Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-06

they have never been protected and fortified,
oug hit they not to be pitied quite as much as
they are condemned? Were we to know all
the circumstances attendant upon the downward
career of these poor creatures, we should not be
without some sympathy for them, which, if it
did not restore them to society, would at least
than it is"
II wonder to hear you talk in such way" l
observed. "Why should a state of wickedness
be rendered any thing but intolerablea Why
waste sympathy on those who set all virtuous
conduct at defiance? How do you reconcile those
notions of yours, with due sense of propriety
and moralityw
"My dear girl" said Aunt Lizzy, 81 cannot
help remembering how tenderly and lovingly one
whose example would humbly follow, dealt with
the erring and sinful. Were not the sternest
words he said, "Go, and sin no more" And are
we, who are we'll brought up; who love virtue
because we have been trained to do so, and have
been kept out Of the way of all temptation-are
we to Judge harshly our erring sister, whose life
has, perhaps, been one long and desperate strug-
gle against poverty, adversely, and temptation!" !"
"Well, you are the only one whom have ever
heard attempt to say word in palliation of the
wretched life of Grace Walters"
"Grace Walters! And is it she? Spare her,
poor girl"
"What you know her, then9"
~ knew her when child, and have fondled
her on my lap for hours together. Her mother
was married from our house. She was tidy
servant and good woman, though she proved
unfortunate in her husband. He was devoted
lover handsome fellow, and good workman;
but he was drunkard. That, however was af-
ter their marriage. Drink is the curse of many
home, which, but for it, would be happy
While the mother lived, her children were ten
derly cared fer; but she died of fever, in poor
cottage, from which nearly all comfort had dis
appeared; and then the children were not cared
for at all. When the m IN came home at night,
drunk, the children were often cruelty beaten, be-
cause they cried for food. Little Grace, who was
the oldest, would be sent out to haggle at the
stalls on Saturday night for cheap bits of meat,
the father spending his earnings mainly at the
public house. Could the poor thing learn virtue
at that home? But the man got mated again
to some woman of kindred nature TO his own and
if the family were in misery before, they were in
ColtuIe lue SITI Was uSeQ As q drudge, anu
and as object on which husband and wife alike
vented their fury in their domestic quarrels. All!
little do we know of the hardships and sorrows
borne by those whom we are so ready to con-
denim, because their lot has not been so happy
as our ownw
"But the girl-poor thing-what became of
herr"
"She grew up, halffed, half clothed unframed;
and when she was old enough, she was sent to a
workshop, to earn money for her parents. There
she toiled for years, till she grew young wo-
man. | have seen her there. She had fine
appearance for a girl Of her station-dressed
showily, and had admirers. She was followed
by young men of higher station than her own.
They tempted her with visions of ease and plea
sure, which were all the more seductive when
contrasted with her daily routide of toll and her
miserable life at home. No kind mother was
near to whisper counsel and give her virtue
strength; but drunken, screeching vrago, who
made her domestic life hideous. She fed-do
you wonder? But alas poor girl-it was to her
ruin.
"The betrayer as usual, came to her in the
guise of love. She knew not the false from the
real, and she believed the betrayer's tale But
pity her! Are not the wisest baff1ed at this
game? What stratagems will not the unprinci-
pied and selfish employ to effect their purpose9
He was of higher rank than her own, and
skilled in all such powers of gallantry as were
calculated to win weak woman's heart. A
villain, who can practice such acts, is often loved
and preferred to better men, This man, tt ough
young, had already distinguished himself by his
career of vice; and yet she loved hm-believed
him to be sincere and fled with him."
"Alas, poor girl! it was pitiable fate"
@You may truly say so. You see what her
temptations and trials were, but you can form
no conception of her suferings. There Mas poi
son in the chalice of love which she quahed her
dream of happiness was short-t was but flash,
and then all was darkness and desolation. He
left her-a broken plaything; she became
need say what?-a weed tossed about amid
the mire of the streets. And now, as you have
told me, her world-wearied heart has thirsted for
death p
"what pitiable history you have told me,
dear Aunt Lizzy! see now, that in the career
of the most vicious, there may be circumstances
to mitigate the condemnation with which we
visit it, though not to diminish our aversion to
the career ITSELF"
"There is every rearon why we should deal
gently with the erring" said Aunt Lizzy ave
see the temptations they have fallen under, but
know not what they have resisted. II is not for