Reconstruction: A first-hand account of a factory worker's life after war

I feel extremely fortunate that i kept my job in the textile factory. Our production is as high as ever and im glad that our economy is still strong. Some of the soldiers are beginning to come back from the war, and they are lifting the spirits of everyone in the city. There is some rebuilding that must be done in areas that were destroyed. However, overall i feel like this was a huge success for the North. I'm extremely glad the horrible institution of slavery has finally been brought down.
-Leah Defigueiredo