Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/183

 stomach recovered its tone, two small loaves of bread per diem did not suffice me. So I learned from the other prisoners to knit stockings, gloves, and Turkish hats, and it pleased the Lord God to bless me so in this handicraft that I often earned money, with which I bought meal, porridge, oil, vinegar, olives, salad, and bread. Meanwhile, my former partner, Mr. Chaplain, also recovered, and obtained me for a companion again, and we were fettered together as before. As he could not weave or knit, he lived with me upon what I earned, until all the prisoners went again before the superintendent of the guard, and humbly besought him to allow them on certain days, which were hallowed among Christians, to perform Divine Service before daylight, and before they went to their work. They offered to give him a present for this permission, which was, accordingly, granted them.

Many years ago there had been an altar in the common prison, consecrated by a regular bishop, and fenced round with rails; and the prisoners possessed, also, silver cup and the other requisites for the celebration of holy mass. On every great and apostolical festival our chaplain, who was temporarily released from his chains, celebrated holy mass, while I, with the chain, acted as acolyte, sang the epistle, and gave the prisoners the crucifix to kiss. They contributed alms according to their poverty, so that we always had a kreutzer or so by us for food, and were easily able to support ourselves. After mass the Turkish gipsies fettered the chaplain to me again by the chain.

Once, on a festival after holy mass, a master-carpenter, a Christian prisoner, invited the chaplain and me to