"'Explain what you mean by a turn-about?' 'We let them out by turns in the days.'
"'How long did you let one go out?' 'Just as short a time as they could have to take their victuals in.'
"'What were the ages of the children principally employed in that place?' 'From about 12 to 20; they were all girls that I had there, except one boy, and I think he was 8 years of age.'
"'Was this a flax-mill?' 'Yes, all flax.'
"'Did you find that the children there were exceedingly distressed with their work?' 'Yes; for the mill being in the country, we were very scarce of workers, and the master often came out and compelled them by flattery to go and work half the night after their day's labour, and then they had only the other half to sleep.'
"'You mean that the master induced them by offering them extra wages to go to work half the night?' 'Yes.'
"'Was that very prejudicial to the girls so employed?' 'Yes; I have seen some girls that were working half the night, that have fainted and fallen down at their work, and have had to be carried out.'
"'Did you use severity in that mill?' 'No, I was not very severe there.'
"'You find, perhaps, that the girls do not require that severity that the boys do?' 'Yes.'