The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-05-05

My womanly shame, my ruined name,
My fathers curses, my mothers tears?
The love of man! 1t was something to give,
Was it worth it? The price was soul paid down; !;
Did get a soul, las soul in exchange?
Behold me here on the town!
"Your guilt was heavy" the world will say,
"And heavy, heavy your doom must be;
For to pity and pardon woman's fall,
Is to set no value on chastity
You undervaue the virgins crown,
The spotless honor that makes her DEAR"
But l ought to know what the bauble is worth,
When the loss of it brings me here!
But pity and pardon? Who are you
To talk of pardon, pity to meG
What ask is justice, justice, sir!
Let both be punished or both go free.
If it be in woman shameful thing,
What is it in man? Now come, be just;
Remember she falls through her love for him,
He through his selfish lustD
Tell me what is done to the wretch
Who tempts, and riots in woman's fall?
His father curses, and casts him off?
| His friends forsake? He is scorned of all?
| Or thoughtlcss women, who humor their whim !;
Young blood" wild OATS Better hush it up -
| They soon forget it-in him!
Even his mother, who ought to know
| The woman nature, and how it is won.
Frames thousand excuses for him,
Because, forsooth, the man is her son!
You have daughters, Madame, Che told me so,)
| Eo;- rlottt,
Some mother may have son like yours,
| Bid them beware oc men.
l saw his coach in the street to-day,
| Dashing along the suny side,
| With livered driver on the box;
| LoIing back in her listless pride,
The wife of his bosom took the air;
| She bought in the mart where hearts sold;
l gave myself away for his love,
She sold herself for his gold!
He lives, the say, in princely way,
Flattered and feasted. One dark night
Some devil led me to pass his house: l7
! saw the windows blaze of light;
The music whirled in a maddening round,
! l heard the fall of the dancers feet:
Bitter, bitter, the thoughts had
Flooding there in the street,
Back to my gaudy den 1 went,
Marched to my room in grim despair,
Dried my eyes, painted my cheeks,
| And fixed flower or two in my hair!
Corks were popping, wine was flowing,
| / seized bumper and tossed it down;
One must do something to kill the time,
/ And fit ones self for the town.
| meet his boy in the park sometimes,
And my heart runs towards the child
A frank little fellow, with fearless eyes,
| He smiles at me as his father smiled!
hate the man, but love the boy,
For think what my own, had he lived, would be
Perhaps it is he, come back from the dead
To his father, alas not me!
But stand too long in the shadow here,
| Let me out in the light again,
/ Now for insult. blows perhaps,
| And, bitter still, my own disdain!
l take my place in the crowd of men,
Not like the simple women see:
You may cheat them, men, much as you please,
| You wear no masks with me!
know We! Under your honeyed words
There turks serpent! your oaths are lies;
There's lustful fire in your hungry hearts,
l see it flaming up in your eyes!
Cling to them ladies, and shrink from me-
Or rail at my boldness-Well, have you done?
Madam, your husband knows me we'll;
Mother, / know your son
But go your ways and I'll 60 mine!
Call me opprobrious names, if you will:
The truth is bitter, think I have Iied
GA harlot ?" Yesi But woman still
God said of old to woman like me,
go; sin no more" or the Bibles lie;
But you you mangle His merciful words
To-" Go, and sin till you die l''
Die! the word has pleasant sound,
The sweetest I've heard this many year;
1t seems to promise an end to pain,
i Anyway, it will end there!
Suppose throw myself in the street9
Before the horses could trampIe me down,
Some would-be friend might snatch me up,
! And thrust me back on the town
But look, the river! From where l stand!
see it, almost hear it fow;af1
Down on the dark and lonely pier
1t is but a step-I can end my wo
A plunge, splash, and all will be o'er, %
/ The death black waters viii drag me down:
God knows to where But no matter where. 4se
So am off the town. >,, ,se,T 94gai
II -.