So the warden directed that I should be put at work in the brush
shop, where all kinds of brushes were made. Mr. Eddy was the officer
in charge of this shop, and Mr. Knowles, the contractor for the
labor employed in the brush business, was present. Both of these
gentlemen took pains to instruct me in the work I was to begin upon,
and were very kind in their manner towards me. I went to work in a
bungling way and with a sad and heavy heart. At 12 o'clock we were
marched from the shop to our cells, each man taking from a trap in
the wall, as he went by, his pan containing his dinner, which
consisted, that day, of boiled beef and potatoes. It was probably
the worst dinner I had ever eaten, but I had yet to learn what
prison fare was. From one o'clock to six I was in the shop again;
then came Supper-mush and molasses that evening which was varied, as
I learned afterwards, on different days by rye bread, or Indian
bread and rye coffee. These things were also served for breakfast,
and the dinners were varied on different days in the week. The fare
was very coarse, always, but abundant and wholesome. After supper
prisoners were expected to go to bed, as they were called out at six
o'clock in the morning.
I stayed in the brush shop three or four months, but I made very
little progress in learning the trade. I was willing enough to learn
and did my best. From the day I entered the prison I made up my mind
to behave as well as I could; to be docile and obedient, and to
comply with every rule and order.
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