"I doubt, sir," he says, "if the woman stand a blow.
Necessity 's a hard master, sir; and in this very act is the test
more trying than I have ever known it. I dissemble myself when I see
a wretch of fine flesh-a woman with tender senses, in distress, and
I am made the instrument of adding to her suffering. Indeed, sir,
when I contemplate the cause of such wretchedness, and the poverty
forcing me to remain in this situation, no imagination can represent
the horror of my feelings."
"We have no demand on your feelings, my man! we want your duty-what
the state put you here to perform," interrupted Blowers, placing his
thumbs in his vest, and making a step backward. Another second, and
the attendant lighted a hand-lamp,--a sharp, slapping blow was heard,
a death-like shriek followed; the flesh quivered and contracted into
a discoloured and inflamed pustule; the body writhed a few seconds
in convulsive spasms; a low moaning followed, and that fair form
hung swooning in the slings, as the keeper, in fright, cried out, at
the top of his voice, to the attendant--"Lower away the fall!" As if
the fiend had not yet gratified his passion, no sooner was the
seemingly lifeless body lowered clumsily to the floor, than he
grasped the weapon from Broadman's hand, and like a tiger seeking
its banquet of flesh, was about to administer a second blow. But
Broadman had a good heart, the admonitions of which soared high
above the state's mandate: seizing Blowers in his arms, he ejected
him from the door, ran back to the prostrate woman, released her
bruised limbs from the fastenings, gathered her to his arms; and
with nervous hands and anxious face did he draw from his pocket the
well-timed hartshorn, by the application of which he sought to
restore her, as the mulatto man stood by, bathing her temples with
cold water.
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