The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-02-14
ON THE TOWN.

ON TIE TOWN.
The lamps are lighted the streets are full,
For, coming ana going, Ike the waves OF IN,
Thousands are out this beautiful night,
They yOstle each other, but shrink from me
Men hurry ny with ntealthy glance
hveD the children seem 10 know
The shameless girl ofthe town
Hated and Stunned, walk the street.
Huntingdon whatY" For my prey, Ills
said
look at II IN u dlnerent light,
For my nightly shame In my daily bread
My food, my eholter the clothes wear
Only for this might starve or drown,
The world has dlsowned me what Gun do
but live and do on the town?
Tho world In cruel II might no right
To crush the harlot, but grant IL 30,
What made her the guilty thing she Is?
For she was innocent once, you know
Twas love that terrible word tells all
Sec loved u man, aud blindly believed
His VOWS, his kisses, his crocodile tears;
or course the fool was deceived.
What had 10 gain by moments sin
To weigh IN the scale OF my Innocent years
MY womuns shame, my ruined named,
MY fathers curses, my mothers tears
The love oil man, II was something to give
was IL worth IL? The price was soul-paid
dover.
Dlu got II soul, ms soul IN excnunkeY
Behold me mere on the town
"Your guilt was heavy" the world would
say,
"And heavy, heavy your doom must be;
For TO pity woman's fall
Is 10 set no value on chastity !"
"lou undervalue tho virgin x crown,
The spotless honor that max es me dear"
But ought TO know what The Dauble Is
When the loss of II brings me here
But pity and pardonl Who are you
To talk OF pardon, pity, TO me?
What | ask Is Justice, sirl
Let both be punished or both go free.
II 10 he In woman n shameful thing,
What Is IL In man7 Now come, be Just
Qtemember, she falls through her love for
him,
He through his selfish lustN
Toll me what IN done TO the wretch
Who tempts and riots In womans fall?
His father curses and casts him Off
His friends forsake? He Is scorned of all?
Not he. His Judges are men like himself,
Or thoughtless women, who humor with him,
"Young blood, ""Wild oats, ""Better hush 1t
up"
They soon forget it--in him.
Even his mother, who ought to know
The woman nature and how IL Is won,
Frames u thousand excuses for him,
Because, forsooth, the man Is her son!
You have daughters, madam The told me so),
Fair, innocent daughters, "Woman what
them"
Some mother may have son like yours,
Bid them beware OF men!
saw his coach in the street to-day
Dashing along on the sunny side,
With II liveried driver on the box;
L0lling back in her listless pride,
The imp OF his bosom took the air;
She was bought in the market where hearts
are sold
gave myself away for his love-
she sold herself for his gold!
He lives, they say, in a prime ely way,
Flattered and feasted One dark night
Some devil led me to pass his house;
Isaw the windows blaze OF light;
The music whirled in u maddening sound,
heard the fall of the dancers feet;
Bitter, bitter, the thoughts had,
Standing then on the street.
Back to my gaudy den 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.
i seized bumper and tossed II down;
One must do something to kill the time,
And tit ones self for the town.
meet his boy in the park sometimes,
And my heart runs over toward 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. come back nom the dead
To his father, alas not me!
Rut stand too long In the shadow, here,
Let me out in the ght again.
Now, for insults blows perhaps,
And, bitterer still, my own disdainl
l take my place in the crowd of men,
Not like the simple women see;
You may cheat them as much as yOu please,
You wear no mask with me
know vel Under your honied words
There turks serpent: Your oaths are his;
There's "a lustful fire in your hungry hearts,
see 1t flaming up in your eyes!
Cling TO them ladies, and shrink from me,
Or rail at my boldness.-Well, havey You donef
Madam, your husband knows me well!
Mother know your son
But go your ways, and III go mine;
Call me opprobrious names III you VIII;
The truth is bitter; thIRk have lied;
"a hsrlot9" Yes! But a woman still!
Sod said OF old to woman Ike me.
go, sip no inore," or the bibles lie,
But you, you mangle his merciful word,
TOE"GO and sin till YOU diel'
lie! the word has a pleasant sound,
The sweetest I've heard this many year:
1t seems TO promise an end to pain.
Any way IL will end it-herei
Suppose throw myself into the streetY
Before the horses could trample me down,
Some would-b friend might snatch me up,
And thrust me back on the town!
But look, the river! From where stand
see IL, almost hear IL flow;
Down on the dark and lonely pier
1t is but step-I can end my woe!
A plunge, asplash, and all will be DER,
The death black waters will drag me down
God knows where! But no matter where,
30 am offthe town!