LETTER FROM A CONVICT'S WIFE. 133

acquired in the Public Works Prison of Spike Island, and not in the Intermediate Prison of Lusk.

We shall conclude with one or two extracts from the letter of a ticket-of-leave man's wife. The letter is addressed to the chaplain of Portland Prison:

:

"My husband arrived safe and well, on the 23rd instant. He was a welcome guest! I did not know him when he came into the house.

"I had been thinking about him just before he came to the door, for we were nearly out of bread. I had hitherto maintained my children decently, and paid my way without troubling any person. I prayed to God that He would, in mercy, look upon me, and help me, as He had done many times before. I shall never forget how soon my prayers was answered. My husband was sent, with money in his pocket, to keep us from It was too much for me to bear, and I

want.

was ill for two days afterwards."

134 LETTER FROM A CONVICT'S WIFE.

She goes on to say that her husband was "much pleased with the children. He never took such delight in them before. He has them to read and sing with him every night; and asks them questions, after they have read a chapter in the Bible. He never leaves his home when he comes from work, but is quite happy with his family.

"Before he went away, although he was neither a bad husband or father, he seemed as if he could not be happy in his own house. I sometimes tried to entice him to remain, but I did not know what he had on his mind.

"Thank God he is quite another man now, and I hope we shall live a new life, so that when we have done with the things of this world, we may rise to life eternal, where sorrow is not known.

"The Vicar came to see my husband, when he knew he had returned, and told him to go out boldly, assuring him that the hand of friend

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF LOVE.

135

ship would be held out on every side, and every chance given him to regain his character. G

sent for him to give him employment. This gentleman is a magistrate. My husband has had work since the first day he came home.

"I pray that God will give him grace to walk as becometh a real follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. He desires to be remembered to you and the assistant chaplain. With many thanks for the books you have sent to my children,

"I am, &c.,

"E. M."

These letters show us the bright side of the characters of ticket-of-leave men, and the omnipotence of love and kindness in their reformation.

I could lay

Nor are these exceptional cases. my hand on hundreds of such letters from ticketof-leave men and their relatives. The exceptions are on the other side. Notwithstanding the garotting

136

TICKET-OF-LEAVE MEN IN LONDON.

panic last year, there were but four ticket-ofleave men apprehended in London, for robbing with violence, during the six months that things were at the worst.

CHAPTER XI.

THE RESULTS OF THE IRISH CONVICT SYSTEM.

A WISE man would be able to form a pretty correct estimate of the results of a new reformatory system, from a correct understanding of its principles, as an engineer might judge of the probable work of a new steam-engine from a knowledge of its parts; but the public who do not possess this knowledge of principles or parts must judge of things by their results, or the quantity and quality of the work done.

But quantity and quality are not the only tests. We must look at the nature of the mate