CONVICTS. 89 



which often proceeds from lying idle too long in 

 the sun, he walks to the hospital ; and, from the 

 exertion, together with the thoughts of " bleedT 

 ing, blistering, and physic," he soon recovers, 

 and returns to his master, to again undergo the 

 fatigue of doing little or nothing. One of these 

 characters applied for his ticket of leave, but 

 soon returned, wishing again to be employed by 

 his former master, if only for his food ; at the 

 same time observing, that he was better off be- 

 fore, in bondage, than he was now, partially 

 free — so his fellow servants persuaded him to 

 send the ticket back, and say, " i^ was all a 

 mistake.'" 



The following anecdote may serve to illustrate 

 the misery an iron gang occasions to spirit 

 drinkers. A convict was once weighed by his com- 

 rades, and the weight at that time marked with 

 chalk upon the barn door. A short time after 

 this took place, he was sentenced for an offence to 

 an iron gang for six weeks. After the term of 

 his punishment had expired, and he returned to 

 his master, he was observed to be in a stouter 

 and more robust condition than before ; his 

 comrades again weighed him, to see what he 

 had gained in flesh, if not in any moral benefit, 

 by his punishment ; when it was ascertained he 

 had gained twenty pounds. As this man had. 



