Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-11-07

ON THE Town.
BY R. H. SToDDARD.

BY R. H. sToDDARD.
The lamps are lighted. the streets are full,
For coming and going. like waves of the sea,
Thousands are out on this beautiful night;
They jostle each other, but they shrink
from me.
Men hurry by with 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,
Hunting for what For my prey, it's said;
l look at it though in different light,
For this nightly shame is my daily bread.
My ft cd, my shelter. the clothes wear
Only for this might starve or drown;
The world has disowned me, what can do,
But live and die on the town!
The world is cruel. 1t may be right
To crush the harlot, but grant it so
What made her the guilty thing that 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 moments sin,
To weigh in the scale of my innocent years,
My womanly shame, my ruined name,
My fathers curse. my mothers tearss
The love of man 1t was something to give.
Was it worth it The rrice was a soul
paid down.
Did L get soul. HIS 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 undervalue the virgins crown
The spotless honor that makes her dear"
But 1 ought to know what the bauble is
worth,
When the loss of it brings me here.
But pity and pardons Who are you
To talk of pardon. pity me:
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 MANI Now. come be Just !;
(Remember she falls through her love for
him,
He through his selfish lust.)
Tell me what is done to the selfish wretch
Who tempts and riots in woman's fall +:
HIS fatl er curses and casts him off:
His friends forsakes He is scorned Of all !:
Not he; his judges are men like himself
Or thouehtless women, who humor their
whim:
Z" Young blood =" Wild Oars" Better
husL 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, fursooth the man is her son!
You have daughters" " oman, what then -
Some mother may have son like yours
Bid them beware of men!
1 saw his coach in the street to- day,
Dashing along on the sunny side,
With livered driver on the box;
Lolling 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
lie lives, they say, in princely way.
Flattered and feasted. One dark night
Some devil led me to pass his house;
| / saw the windows blaze of light
The music whirled in a maddening round,
heard the fall of the dancers feet
Bitter. bitter thoughts l had
Standing th-re in the street.
Back to my gaudy den | went.
Marched to my room in wild despair,
Dried my eyes. painted my cheeks,
And fixed a flower or two in my hair.
Corks were popping. wine was flowing.
l 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 over to the child;
A frank little fellow with fearless eyes.
He smiled 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 came back from the dead
| 10 his father, alas! not to me!
But stand too long in the shadow here,
Let me out in the light again!
Now for insult. blows perhaps.
And better still, my own disdain!
I take my place in the crowd of men.
| Not like the simple women I see;
You may cheat them, men, SIS much as you
| please;
You wear no masks for me.
Know yes Under your honied words
| There turks a serpent; your oaths are lies
There's lustful fire in your hungry hearts.
see it flaming up in your eyes!
Cling to them, ladies, and shrink from me,
| Or rail at my boldEess-well have you
dones
Madam. your husband Knows me well,
| Mother, know your son !
But 60 your way, and I'll go mine;
Call me opprobrious names if you will;
The truth is bitter. think l have lied;
| "a harlot!' Yes! But woman still
God said of old to a woman like me,
60! sin no more," or your bibles lie;
But you, you mangle His merciful words
| TOGO, and sin till you die!"
Die the word has a pleasant sound,
The sweetest I've heard for many year
1t seems to promise an end to pain,
| Anywhere it will end there
Suppose throw myself in the street,
Before the horse could trample me down
Some would-be friend would snatch me up
And threw me back on the town.