Year: 1874

| long TO her, she said, for she had learned


so much of sin and sorrow.


Don't you want to tell me, Alice, what


brought you here?" 1 said. "I am a


friend to you, and to all my sex who
! have made mistake at the very thresh-
I old of life. You know I'll do anything


can for your


eyes. About the same cause brings us


all here. Love and deception are at the


root of it. Women scorn us, and we hate
them, while their own husbands and


brothers are often among our guests.


my parents were comfortably of, able


to give us children common education


and decent clothing with which to begin
life for ourselves. l wanted to support


myself 1 looked for employment, and
found a situation in a millinery establish
ment. The remuneration was small, but


so it kept soul and body together 1 did


not mind, for 1 did not expect to dress
like the rich. was stranger. The la
dies who made purchases at the store
day by day, never chose to ask me of my
home or boarding place. Nobody cared
for me save my mother, and she was far
away. "a -


"When the days seemed long and weari-
some, if there was minutes time for
rest, 1 would go to the window, hoping
against hope to see familiar face. On
the other side of the street was a cheer
full looking house, where now and then I
saw pleasant countenance at the win
dow came to know the faces as l dai-
ly looked there, and the strangers seem
ed almost friends to me. One day gen
tleman stood at the window, and looked
over at me. He waved his handkerchief.
and | waved mine in return. | had seen
rich girls do it, and supposed there was
L / Il La oI h.
met me on the street, and asked me over
to the pleasant house. 1 was gratifed.
No lady had ever asked me to her home.
The young ladies met me kindly, and the
young man went with me to my boarding
house. | used to watch for his face each
day, and for his coming when the store
closed, for it seemed SO precious to have
some one befriend me in that large city.
The days seemed shorter and the work
lighter By-and-by 1 was to leave it and
live with him. l trusted him as young
girl trusts when one man makes the
whole of life to her. He was not asham-
ed to be seen with girl who worked for
her daily bread Finely dressed ladies
street, and l fancied they felt piqued as
they saw his devotion to me. His habits
seemed excellent. l never saw him
drink, nor head him utter profane
word He came often and stayed late.
1 had given my heart, my confidence, my
virtue


"One night he said. Wouldn't you like
to board at the house across the street,
and not go to the shop any more?


"'Yesr for was tired and longed for
a pleasant rest with him. l left my Work,
went there and soon found to what kind
of place he had brought me- He had
tired of me, and now expected me to earn
my living like the rest. Did I recoi1
from it? Yes Was l frantic? l was
crushed, and yet what more was there
in life for me, than to walk in the way
into which my love and his passion had
led me? When 1 reproached him bitter
ly he said, Why, child, men are all
listened to the sad stories of the other
girls. We were despised alike, and so
clung together.


~ saw little of my friend now. I grew
more fond of dress, because it won me
admiration. | began to drink wine as
the rest did; was restless and unsatisfed,
and came to this city where you find
me-"


"Must other girls, Alice, learn the
same experience, in the same sad way,
and so these houses be kept full =? What
would have saved your"


1.-TWO things, perhaps. If my mother
had told me about temptation, l should
not have fallen so easily and if l had
known his real character-that he was
libertine; if he had been stunned instead
of courted by the wealthy and respecta-
BILE ladies, should have feared him, and
been on my guard. Nobody seems to
care what men do, and mothers let their
daughters marry men who they know
associate.with us p


Would you leave this place, my dear
girl, and be in a comfortable home? Do
you know that those who lead your life
live, on an average, only about two years?
You will lose happiness here, and, l am
afraid, happiness hereafterl'


She looked at me very sadly minute |


II knowl it all, but there is no chance |
for US. Wherever l go somebody knows |
me, and he does not hesitate to warn his |
lady friends against the poor girl who |
would contaminate them, but not him. |
My mother has sent for me to come |
home, but all know my life; and though |
she would be kind and forgiving the rest |
would pass by on the other side. I'd |
rather live and die where any human
being is good to me, though all are out
casts, than be summed and exiled by
those who call themselves pure and
Christ-like. There is no open door for
US back to purity. A man reforms, and
the world forgets; woman, and the
world may forgive, but never forgets.
None want us in their homes, because
they seem afraid to trust their husbands
and sons. None want us in their stores
because virtuous women would not come
there. Would that they were as afraid
Of bad men p


II will send you books to read, and
come and see you, may l ?"


She held my hand closely. II shall
not be here long, but l shall remember
that one woman out of all the world has
tried to lift me out of sin and misery.
would step out if there were any way, but
there isn't. l never pray, but you may
tell the Lord whom you love, about me.
Good byei"


l went out from that house very sad;
sad that one part of humanity should
suffer and be spurned, while the other
walks apparently untarnished and un-
So it must always be, as long
rs women choose to marry even bad men
rather than support themselves.


Two years after this, one quiet night,
was giving a frail, homeless girl ride.
Her life had been shipwrecked. Drawn
away from home by proud man
of the world, she had drunk the dregs of
sorrow to the bottom of the cup. spoke
If Alice. ----.--.-e--


"Alice2 Did you know her2 Did you
know herr Why, she and l were in the
same house She had a generous heart.
Do you know about herP'


"No. Tell mel


"a few months, ago she was taken very