In Chapters 20 and 21 of Lyddie, Lyddie and Brigid become closer friends. What are some ways that are some ways that Lyddie helps Brigid? How does...

Lyddie learns patience from helping Brigid learn how to read and work in the factory.

When Lyddie first meets Brigid, she is irritated by the fact that she has to train a new girl. She does not like the fact that Brigid will slow her down. For Lyddie, at this point, making money is more important than making friends. With Diana gone, Lyddie finds herself playing the role Diana played in her life for Brigid.

Still, she was more patient with them than she had ever been with poor Brigid at the beginning. She had to be. Brigid herself was a paragon of gentleness, teaching the new girls all that Lyddie and Diana had taught her, never raising her voice in irritation or complaint. (Ch. 20)

Unlike the other factory girls, Brigid lives with her family in the tenements that the Irish girls favor. She has little education, so Lyddie enjoys teaching her to read, just as she was taught when she first came. She comes to appreciate Brigid’s company. Brigid gets more comfortable and proficient, and Lyddie has a friend.

Always a rugged individualist, Lyddie is almost surprised at herself as she gets closer to Brigid, and finds that she likes teaching her how to read. She does not go into the Acre where Brigid lives, not because she is afraid, but because she does not want Brigid to be ashamed of her home. They spend more and more time together outside of work.

So it was that day by day, without intending to be, Lyddie found herself bound letter by letter, word by word, sentence by sentence, page by page, until it was, "Come by when you've had your supper, and we'll work on the reader together." Or on a Sunday afternoon: "Meet me by the river, and I'll bring paper and pens for practice." (Ch. 20)

Brigid benefits from Lyddie’s friendship in even more ways.  One day Brigid does not come, and Lyddie goes to look for her. She finds their overseer, Mr. Marsden, forcing himself on Brigid, like he once did on her. She attacks him with a bucket and is dismissed from the factory and blacklisted for her efforts.

Lyddie does not give up on Brigid after she is fired, and she does not blame Brigid for what happened. She gives her a copy of Oliver Twist and writes her a letter to Mr. Marsden’s wife, telling her that she needs to send it if he ever bothers her again. She makes Brigid promise to do it.

From her friendship with Brigid, Lyddie learns that she can care about someone other than herself. She learns patience and how to help someone. In addition to the factory skills, Brigid learns to read, and she also learns the importance of standing up for yourself.