Like a flash the thought crossed my brain, If that were my child! It sent a pang through my heart that stopped and wrung there till I gasped for breath.
I looked up at the cells. The faces that glared down upon me were the sweet faces of my own daughters transformed to human demons by the vile impress of crime, and its compeer, punishment.
Was I putting my hand to the work to help on the hardening of human hearts, and the degradation of human beings! I would flee the place, and leave the work with the morning light. I could not flee the thoughts. Wretched, wretched employment!
I was half frenzied. I started up and rushed around the prison. I laid my head against the iron bars of the grated doors. I leaned against the cold stone walls. I could have lain down upon them in bitter penance for the part which I had taken.
The eight o'clock bell rung for inspection. It was a relief.
Humbly I took my lantern, and crept softly round to examine the locks. Many of the women were in bed, some of them were up reading.
One of the girls looked up to me with a smile, and said,—I wondered that she could smile at all,—
"See how nicely I keep the rats out."
She had taken off the cover of her box, and braced it, by the box, against the lower part of the door.
Every room is furnished with a box which has a drawer in it. This box serves for table and pantry. It contains a spoon, knife and fork, salt and pepper boxes.