A PICTURE by Jennie Van Allen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 21, 1892

A PICTURE.

By Jennie Van Allen

BY JENNIE VAN ALLEN.

I WASN'T out slumming, although it was an ideal district for such a mission. Alas, I had no such laudable object in view, as I walked a couple of blocks through one of the most loathsome haunts in Chicago! The narrow street was quite deserted.

I was hurrying along with an armful of lilacs when suddenly appeared the most degraded creature who ever bore the stamp of woman. She was young in years, yet age clung about her hideously, for the worst human passions were imprinted upon her bloated, repulsive face. Her finery hung in foul rags around her lean, misshaped body. When she saw the great fragrant purple plumes, her whole expression changed; she stretched out her shriveled hands and came rapidly towards me, with her bloodshot eyes fastened hungrily upon the flowers. Another moment and she remembered; her arms dropped; her countenance grew hard and sullen. "Don't you want a few lilacs?" I asked just as she passed me. Her face ceased to be frightful; it grew almost womanly; then she said huskily, "Oh, ma'am, I ain't fit to touch 'em!" She trembled violently as I gave her the flowers, and the harsh voice was tremulous. "You won't believe me, but I used to be good; I'd forgotten all about it, but the lilacs make me think of the old times. I'm going to try again," pressing the flowers to her shrunken lips. "Oh, yes, misses, I'll try agin for the sake of the flowers!" Amen! God help all the women who are going to try again.—Womankind.