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Mrs. Waldo, our matron, extended to me her practical sympathy, by doing many things for my comfort, which the Doctor forbid. She allowed me to use a covered box with a cushioned seat upon it, as a substitute for my trunk, and she bought me a metallic wash bowl after a while, which I used for nearly two years, for myself alone, and by a little strategy, she and Miss Tenny secured my mirror for our dormitory, as there was no mirror of any kind in the ward.

But this dauntless act well nigh cost me my document, for we had hardly got it hung on to its nail, when one of the wild patients seemed to be seized with a furious spite against it, and rushing up to the table beneath it, took article after article upon the table, and threw against it with almost incredible rapidity; but just before she had time to hurl the tumbler and pitcher against it, one of my room-mates seized the mirror from the nail, and rushed with it into another room, while the fragments of the tumbler and pitcher were flying in all directions, and the table upset with terrible violence. .

After this, I kept my mirror hid between my beds, except when I wished to use it, or let others use it. But I occasionally found some of the maniacs had taken it from its hiding place, and were using it as they pleased; but by the most gentle and adroit coaxing, I got it back again, safely. I once recollect of getting one to give it to me in exchange for an apple.

But this mirror, like myself, seemed destined to elude all attacks upon its destruction. The document within it, and the spirit within me, seemed alike invulnerable!

CHAPTER XIII.
My Reproof to Dr. McFarland for his Abuse of his Patients.

DR. McFARLAND: From the effect of my former document (my defence (1) ), I plainly see that my work here is not yet done. The office of a Reprover is put upon me; and this to me, the hardest of all crosses, I bear for Christ's sake.

Christ is now my only Master, and his will, not my own, is now my only choice. Oh! my Master, help me to do this duty under thy special guidance and dictation.

In Christ's own expressive language, I say, "Come let us reason together."

I do not approve of publishing your faults to the world until you have had an opportunity first, to amend your ways and your doings, by being faithfully, candidly and honestly informed of the true position in which you stand as Superintendent of this institution.

Dr. McFarland, it is my honest opinion that the principles upon which you treat the inmates of this institution, are contrary to reason, to justice, to humanity. They are treated in a very insane planner -- in a manner the best calculated to make maniacs that human ingenuity could devise. No human being can be subjected to the process to which you subject them here, without being in great danger of becoming insane; especially, if their physical or mental constitution is in the least degree impaired.

Your discipline is invariably calculated to increase their difficulties, and make them worse rather than better. And even a person with a sound mind, and a sound body, could hardly pass through a course here and come out unharmed, without; faith and such faith as is needed to sustain the soul in passing through its deepest earthly trials.

Indeed put your wives or your daughters through such a discipline as you put others' wives and daughters through here and I believe they could not come out unharmed.

Again, you are constantly breaking the insane laws of the State, by the course you are pursuing; and it would not require a person of more than a common share of intelligence to make this apparent to the Legislature. It is even a self-evident proposition.

Again, a person is very apt to become what they are taken to be. You may take the sanest person in the world, and tell him he is insane and treat him as you do here, it is the most trying ordeal a person can pass through, and not really become insane.

You seem to regard insanity as a crime! -- a capital crime! -- to be punished with death, by slow torture.

And I really think the world ought to know of the fact by a public notice that:

"Those guilty of the crime of insanity should be sent to Jacksonville Asylum, under the care of Dr. McFarland, and his ally Dr. Tenny. Here it will be sure to receive its condign punishment."

The only way a person can secure, or have the least reason to expect decent treatment here, is one who has been educated to observe with the utmost strictness, all the proprieties of conduct expected from the most genteel society -- and be such a Christian, as can bear abuse silently and meekly -- must be entirely non-resistant.

In short must have a perfect symmetry of development in the manifestation of his organization, however unfortunately unbalanced by nature; and they must say they are insane when they know they are not; and they must believe that others are better judges of their motives and intentions than themselves. In short, they must give up their identity to the Superintendent, for him to judge whether they are fit to live free to serve God according to the dictates of their own conscience, or not.