Page:Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk (Truslove & Bray).djvu/57

55 to do it. This he did voluntarily, because he thought himself overpaid by having the advantage of her prayers, self-sacrifices, &c, for himself and family. The squaws sometimes served to amuse us; for when we were partially dispirited or gloomy, the Superior would send them to dress themselves in their Indian garments, which usually excited us to merriment.

Amongst the squaw nuns whom I remember, was one of the Saint Hypolites, not the one who figured in a dreadful scene, described in another part of this narrative, but a woman of a more mild and humane character.

A few days after my reception, the Superior sent me into the cellar for coals; and after she had given me directions, I proceeded down a staircase with a lamp. I soon found myself on the bare earth, in a spacious place, so dark that I could not at once distinguish its form or size, but I observed that it had very solid stone walls, and was arched overhead, at no great elevation. Following my directions, I proceeded onwards from the foot of the stairs, where appeared to be one end of the cellar. After walking about fifteen paces, I passed three small doors on the right, fastened with large iron bolts on the outside, pushed into posts of stone work, each having a small opening above, covered with a fine grating, secured by a smaller bolt. On my left were three similar doors, resembling these, and opposite them.

Beyond these, the space became broader; the doors evidently closed small compartments, projecting from the outer wall of the cellar. I soon stepped upon a wooden floor, on which were heaps of wood, coarse linen, and other articles, deposited there for occasional use. I crossed the floor, and found the bare earth again under my feet.

A little further on I found the cellar contracted in size by a row of closets, or smaller compartments, projecting on each side. These were closed by different