Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-02-16
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The OutcaSt and her Child.
A STORY OF THE SNOW STORM
Every woe tear may claim,
Except a fallen SISTERS shame -

Every woe tear may claim,
Except fallen SISTERS shame
"a Young female was found by the po-
lice, wandering through the streets during
the height Of the storm. She was bare.
footed and had an infant in her arms. She
was taken 10 the station house"
Such is brief paragraph that appeared
in the newspapers among The incidents Of
the recent severe snow storm, and winch
compressed within four short lines tale
Of wretchedness and woe more substantial
and infinitely more terrible in lis d cad
full reality than the stories of the suherIngs
Of lOve-lOrn damscls. and the troubles ol
high born danes, with which the writers
OF romance are wont 10 excite the senSI-
bililics of their readers. There arc Thou
sands who would shed tears, free as rain,
over the fictitious suff rings of imaginary
characters, no would p"ruse the para
graph quoted above, perhaps, without CIV
ing il sympathetic pang for the barefoot
mother and her half naked babe, wander
ing, chilled to the heart, Though the de-
serted streets, while The howtirg storm
enveloping them in snowy shroNd as
though making them ready Tor the grave
which they must soon have found had
they not obtained shelter.
How sad the task 10 look back at the
history of the "young female" of The
newspaper paragraph. How (omdly she
was loved by her mother, and how little
did the doling paren'-Who anticipated
her every wish, who carefully shleIdec
her from pain and from harm, who watch
ed her anxiousy as shr g'ew from pratt
fling baby hood 10 gnliShness, and who
felt pride and love glowing in her heart a:
she saw the slender girl rirenlng INTO The
blooming woman-how llIle did that do
ting mother dream Of her pet wandering
through the slreets--wilh the child 0i
shame in her arms--through a furious
winter storm, with no covering for her
feet, and no roof for her head.
In this instance il was the "Old tale so
often told" The winning face and the
bland smile, with the serpent under mask
---and when, by smile and deceit the VIC
tim was fascinated TO her ruin, and her
weak heart was made caprlve, and her
reputation sung to death, she was left to
follow il TO the grave aIo e or live on and
bear her buruhen of shame, and support
her little one as best she igIt. As nsu-
al there was scanl charity ioi the taIien
creature, and the poor deceived and deser-
ted dupe sought temporary reIIet tor her
sorrows IN slrong drink. TINS bad re:
course at best on plunged her still deeper
inJo he abyss Of ruin.
l. would be sad story--c"uld lis de-
tails be laid barc--lle pr gress ol MAJ
broken and ruined woman Irom the tine
she took her first step IN her dow a'd
career. until The p"lIc, found her wander
ing abolt with an infant In her arms
! hose who were IN their own warm homes
on that rough night and took shudderng
glance through ileIr lace curtains al the
furious storm without. can form hat a
feeble notion Of the suarriueS of the bare
foot mother and her famI>hlng chlld. bet
those who have dreamed at flying ball ma
ked from their blazing dwellings. and of
saving nothing from The wreck OF home
bul the babe in their aims ; let them but
imagine that ihe flames had devouied up
every thing--home, friends, reputation.
hope -aI---and if they will bai fancy thal
the winrry storm comes down fast and f"-
Iious when ruin overldkes lllem, and thty
nre thrown desniale and iriendIess iplo
tie streets. ilh their helpless hshe--ihen
ihey may conceive The suiteIlngs of this
wreicht d nuicast barefoot mother, with her
shivering charge hugged close to her
breast.