Now this request for books is a universal one, and it is hard to be sometimes obliged to refuse; but what can a chaplain or a head warder do when he has no books to lend? On one occasion a warder of our acquaintance was congratulating himself on having obtained a box of new books for his men, and was about to open his prize with eagerness. When he examined his treasures he found six 'Mavor's Spelling,' four geography books, six copy-books, eight volumes of tracts, and two amusing tales for children.
After the party has asked the chaplain any little favours, such as to get them a slate or a pencil, or a sheet of paper, the chaplain tells the warder to dismiss; the warder says, "Attention, put back your books, break off;" the men yawn, and dawdle slowly back to their work, looking as dull and stolid as if they were about to expire of utter laziness. This is at a service on the weekday. It is curious to see the same party of men if the chaplain can manage to give them a service on the Sunday. They seem really to enjoy it, especially the hymn or two which they join in singing. They consider it right and proper to have a service on that day, and they attend to what is said then in an orderly manner; but to be compelled to come away from their road making on a week-day in order to hear the chaplain read is what they hate, they seem to look upon it as a device to cheat them into being good, and are sulky and indignant accordingly.
Prayer, again, at morning and evening they do not seem to dislike when it is read by the warder, but at any other time of the day they object to the introduction of
