The Importance Of Names

A fine Chicago mansion with a long drive bordered by trees.
Sixteen year old Ellen O'Braonain didn't know the names of trees: she didn't need to. All she needed to know was how to lug shit and straw from the stables and the servants quarters, and how to keep small bossman sweet.
Keeping small bossman sweet resulted in a bastard and Ellen and her squalling bastard, Lucy, being thrown onto the street before scandal ensued.
Before the scandal died, the mother was dead too. Disposed of, pauper's name unknown.
A workhouse, with rats: child Lucy's only memory of early childhood.