acter of
which I could only conjecture. One of his assertions was, as I
understood it, thus: "I am warden here now. The days of bouquets and
flowers are played out here," and more in the same vein.

In the women's room the countenances were not so anxious. They rather
liked this part of the change, for it would free them from the task of
preparing, Sabbath mornings, to appear in public. Still, anxiety was not
entirely wanting. Sabbath school was this day omitted, as the warden had
not obtained his corps of teachers.

On going my rounds for private counsel to the men in their cells, I
found, in most cases, gloom and discouragement, they having generally
heard of the warden's disbelief in their reform. It was really wonderful
to witness the change a few days had wrought in the moral aspect of the
prison. A frost in June would not make a greater change on the face of
nature. I could but ask myself, "Why are things thus?" "At what are our
rulers aiming?"

I went to each with all the cheer I could, exhorting them not to indulge
in these downcast feelings, but to look upward with hope, and gave them
the assurance that their educational privileges, as well as religious,
would be continued, only with some change in their application, and
pointed out in brief the manner, saying that each could advance in study
as rapidly as in his power.

If any referred to their cell amusements being taken away, I met them
with the remark,--"Don't trouble about that. You shall be furnished with
all the books you can read and study, and I will hear your recitations.
In this way, your time can be pleasantly and profitably occupied,
perhaps making you the gainers." A few of these former trinket workers
became more interested in their studies, but the most could not, by
reason of their sight, thus being left to endure their privation as best
they could.

When one would refer to his discouragement on account of the warden's
disbelief in reform, I would meet him thus, "You are to look only to
yourself and your God in this matter. What a fellow mortal believes or
disbelieves concerning you is of no account. You have the power to go on
in the right and be a good man. I know you have, and others who are good
and true, men upon whose views we can all rely, also know it. What
matter if the warden does think as you suppose? It is only his opinion.
He wishes you to do well, and will be glad if you succeed in the right.
But, should you turn back, it wi