At ten o’clock in the morning, the nuns had a slice of bread and cup of water; but, as I had been fasting, they gave me a bowl of gruel, composed of indian meal and water, with a little salt.  A poor dinner this, for a hungry person, but I could have no more.  At eleven, we went to mass in the chapel as usual.  It was our custom to have mass every day, and I have been told that this is true of all Romish establishments.  Returning to my work in the kitchen, I again resolved that I would be so careful, that, in future they should have no cause for complaint For two days I succeeded.  Yes, for two whole days, I escaped punishment.  This I notice as somewhat remarkable, because I was generally punished every day, and sometimes two or three times in a day.

On the third morning, I was dusting the furniture in the room occupied by the priest above mentioned, who treated me so cruelly.  The floor being uncarpeted, in moving the chairs I chanced to make a slight noise, although I did my best to avoid it.  He immediately sprang to his feet, exclaiming, “You careless dog!  What did you do that for?” Then taking me by the arms, he gave me a hard shake, saying, “Have I not told you that you would be punished, if you made a noise?  But I see how it is with you; your mind is on the world, and you think more of that, than you do of the convent.  But I shall punish you until you do your duty better.”  He concluded this choice speech by telling me to “march down stairs.”  Of course, I obeyed, and he followed me, striking me on the head at every step, with a book he held in his hand.  I thought to escape some of the blows, and hastened along, but all in vain; he kept near me and drove me before him into the priests sitting-room.  He then sent for three more priests, to decide upon my punishment.  A long consultation they held upon “this serious business,” as I sneeringly thought it, but the result was serious in good earnest, I assure you.  For the heinous offence of making a slight noise I was to have dry peas bound upon my knees, and then be made to crawl to St. Patrick’s church, through an underground passage, and back again.  This church was situated on a hill, a little more than a quarter of a mile from the convent.  Between the two buildings, an under-ground passage had been constructed, just large enough to allow a person to crawl through it on the hands and knees.  It was so low, and narrow, that it was impossible either to rise, or turn around; once within that passage there was no escape, but to go on to the end.  They allowed me five hours to go and return; and to prove that I had really been there, I was to make a cross, and two straight lines, with a bit of chalk, upon a black-board that I should find at the end.