Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-09-02
AT THE DooR OF THE MISSION.
/ How One of the Poor OutcastH Wondered
Mt the Young Lady Workor.

| ROW One OF bne iOOr OutCNSIN NOnucreu
ut the Young Lady Worker.
She stood with arms folded, leaning
against the lamp post in front of the
little mission Sunday-school on Clark
street, She was only the miserable
ruin of what had once been remarl5-
ably beautiful woman. The children
within were singing some old time
Sunday-school songs and two or three
times the sound of her voice mingled
with theirs. A carriage drawn by fine
black horses drew mp very near to
where she stood, and a tall, handsome
ly dressed young lady alighted and
went into the mission room. The ruin
by the lamp post smiled grimly and
shook her head.
Edging little nearer to her re-
porter asked: 'Doyou know that young
lady?"
She started, gave a quick, searching
look and replied: "No, sir. That is, l
am not acquainted with her, if that is
what you you mean. But l know who
she is; l see her here every Sunday. l
love to watch her when she comes She
steps so light and pretty, and looks so
happy. Though do suppose she some
times thinks herself very miserable and
unhappy. o, Lord! it makes me laugh
and it makes me cry"
She paused, laughing sort of hard
ugly chucble.
What makes you laugh and cry?"
so, to remember. Sir, you may not
believe me- but it is as true as preach
ing. l was once rich and handsome
nd lirrl+- tnl 1,,+ -.
l was proud, too: very proud. That's
what makes me'cry, sir, for know I
can never go back again. And laugh
when | remember what little things
used tomalle me sad. used some times
to think / had a great deal of trouble
m those days, but did not know what
trouble was then. have learned since.
II wonder, sometimes, if that pretty
thing will ever learn what real sorrow
means. l wonder if her heart will ever
be crushed and bleeding thing; if she
will ever be dead while she liveth; if
she will ever love--love with all the
strength of her womans nature-one
who she believes to be a part Of her
very being, soul of her soul, light of
her life. | wonder if she will think he
is all that is pure and noble. generous
and unselfish, manly and brave.
wonder if she will be deceived; if she
will learn. when it is everlastingly too
late, that he is base. ignoble, selfish
coward. / wonder if he will leave her
alone. and poor, a stranger in n strange
city; if she will ever wander, at mid
night, i'll and homeless, hungry, cold,
and forsaken, up and down the streets
of Chicago with his child on her bosom;
if she will look out over the dark
waters of Lake Michigan while her
whole frame trembles with an awful
temptation and thinks how easy it
would be to end her PAIN.
Il wonder if she will ever look for
the last time on the face of her precious
baby, and it will be still and lifeless: if
she will kiss its lips and eyes and find
them cold and then part forever from
the last thing she has on earth to love
and care for. | wonder if she will go
downward then, faster and faster, un-
til she reaches the bottomless pit of
the slums of this great city. And then,
sometimes, will she look from her de-
graded position, from her horrible pit
of mire and clay and see him, honored
and petted by society, and respected
by his fellow-citizens? Then, / wonder,
will she think God is cruel"
She shut her lips hard as she finished
speaking. stood silent for moment,
then, without taking notice-of the re-
porter, as though she had been speak
ing to herself, went across the street
and entered a door over which was a
sign reading: Ladies' entrance."-
| ChicaUo Tribune