Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-04-24
aave Compassion for the FALLEN.

Scarcely day passes but that he who goes
upon the streets will come in contact with
one or more of the abandoned class OF ie
males, and whenever he does, the lip is ,curled
scornfully, withering glance is bestowed
and he passes by, like the Lcvite, on the other
side. 1t rs perhaps, well not to countenance
them, not to speak to them, but is it well to
frown upon them? Alb, reader, little do you
know Of their past history; little do you reck
of the struggle 10 maintain a.proper standing
in society, which has torn their very natures
asunder, and left them but mere wrecks, with
but little or no principle to guide them on
-life's stormy sea. Think you that the gay
laugh you sometimes hear is the token OF
light hearth. If you only knew onc-half the
wretchedness that is hid beneath it: your eyes
would stream with pity, and instead of frowIl-
ing you would lend helping hand to hit
them from their degradation, and assist to
place then once more upon firm foundation:
6 Let him who has no sin cast the first stone.'
Were this doctrine followed out, few persons
there would be found who could hurl the stone
of derision at their first mis.steps, but when
the erring one was clingirg to Hope, and
striving TO gain virtues level, they would not
continue to pelt them until at last dlscour'
aged, Corsaken, and God only knows how
miserable, they sink beneath tha tide OF pub;
lie opinion, and are lost in the mmlstorm OF
despair. But so tits always. Mankind arc ever
ready to condemn sin in others: while, per.
hans a mote is in their own eyes which will
not allow them to look inward and so discov-
or their own failings. A word, look, may
be the means OF rcclaiming more than one Of
these miserable beings, and why should they
be suffered to 20 at large without an attempt
TO reclaim them? Their influence is PERM
cious, their associations banefu', and their
lives full of wretchedness. They are objects
of pity rather than contempt, and
GAS they 90 through the long, long day,
Urhccding the sun with its piercing ray
Unhccdins the scorn that their glanccs greet
In the hard cold cJcS of al hey meet;
Unhcelinr ali. no! for passcr-by
My ottcn Ca. .icA drawn 81 sh, ~-
That pleads like voice for little pity
From the narrow hearts in tho great wide city.
Who cares! who cares"
Yes, who cares? Not one of the busy
throng who SO coldly pass them by. Up ard
doyn, to.apd fro they wander, wearing out
their miserable existence, and vainly waiting
for d ath TO relieve them Of o heavy burden.
Are. they not proper subjects for Charity, I
Their. haye more feeliug and look m=rakindlY
upon the fallen ones, for tEeIr hearts are 50
weary, and their paths so rugged. Think OF
the time when she was pure child in her
mothers arms, protected by her from all harm,
but who mas been more sinned agains! than
shining, until she became the being she ls.
Remember that while
"Mcn falsely WOO, and falsely viii
Pure women. pardon the petty sin
In them they will feast and frtter
The girl that's lost 10 n tr;aEg matter"
She may have gone, perchancc, to SONG
den where she will change her name and her
life or with broken heart which is never TO
be lightened with hope, has sought the bosom
OF t6e silently flowing river meath which she
has hustled her Epe and blotted out her
shame. "One more pnfortGnete" tells the
tale, the busy throng moves on end the poo;
rill with her sorrows is soon forgotten. A
gentle word, plying look might have saved
her, but these were withheld, and she has
rashly sought destruction to hide her fall.
Curl not your lip so scornlully, nor bestow
such withering glance upon the por crea-
ture that is passing BY. Her life is full Of
dark spots which stand out in bold relief, and
stamp her avocation upon her face. Seek
rather to reclaim her, for by so doing, when
you are called frola earthly things you may
have the consciousness of knowing that you
have at least done your utmost to practice the
Golden Rule.