s
because women have so much feeling, and such a rooted respect
for purity, that they seem so shameless and insolent, when
they feel that they have erred and that others think ill of
them. They know that even the worst of men would like to see
women pure as angels, and when they meet man's look of scorn,
the desperate passion that rises is a perverted pride, which
might have been their guardian angel. Might have been! Rather
let me say, which may be; for the great improvement so rapidly
wrought here gives us all warm hopes. * * *

'Be not in haste to leave these walls. Yesterday, one of you,
who was praised, replied, that "if she did well she hoped that
efforts would be made to have her pardoned." I can feel the
monotony and dreariness of your confinement, but I entreat
you to believe that for many of you it would be the greatest
misfortune to be taken from here too soon. You know, better
than I can, the temptations that await you in the world; and
you must now perceive how dark is the gulf of sin and sorrow,
towards which they would hurry you. Here, you have friends
indeed; friends to your better selves; able and ready to
help you. Born of unfortunate marriages, inheriting dangerous
inclinations, neglected in childhood, with bad habits and bad
associates, as certainly must be the case with some of you,
how terrible will be the struggle when you leave this shelter!
O, be sure that you are fitted to triumph over evil, before
you again expose yourselves to it! And, instead of wasting
your time and strength in vain wishes, use this opportunity to
prepare yourselves for a better course of life, when you are
set free. * * *

'When I was here before, I was grieved by hearing several of
you say, "I will tell you what you wish to know, if I can be
alone with you; but not before the other prisoners; for, if
they know my past faults, they will taunt me with them." O,
never do that! To taunt the fallen is the part of a fiend. And
you! you were meant by Heaven to become angels of sympathy and
love. It says in the Scripture: "Their angels do always behold
in heaven the face of my Father." So was it with you in your
childhood; so is it now. Your angels stand forever there to
intercede for you; and to you they call to be gentle and good.
Nothing can so grieve and discourage tho