"Sorry for what,—that you made disturbance, or that I found you out?"
"For both. Indeed I am; I knew better—I knew the rules; I've been here before, and it'll go hard with me."
"You thought I was a stranger and wouldn't know them, did you?"
"Yes, ma'am; but I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry for you, Kate, that you should be so ill-disposed as to make a noise, purposely to disturb me; and that you should be so mean as to try to impose upon a stranger. In future it will be well for you to know who you are playing off on before you begin. Now, Kate Connolly, remember—if ever I catch you in another such a trick, I shall have you punished!"
"And you won't now? I thank you! I never will trouble you so again!"
I never had occasion to reprove her afterwards for any bad conduct while she was in the prison.
She thought it was through my kindness that she escaped punishment. I had been reading the "Rules and Regulations," which directed me to "admonish" once; and then, report for punishment. By following those Rules, I had silenced the noise, and restored order without resorting to punishment. I had also secured the future good behavior of the girl.
When one was detected, the others became quiet.
There are good and noble qualities still existing in those prisoners, if the right management only be applied to rouse, and bring them into action. The rule to admonish was a wise one, and was adopted to that end. That the officers did not follow out the rule was wherein the fault lay. And that they overlooked it, or failed to obey it, caused untold suffering to the prisoners.