Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-06-24
4 he Pariah.
ny l.. VIRGINIA SMITH.

the waves and left TO corruption ind decay, the Srl
We had followed, stood the rivers brink In the
midst Of this nghi-pisure, lonely and 'i, looking
down into the water"
Dark lay the suen scene, :;
Like foul pague-spot slowly deepening
In Natures bosom. Dim and drearily,
The din of mingled mul,itudes came up
From the close, crow ded city, yet ths spot . 80,
Was lonely NJ The grave, and through The chill
And melancholy waste, the river wound
As dull earth worm through q sepulchre.
In vaulitd vastness ross the stormng sky, :.
And the wild winds like prsoned birds Of prey,
Flew shrieking round the impenetrable gloom,
That barred the black horizon, while sfar '''' +"
The 'hunder's hollow warning cIept sloat" 49,.
The troubled nght-sky, and the stars were hid
Close In their cloudy caverns. Desolate
A low street with it's crumbling tenements '
Lay by the rivers margin on the brink
The rank grass nodded d,-poison-wesds hsidnp--"
Their lvid chalces, and baheful leavss.
Spotted Ms with ieprory. Above.
Rose the rude batlements, and rereward walls
OF a deserted citadel, and Ger '-''
The turbid waters stret he'd ruined bridge
Like huge, mouldering skeleton, its lamp
Burned a low, lnrid beacon, and the light
writhed like u serpent on the inky food
That murmnred through the arches.
Covering
Mid the dank foliage, and slimy stones
As ifin misery to stife shame,
Crouched the poor Parah. Detrayed, alone,
Lost utterly yet strangely beautiful
As some wan, wdercd blossom hanging on
The haggard brow Of Ruin Wondious fsu
The slender fingers clenching hopelessiy
AT the pOllued plants all wild the cloud
OF raven tresses from the forehead hung,
Sunk the despairng eye, as II to hide
Within its own deep darkness, from the lights
Insulting rneer. she -huddeTed when the fash
Of the far lightning fell a,hw&rt her brow,
As if were a demons kiss, and when
The Keen and icy wind struck sharply through
Her white and faded bosom, she would start
With quick agony, as though the bsak
or fierce vu'ture fastened on her heart.
To her the present was dTeary realm
Peopled with dreams of horror ito the past
She dared not now return for Sin and Shame,
Twogaint-eyed sentneis stood frowninsy
Beside the portal and the future, an
Its very thought wasinsnpportable.
She lo Ned moment 10 the starless sky,
Its thunder voice rebukcd her for the glance
she heard the sullen sounding wa,e,s dash = =.
From the rude stone-woTk, like the troubled s,Teasa
OF her affections wasted on heart,
That cas-, il of with soorn T. she saw the tide
Sweep swiftly through The bridges caverned arch, =,
And to her gaze il seemed the gate Of Death
Barred By flaming ,erI enr's hidsous coil. 70
Her heart was broktn,- not a hope ilumsd =.
Its shattered chambers and existence seemed =.
ne mighty multitude Of ofmockng eyes,
And kissing tongues that stung her sulied soul
To madness. From her unclossd lips arose
The moan If IAN unspoken prayer,-a name
she called as soiily as our spirits breathe
of one the Lord had taken, yet twas his
Who robbed the soul-,hI Of its costly pearl
To steep II in a cup Of bitterness 90
And unavaiing tears. Then upw and rose -
O'er the wild wailing winds the wilder cry
Of human agony, "a " hte arm broke
The serpent barrier, then sunk beneath
The blnckened nrchway ,--and the haunted shose
/ Was blank and lone
| Thus perished the betrsye ed -
The ,emptcr, deep bctrayer, ma aers',
| stood with unblushng front, and naughty eye
| Amid the cDoles Of the proud and gay,
/ Men TOOK his hand, and highborn Beauty bowed,
\ To list his batteries, unheedng all
Il A sisters ruined name, and broken heart,
II And lone, cold slumber where the waters moan
Il Her requiem. Oh woman, woman, where
Is thy tue pride Of spirit wherefore sleeps
Thy smile Of witt ering thy lightning glance
Il OF honest Indignation! Ply weeps,
And soft eyed hnrity y,-and Honor bows
II Ills noble brow to hide its burning blush,
And blinded justice pointing ,eornfully
Filings thee her taunting whisper, "shame-shsme-
II shame"
Oh many -visaged Inconsistency g..
Where are thy "principles !" 'Tis vain, and worse
Than vain, this hollow prate Of "righ,s" and
II "wrongs,".
When wrongs" like these are suffered, while The
II right
II Aud power to crush the Gend-desroyer, lies
Il All nneSerted, when the privilege
i Is womsn's own 70 do II, and to point
| The erring victim to that Blessed One.
Who spake to such an one in tones oflove, ''..
"Go daughter, sin no more -