It was a question strongly debated in my mind, who was most at fault, those poor, half-starved things, for taking the meat when the opportunity was given them, or those who put the temptation in their way? I did not decide it in season to have any of them punished for breaking the rule. When the convicts got angry with each other, they would report on the one they were offended with; but it was an established rule that the testimony of one prisoner was not to be taken against another, and I had not the least inclination to break the rule. I did discover one of the thieves at last; but I took my own way to punish her. The steam woman got angry with one of the slide women, and reported her to me one day when the dinner came short. "Never mind now, Allen; but the next time you see her take it, tell me where she hides the meat. I will go find it; and then, she can't turn it on you for betraying her." A day or two afterwards, Allen whispered to me,-- "You look on the top of the bread closet in the cellar, and you will find something." I went down, mounted some false steps, and found a quart filled with slices of meat. I took it up into the kitchen, and asked,-- "Who hid this meat away on the top of the bread cupboard in the cellar?" Not one of them answered. "Will the one who did it be honest enough to own it; or will she be mean enough to let me lay the blame on some one else? Did you do it, Annie O'Brien?" "No, ma'am." "Will you tell me who did it?" "I don't know, ma'am." "Allen, did you do it?" "No, ma'am." I did not wish to ask her who did it, because she had told me. "I am going to ask you all, and I hope no one will be mean enough to lie about it." "I put it there," said O'Sullivan. "Who did you put it away for?" "For myself, because I don't like peas." "Very well, O'Sullivan; but you were rather too generous to yourself. Half of that would have been enough for your dinner, and to punish you for being so selfish, you can't have any of it. I shall give it to the others. Your hiding it away down there, gave it very much the appearance of stealing. In future, when you wish to put anything away, show it to me, and then, put it away like an honest woman. But you are never to put anything away unless it is left over, after I have divided the meat. It would be very mean to take a double portion for yourself, and make the poor fellows on the other side go without." I had been studying the Rules and Regulations of the Board, and discovered that I was to admonish once, before reporting for punishment. I did not propose to transcend that rule. "Now, remember, there is nothing more to be hid away from me." "There isn't much danger, as long as you let us tell you all about it." "I shall always let you tell me, before I get you punished; but you must always obey, and then there will be no punishment."