In 1853, the British government passed the Compulsory Vaccination Act. All babies under three months old had to be vaccinated against smallpox. Some hailed this as a great step forward for medical science. Others called it tyranny. For 50 years, Rose Emery sought to raise her children and grandchildren in this turbulent environment. This series of seven short stories follows Rose on this difficult journey.
In Story 2: 1866, Rose is now 12 years old and has started work at the cotton mill. It's 13 years since Rose's brother, Ezra, died following a smallpox vaccination, yet Rose's mother still grieves for him and remains obsessed with the anti-vaccination movement. Rose doesn't share her mother's passion. But when they attend an anti-vaccination protest, Rose begins to understand her mother's position. This occurs just before her mother exacts a promise from her, a promise that will dominate the rest of her life.