I stood by the mush-boiler, one morning, calculating the probabilities
of having that delicacy well cooked by eleven o'clock, so that a second
edition might be issued before night, when I heard the cry out in the
prison,--
"Callahan is coming! Callahan is coming! they've had an awful row at the
shop!"
I had some idea of what a row with Callahan meant. I had been told that
she had snatched the Master's wig from his head, torn it in bits, and
scattered it to the winds; that she had pulled the Deputy's watch from
his pocket, and stamped it beneath her feet; that she had ripped their
coats open with her fingers, and scratched their faces like a cat. I had
heard that she gloried in being the worst tempered woman in the shop, in
being stronger than a man, and bragged that it took two to confine her.
To me she had always been respectful and obedient, even when in
solitary.
Once, when I saw her speak while marching into prison, I "admonished"
her.
"Callahan, you know it is against the rules to talk when you are coming
in; you won't do it again?"
"No, ma'am; but Callahan isn't my name, now; that was my first husband's
name. It is Goodenough, now. Please call me Goodenough!"
"I will call you so; and I hope you will be good enough when you are
under my care."
"I will be good when I am under your care."
That was all the experience I had had in reproving, or punishing,
Callahan when she had offended in my presence. And that was the only
offense she had committed.
The noise of voices grew loud in the yard. O'Brien came running up to
me,--
"Please come out here, ma'am. They have had an awful time with Callahan,
I know by the way she swears; but she will mind you if you speak to her.
She behaves well enough if she is only treated half decent."
I went to the door. Callahan was coming up the walk between two
officers, raving frightfully, shouting and swearing. When she came into
the entry she smashed her hand through every pane of glass that she
could reach, gashing her arms and spattering the blood on the floor and
walls.
As soon as I could get her attention, which it took me some time to do,
she was so excited, I spoke to her,--
"Callahan, stop! haven't you promised to be a good woman when you are
with me?"
She looked at me, lowered her voice, but kept on with her talk. In a few
moments I spoke again,--
"Callahan, stop!"