The reader must not consider Peace fawning or cringing in addressing the prison officer as “sir.” It was a rule in the service that whenever a prisoner addressed an official or “officer,” as they liked to be called, he was to use the word “sir.”
Peace had heard that a great deal of weaving was done in the gaol; these were coarse goods, afterwards used for prison shirts, sheets, towels, pocket handkerchiefs. The fabrics so manufactured are afterwards made up in the tailor’s shop or sewing ward.
The bakery and kitchens were all worked by convicts under the superintendence of special warders. Certain numbers of the warders and assistants are sufficiently well skilled in the various crafts to enable them to superintend and instruct those men who are placed under their charge in their respective gangs or wards to learn or work at a trade.
The chief warder made inquiries of his subordinates as to the general demeanour and conduct of Peace; the account they gave was satisfactory, and some two or three days after our hero’s interview with him, M‘Pherson entered Peace’s cell, and said in a conciliatory tone—
“Well, my man, as I have had a good account of you, I don’t see that there is any reason for your not making yourself useful. Come this way.”
Peace followed the speaker, and was shown into a ward where a number of men were busily occupied on various articles.
A bundle of coarse cloth was thrown down by the chief warder.
“We are going to make a tailor of you,” he said, jocosely, to Peace.
“I am much obliged, sir, but I am not much of a hand at tailoring.”
“No matter, you are willing to learn, I suppose?”