Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-20
A GREAT POEM.

We find the following masterly, touching ar
just poem. in the New York Saturday Press.
When we say that it is from the pen of RIcHAI
HENRY SropDARp it will not fail to be read throue
by all under whose eye it may fall:
ONTHE TOWN.
The lamps are lighted, the streets are full
For, coming and going, like waves of the sea
Thousands are out this beautiful night;
They jostle each other, but shrink from me,
Men hurry by with a stealthy glance.
Women pass with their eyes cast down:
Even the children seem to know
The shameless girl of the town!
Hated and stunned walk the street
Huntington what? For my prey tits said:
LOOK at 1t, though, in a different light,
For this nightly shame is my daily bread!
My food, my shelter, the clothes wear!
mn only ior tins might starve or drown;
Inc world has disowned me- what can do,
But live and die on the town?
The world is cruel. 1t might be right
10 crush the harlot but grant it so,
What made her the guilty thing she is?
For she was innocent once, you know;
Twas love, that terrible word tells all
She loved man, and blindly believed
His VOWS his kisses, his crocodile tears;
Of course the fool was deceived.
What had to gain by amoments sin,
To weigh in the scale with my innocent years.
My womanly shame, my ruined name,
My fathers curses, my mother tears?
The love of a man. 1t was something to give,
Was it worth it? The price was a soul paid down
Did get a soul, his soul in exchange?
Behold me here on the town.
"four 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 chastity!
You undervalue the virgins crown,
The spotless honor that makes her dear"
But 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 me?
What ask Is justice, justice, sir
Let both be punished or both go free.
1t 1t be in woman a shameful thing,
What is it in man? Now, come, be lust:
(Remember, she falls through her love for him,
He through his selfish lust y
Tell me what is done to the wretch
Who tempts, and riots in woman's fall?
bis father curses, and casts him off?
His friends forsake? He is scorned of all?
Not hej his judges are men like himself,
Or thoughtless women, who humor their whim
Young blood, - "wild oats" "better hush it up: u
They soon forget it-in him!
Even his mother who ought to know
The woman nature, and how il is Won
Frames thousand excuses for him,
Because, forsooth the man is her son.
You have daughters, Madame, Che told me so,)
Fair, innocent daughters-"woman, what then?''
Some mother may have son like yours
Bid them beware of men!
saw his coach in the street to-day,
Dashng along on the sunny side
With livered driver on the box;
Lolilng back in her listless pride
The wife of his bosom took the air;
She was bought in the mart where hearts are sold;
gave myself away for his love,
She sold herself for his gold!
He lives, they say, il princely way,
Flattered and teasted One dark night
Some devil led me to pass his house:
saw the windows blaze of light:
The music whrled in maddenng round,
heard the tall OF the dancers feet;
Bitter, bitter, the thoughts had
Flooding there in the street!
Back to my gaudy den went,
Marched to my room in grim despair,
Dried my eyes, painted my cheeks,
And fixed flower two in my air!
Corks were popping, wine was flowing,
seized bumper and tossed it down;
One must do something to kill the time,
And tit ones self for the towns-A
l meet his boy in the park sometimes.
And my heart runs over towards the child
A frank little fellow, with fearless eyes,
He smiles at me as his father smiled
hate the mal, but love the boy,
For think what my own, had he lived would be:
Perhaps 1t 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, bitterer still, my own disdaip!
| take my place IN the crowd of men,
Not like the simple women | see:
You may cheat them, men, as much as YOU please,
You wear no masks with me =
| know ye! Under your honeyed words
There turks serpent! your oaths are lies:
There's a lustful fire in your hungry hearts,
-! see 1t flaming up in your eyes!
Cling to them. ladies ."a sh-'-L f-a,, ,,a
Or rail at my boldness-Well, have you done?
Madam, your husband knows me WELL
Mother, know your son!
But 60 on your ways, and I'll go mine:
Call me opprobiOus names. if you will:
The truth is bitter, think have he'd
"a harlot?' Yes! But woman still
God said of old to woman like me,
go; sin do more" or the Bibles lie;
But you, you mangle His merciful words
Toto, and sin till you dep
Die! the word has pleasant sound,
The sweetest I've heard this many year;
1t seems to promise an end to pain,
Anyway, it will end there
Suppose throw myself in the street?
Deiore Tue norses couiu ralnple ME uoWn,
Some would-be friend might snatch me up,
And thrust me back to the tomb! -
But look the river! From where / stand!
see it, almost hear it flow:
Down on the dark and lonely pier
1t is but step-I can end my wo
A plunge splash, and all will be Ger,
The death-black waters will drag me down.
God knows to where! But no matter where,
So / am off the town!
FRED.
The La Crosse Democrat publishes the followin,