“Well, sir, I suppose you are not sorry to be out?”
“This is Mr. Hawes, the governor,” put in Mr. Lepel.
Hawes continued jocosely, “What does it feel like, sir?”
“I shall have the honor of telling you that in private, Mr. Hawes. I think, Lepel, we have an engagement with Mr. Jones at nine o'clock.” So saying, the new chaplain, with a bow to the governor, took his friend's arm and went to tea with Mr. Jones.
“There, now,” said Hawes to the turnkeys, “that is a gentleman. He doesn't blurt everything out before you fellows; he reserves it for his superior officer.”
Next morning the new chaplain requested Mr. Lepel to visit the prisoner's cells in a certain order, and make notes of their characters as far as he could guess them. He himself visited them in another order and made his notes. In the evening they compared these. We must be content with an extract or two.
MR. LEPEL'S. THE NEW CHAPLAIN'S.
Rock, No. 37.— A very promising 37, Rock.— Professes penitence.
subject, penitent and resigned. Asked him suddenly what sins
Says, “if the door of the prison weighed most on his conscience.
was left open he would not go No answer. Prepared with an
out.” Has learned 250 texts, and abstract penitence, but no
is learning fifteen a day. particulars: reason obvious.
Mem. With this man speak on any
topic rather than religion at
present. Pray for this
self-deceiver as I would for a
murderer.
Josephs, No. — An interesting Josephs.— An amiable boy; seems
boy, ignorant, but apparently out of health and spirits.
well-disposed. In ill health. Says he has been overworked
The surgeon should be consulted and punished for inability. Shall
about him. intercede with the governor for
him.
Mem. Pale and hollow-eyed; pulse
feeble.
Strutt, No. — Sullen, impenitent Strutt.— This poor man is in
and brutal. Says it is no use his a state of deep depression. I
learning texts, they won't stay much fear the want of light
in his head. Discontented; wants and air and society is crushing
to go out in the yard. The best him. He is fifty years old.
one can hope for here is that the
punishment, which he finds so Mem. Inquire whether separate
severe, will deter him in future. confinement tries men harder
Says he will never come here after a certain age. Talked
again, but doubts whether he to him; told him stories with
shall get out alive. Gave him all the animation I could.
some tracts. Stayed half an hour with him.
He brightened up a little, and
asked me to come again. Nothing
to be done here at present but
amuse the poor soul.
Mem. Watch him jealously.
Jessup.— The prisoner whose Jessup.— Like Rock, professes
term, owing to his excellent extravagant penitence, indifference
conduct, is reduced from twelve to personal liberty, and love of
months to nine months, so that Scripture. He overdoes it greatly.
he goes out next week. Having However, it appears he has gained
discovered that the news had his point by it. He has induced
not been conveyed to him, I asked Mr. Jones to plead for him in
Mr. Hawes to let me be the bearer. mitigation of punishment, and
When I told him, his only remark next week he leaves prison for
was, with an air of regret: a little while.
“Then I shall not finish my
Gospels!” I begged for an He asked me to hear some texts.
explanation, when he told I said, “No, my poor fellow; they
me that for eight months he will do you as much good whether I
had been committing the Gospels hear you them or not.” By a light
to heart, and that he was just that flashed into his eye I saw
beginning St. John, which now he he comprehended the equivoque;
should never finish. I said he but he suppressed his intelligence
must finish it at home in the and answered piously,
intervals of honest labor. His “That they will, your reverence.”
countenance brightened, and he
said he would.
A most cheering case, and one of
the best proofs of the efficacy
of the separate and silent system
I have met with for some time. I
fear I almost grudge you the
possession of such an example.
Robinson— A bad subject, Robinson.—This man wears a
rebellious and savage; refuses to singular look of scorn as well
speak. Time and the discipline as hatred, which, coupled with
will probably break him of this; his repeated refusals to speak
but I do not think he will ever to me, provoked me so that I
make a good prisoner! felt strongly tempted to knock
him down. How unworthy, to be
provoked at anything a great
sufferer can say or do; every
solitary prisoner must surely be
a great sufferer.
My judgment is quite at fault
here. I know no more than a child
what is this man's character, and
the cause of his strange conduct.
Mem. Inquire his antecedents of
the turnkeys. Oh, Lord, enlighten
me, and give me wisdom for the
great and deep and difficult task
I have so boldly undertaken!
The next day the new chaplain met the surgeon in the jail and took him into Josephs' cell.