Sometimes a mere photograph of a book cover can generate hours of daydreaming. Mind, not any old book, but the Punishment Book used at Llandeilo Workhouse in Wales from 1878-1907:

workhouse punishment book

One example: three young inmates who…

… instead of going to school absconded and walked to Llanelly where they were seen wandering about by the Police and locked up”. The Master retrieved them the following day, for which he “applied 6 strokes with a birch”.