On this page
-
Text (1)
-
A HOUSE OF MERCY. 19
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
. At A Few This High Days Institution Ga...
so inuch distressed at having told this falsehood , as _"well as having disobeyedthat she lost her appetite , and became so ill from distress
, of mind that the physician had to be sent for to see her . It was a fortnight before she recovered , or before I could induce her to
receive the Communion ; yet I discovered that she had flung down the apple immediately upon taking it , and when , as the apple
itself * The testified story , she of the had third only app bitten le , one however piece , is out the of it most , distressing
of all . There is a girl in the house , D , who 'was a most notorious girl in , a girl of most violent passions and temper ,
a girl who appears at times fairly possessed with a devil . She has been in prison three times for assaulting the police , and , when
in her violent paroxysms , has been known to overpower two men . She is one of the most unmanageable cases conceivable , but has
been here some months , and , until quite lately , had been progressing very favourably . A short time ago she showed her evil ,
violent temper again , and the violence continued to increase . She talked loudly even in hours of silence , was very insolent ,
and would dash about the room in her old fierce way . I was convinced that there must be a reason for this retrogression . She
was always respectful to me , and I believed that I had gained her confidenceas it is my first endeavour to do with all these
, unfortunate girls . I asked her what had happened to change her thus unaccountably . After a little time she blurted out , ' The
nasty apple ! I have not had a moment ' s peace since I took it / Her evil spirit had evidently again been aroused , and it seems
no easy matter to dispel him . Two or three days ago I heard her talking violently , and dashing about in a most unbecoming
manner . I brought her into my room ; she looked very dogged , and did not restrain her violence of manner . I reasoned "with
her , setting her conduct before her . I spoke of the distress which her abominable conduct would cause to Mr . I , at whose
request she had been admitted into the house . She said that she did not care for him . I told her that , as she could not or would
not master her fearful temper , there was no use in her remaining in the Penitentiary , but that if she returned to her old courses
she knew well enough what awaited her—death , death , body and soul ! She replied' I mean to go , I won't stay . ' I replied , ' You shall
, have the opportunity of going . ' I then directed that she should be dressed in her own clothes , and handed over to me .
¦ " This was done , and when she re-appeared I desired her to follow me . She dashed about her dress with her hands as though
she would have forced it from her body , and followed to the outer gate in a most excited state of feeling . As I applied the key to
the lock , and the gate gently opened , I reminded her of God ' s mercy to herof the doom awaiting her . I said , ' You go to your
, destruction , but may God still have mercy upon you . ' The door
c 2
A House Of Mercy. 19
A HOUSE OF MERCY . 19
-
-
Citation
-
English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), March 1, 1858, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01031858/page/19/
-