Every morning the press published a bulletin of the Wolf’s condition.
“The accused suffers dreadfully, and is closely confined to bed. He has always a number of Leeches near him; nevertheless he seems calm and resigned.”
“The prisoner had a bad night. Several Geese of the aristocracy have sent to the prison to inquire after his health.”
“The accused recovers slowly, he devotes his hours of convalescence to reading and writing. The chief subject of his study is the ‘Proverbial Philosophy of Martin Tupper.’ He has used during his captivity two thousand nine hundred and twenty-one sheets of paper. He is composing a drama in seventeen acts, entitled ‘Virtue’s Triumph,’ also a philosophical treatise on the desirability of abolishing capital punishment.”
The following verses were penned by the prisoner, and will doubtless be read with the interest they deserve:—
I.
“Ah, hapless is the prisoner’s fate in convict cell condemned to pine,
While birds abroad their songs uplift, and fields in summer’s glory shine.
If breeze-borne from the far-off flock, the fitful tinkling bells are heard,
If corn-fields wave their nodding ears, by wanton zephyrs lightly stirred,