere. Dey’s good dere, take real good care ‘v’im. You on da oddah hand, I think ya should live heh’ in Brooklyn, least till ya loins how ta sell propah-like,” he explained.

She sighed, thinking. She finally nodded. “Very well, we’ll be newsies. Ozzie will be with yer friends in Manhattan, and I will stay here in Brooklyn,” she decided, picking up a little of his accent.

Spot smiled. “Great! Lemme finish most a dese up, den we’ll go on back ta Manhattan. You’se kin watch ‘n’ loin, Jules,” he concluded, giving her a bit of a nickname. Julia nodded and continued to follow him around until most of his papers were gone.

At that point, they hurried over to Manhattan. It was early in the evening when they arrived in Manhattan. Julia led him to the library where she left her brother every day. She’d instructed him to stay there and read until she picked him up in the evening. Upon entering, she opened an account for a library card for her brother. After the few minutes of legalities, she and Spot went to find her brother.

Julia found him sitting in a chair in the back of the library, immersed in a thick novel. “Ozzie,” she began, stepping up to him.

He looked up from his book. “Julia? Yer not supposed to be here fer another three hours,” he replied.

She smiled. “I found a job and a new place to live,” she answered, holding the yellow card up.

“What’s that?” he asked, nodding toward the card.

She handed it to him. “Read it,” she instructed.

He looked at it and suddenly smiled. “Ya got me a library card!” he said happily.

“Yup. Now you can come here whenever you want and take a book out.” She paused for a moment. “That way you can take it to your new home,” she finished.

Ozzie’s brow furrowed, and he placed the card into the book, shutting it as he stood. “New home?” he asked, his heart dropping. “I like it here, Jules.”

She put her hands on his arms. “We are staying, Ozzie. We’re just moving addresses,” she explained.

“Where?” he asked quietly. Julia looked back at Spot. Ozzie followed her gaze. “Who’re you?” he demanded, being protective of his sister.

Spot stepped forward. “Spot Conlon,” he introduced, offering Ozzie his hand.

Ozzie didn’t trust him. “Oswald Cautslin,” he answered, a certain edge to his voice.

“Me ‘n’ yer sistah’ve decided dat you’se two’re gonna be newsies.” Ozzie looked at her, shocked. “You’se gonna live heh’ in Manhattan at da Newsboys Lodgin’ House,” he explained.

“What ‘bout Julie?” he asked, still untrusting.

“She’ll be in Brooklyn wit’ me-“

“Julia,” Ozzie demanded loudly. The librarian shushed them.

“Ozzie, it’s been decided. Get your book and come outside. Spot and I will wait fer you on the steps,” she spoke and headed for the door. Ozzie grumbled something and followed after them, stopping at the check-out desk.

Outside, Spot and Julia sat on the steps waiting for Ozzie. Spot smoked a cigarette. When he came outside, they both stood. Spot said nothing, leading them down the steps and toward the lodging house. Julia walked alongside Spot while Ozzie walked behind them, watching Spot carefully. Julia leaned over to Spot as they walked.

“Shall we retrieve his things before we arrive at this lodging house?” she whispered. He nodded in agreement. “This way,” she ordered, turning down a side street. The two boys followed her silently to the boarding house.

Inside, Julia hurried up to their room and packed most of Ozzie’s things into his bag quickly. She handed it to her brother. “I’ll return later for my things and to settle the rent,” she informed them. “Come.” She headed back out the door.

They arrived at the lodging house some time later. About half of the inhabitants were there, taking the rest of the evening off. The headlines had been good that day, little embellishing needed. Spot entered first, then Julia, and then Ozzie. The boys in the room removed their hats to Julia. Spot spoke first.

“Evenin’, fellas,” he greeted.

“Heya, Spot. How’s it rollin’?” a tall boy with a cowboy hat on his back greeted, spitting in his palm.

Spot spit in his palm and shook hands with the other boy. “Not too bad, Jackey-boy. I brought ya a new kid,” he replied, looking over his shoulder to Julia and Ozzie.

Jack followed his friend’s eyes and nodded. “We kin awways use a girl ‘round dese pawts,” he commented.

“Not her,” Spot stated.

“Oh,” Jack mumbled, looking at the boy beside her. He walked over to him. “Jack Kelly, Cowboy,” he introduced, extending his hand toward him.

“Oswald Cautslin, Ozzie,” he replied, still not shaking anyone’s hand.

“Ozzie, be polite,” Julia ordered brusquely. Ozzie snorted and shook Jack’s hand.

Jack turned to her. “An’ you are?” he asked, turning on his charm.

“Julia Cautslin,” she answered with her thick accent.

“Jack Kelly, pleashoah,” he said slickly and extended his hand to her. Julia knew his kind but shook his hand anyway. Politeness always won over every time.

“I’m sure,” she mumbled, grasping his hand tightly. After a moment, he gasped in pain and tried to pull his hand away. He finally broke free of her grip.

“Dat’s some handshake, Julia,” he noted, rubbing his hand.

Julia took charge of the situation quickly. “Jack, I expect you to take care of my brother. Sometimes he’s a handful, but you can call me anytime in Brooklyn. I’ll be there until further notice,” she explained.

“Ya takin’ chawge a ‘er, Spot?” Jack asked, looking over at him. Spot was about to say something, but Julia cut him off.

“Listen, you pompous jerk,” she began angrily, grabbing his arm and slamming him into the closest wall. “No one takes charge of me but me. I don’t take orders; I give them.” She scowled at him and headed out of the building. “Behave yerself, Ozzie,” she yelled over her shoulder.

Spot shrugged and hurried after her, not wanting her to get lost on her way back to Brooklyn. He wanted to keep an eye on her. They went back to the boarding house, settled everything, and went on the Brooklyn.

Over the next few weeks, Spot taught Julia everything he knew about selling newspapers. He even taught her how to use a slingshot and her strength properly. She was a fast learner. She even lost a good bit of her accent, gaining a Brooklyn one. She did keep up with her Norwegion, however. She kept a journal and wrote in it whenever she deemed it necessary. She wrote in Norwegion so that no one could read it. Not even her brother.

After a few months in Brooklyn, Julia got bored. Spot had introduced her to the leader in Harlem several days earlier, and he’d taken a shine to her. She decided to go and visit him. When she arrived, he gave her the best welcome she could get. He was very fond of her. Julia, now referred to only as Jules, inquired about his earlier offer to her back in Brooklyn. He told her that the offer still stood. She decided to take him up on it and moved to Harlem for a change of pace.

She lived at the lodging house in Harlem from then on. She visited Spot from time to time, but usually only when he came to Manhattan. She managed to keep the leader of Harlem out of her pants, but she couldn’t dissuade him from liking her. She and Jack had put their differences behind them and did each other favors from time to time. Jack owed her a few by the time she moved to Harlem. Jules really enjoyed living in Harlem. She could be close to her brother and in the middle of a very busy part of the city. She was glad she decided to move to New York.