'Schmidt's detailed descriptions of factory life illuminate the perilous environment in which workers toiled, and his extensive use of court records gives voice to the child workers and families involved. … In addition, the contrast between the author's penetrating analysis and litigants' practical language makes the book a pleasure to read. This is an essential book for anyone interested in the history of childhood, labor, law or the South.' The Journal of Law and History Review
Prologue: the job; 1. Big enough to work; 2. The divine right to do nothing; 3. Mashed to pieces; 4. Natural instincts; 5. An injury to all; 6. The dawn of child labor; Epilogue: get up and play.