"I did not think of that."
"I hope this has taught you a lesson that you will never forget,—one that will make you think. Before you had this punishment you had not the strength to resist the temptation to take the money. Now you will always remember what you have suffered here, and you will not be likely to do it again."
"No, ma'am, I don't think I shall. This is harder than working for a living outside, besides the rough handling we get. A poor living at that, and poorer clothes. And you officers don't fare much better. You get a little better feed, and a better bed, and a little pay; but not so much rest; and you are in as close confinement as we are."
"But we are not prisoners; we can go if we like."
"What do you stay here for; you don't seem fit for such work, and you might earn a great deal more outside, and not work so hard?"
"I may be able to teach a few of you, poor things, to live right when you go outside, and that will be better to me than money."
"God bless you! that is what we want. There is many a one of us would be glad to live right if we knew how."
"There are some that only grow harder for coming here, and do as bad again, and come back."
"O, yes! they think they're prison birds, and there's nothing more for 'em in this world, and they don't care. Nobody likes to have such as we about 'em."
"But there are people that would help you to lead a better life, and earn an honest living, if you could find them."