ld on. You know I must not
hear about that." Before I could stop him, however, enough was in the
mind to raise the supposition that the feeble one was being abused,
which idea subsequently received confirmation from the fact of his
death.

39. _Secular school success._ My course was to commence at No. 120 and
call at every cell in succession, where the inmate would engage in
study, till arriving at No. 1, and then over again in regular order,
being able, to "go the rounds," as we called it, about twice a week,
each receiving my attention only so often.

I had quite a variety of exercises. Two commenced their alphabet,
although some twenty-four years old. A number took reading in easy
sentences, with spelling. Some thirty took arithmetic in its various
stages, a few, as in the year previous, taking it up in review a while
before leaving. A number in this branch made good proficiency,
considering their disadvantages. Two took book-keeping, one doing but
little, the other obtaining such a knowledge of the science as to
prepare him to keep books passably well. But this was under
difficulties. Having no blanks for practice, I obtained for him three
large slates, one for day book and so on. But soon I found him with
blanks all ruled. True, they were made of brown wrapping paper, on which
he would write with a pencil. Asking no questions, I looked to his work
as he pushed on with all energy and determination. No one could be more
diligent.

One, having been a machinist, expressed a desire, a while previous to
his liberation, for an opportunity to practice somewhat on mechanical
drawing. I obtained some patterns, carrying him one at a time. He would
copy them with great exactness, and had been called on occasionally to
draw working patterns for machinery in the shop. How lamentable that a
man of his talents should go into service.

One took Latin, went through the grammar, and became able to read
somewhat in the reader. He expressed a determination to obtain an
education, when released, for which he was striving, when last heard
from.

One, a house painter by trade, took arithmetic, and English grammar. He
was quick to learn, and a keen, smart fellow. He frequently expressed
the wish that he could learn something of ornamental painting, and thus
be able to work on signs and fancy carriages, when liberated. I, of
course, could do nothing for him at that, directly. But it occurred to
me that perhaps I could, in a mea