The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, June 1844

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Various. The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, June 1844

THE PLAGUE AT CONSTANTINOPLE

A SONG

REMINISCENCES OF A DARTMOOR PRISONER

THE SONG OF DEATH

MARY MAY: THE NEWFOUNDLAND INDIAN

BIRTH-DAY MEDITATIONS

THE HOUSEHOLDER

THE QUOD CORRESPONDENCE. Harry Harson

CHAPTER XXVIII

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THE LAST

CONCLUSION

THE PAST

THE HEARTH OF HOME

PROFESSOR SHAW

STANZAS

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE PRAIRIE HERMIT

STANZAS WRITTEN IN INDISPOSITION

DISGUISED DERIVATIVE WORDS IN ENGLISH

NEW-ENGLAND’S SABBATH BELLS

A PASSAGE

ON SEEING A LADY WEEP OVER A NOSEGAY

LITERARY NOTICES

EDITOR’S TABLE

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Under the circumstances related in my last number, it will readily be inferred that sleep was out of the question. The only alternative was to sit or lie down and meditate upon the next change which might befal us. There was but little disposition for merriment at such a time and place; yet there was one man, named John Young, but called by his companions ‘Old John Young,’ who in despite of empty stomach and aching limbs, amused himself and annoyed all others by singing a line of one and a verse of another, of all the old songs he could recollect from his earliest boyhood; dispensing his croaking melody with such untiring zeal as to keep the most weary awake had they been inclined to sleep.

At break of day we began to try to move about, and gradually straighten ourselves, which was something of an effort, stiffened and benumbed as we were with remaining in our wet clothing so many hours. We had now an opportunity of examining our habitation. It was a building of about four hundred feet long, by seventy-five or eighty wide, three stories high, and built of stone, with massive doors and strongly-grated windows, the floors being of stone or cement, and perfectly fire-proof. Each floor formed one entire room, except being divided by five rows of posts running the whole length of the building, by which the prisoners slung their hammocks. The prisoners were divided off in ‘messes’ or families of six or eight, each occupying room sufficient to sit around one of their chests, which usually served as a mess-table. One row or tier of these messes were ranged next to the walls on each side, and two rows down the centre, back to back, as it were, leaving two avenues, or thoroughfares, the whole length of the building. The entire arrangement resembled the stalls in a stable, more than any thing else I can compare it to.

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Harson rang the bell. The house-keeper answered it.

‘Martha, put on your things,’ said Harson; ‘I want you to sit up with a sick person to-night. Bring a basket, and lights, and cups, and every thing that’s necessary for one who has nothing. I’ll return in five minutes; you must be ready by that time. Now then, Sir, come along; you shall see what I’ll do next.’

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