Let us submit to our readers another instance from Mr. Field, of the
wholesome state of mind produced by the separate system. ‘The 25th of
March, in the last year, was the day appointed for a general fast, on
account of the threatened famine. The following note is in my journal of
that day. “During the evening I visited many prisoners, and found with
much satisfaction that a large proportion of them had observed the day
in a manner becoming their own situation, and the purpose for which it
had been set apart. I think it right to record the following remarkable
proof of the effect of discipline. * * * * * They were all supplied with
their usual rations. I went first this evening to the cells of the
prisoners recently committed for trial (Ward A. 1.), and amongst these
(upwards of twenty) I found that but three had abstained from any
portion of their food. I then visited twenty-one convicted prisoners who
had spent some considerable time in the gaol (Ward C. 1.), and amongst
them I found that some had altogether abstained from food, and of the
whole number two-thirds had partially abstained.”’ We will take it for
granted that this was not because they had more than they could eat,
though we know that with such a dietary even that sometimes happens,
especially in the case of persons long confined. ‘The remark of one
prisoner whom I questioned concerning his abstinence was, I believe,
sincere, and was very pleasing. “Sir, I have not felt able to eat
to-day, whilst I have thought of those poor starving people; but I hope
that I have prayed a good deal that God will give _them_ something to
eat.”’
If this were not pattern penitence, and the thought of those poor
starving people had honestly originated with that man, and were really
on his mind, we want to know why he was not uneasy, every day, in the
contemplation of his soup, meat, bread, potatoes, cocoa-nibs, milk,
molasses, and gruel, and its contrast to the fare of ‘those poor
starving people’ who, in some form or other, were taxed to pay for it?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account