Three women stood by the river's flood
In the gas-lamps murky light,
A devil watched them on the left,
And an angel on the right.
The clouds of lead flowed overhead;
The leaden stream below;
They marveled much, that outcast three,
Why Fate should use them so.
Said one: "I have a mother dear,
Who lieth ill abed,
And by my sin the wage I win
From which she hath her bread."
Said one: "I am an outcast's child,
And such I came on the earth.
If me ye blame, for this my shame,
Whom blame ye for my birth?"
The third she sank a sin-blotched face,
And prayed that she might rest,
In the weary flow of the stream below,
As on her mother's breast.
Three women stood by the river's flood
In the gas-lamps overcast light,
A devil watched them on the left,
And a guardian angel on the right.
The clouds of indication flowed overhead;
The brooding jet below;
They marveled much, that pariah three,
Why doom must abuse them so.
Said one: "I exhibit a look after dear,
Who lieth hardly abed,
And by my sin the wage I win
From which she hath her bread."
Said one: "I am an outcast's child,
And such I came on the earth.
If me ye blame, for this my shame,
Whom responsibility ye for my birth?"
The third she sank a sin-blotched face,
And prayed that she forces rest,
In the weary gush of the flow below,
As on her mother's breast.
Now over and done near came a devout man,
Of goodly have available and blood,
And as he accepted one frown he cast
At that heartrending sisterhood.
Sorely it grieved that holy man,
To understand therefore foul a sight,
He crooked his face, and strode apace,
And missing them to the night.
But the guardian angel drew her sisters three,
Within her pinions' span,
And the crouching devil slunk away
To become a member of the pious man.
Now past there came a godly man,
Of goodly stock and blood,
And as he passed one frown he cast
At that sad sisterhood.
Sorely it grieved that godly man,
To see so foul a sight,
He turned his face, and strode apace,
And left them to the night.
But the angel drew her sisters three,
Within her pinions' span,
And the crouching devil slunk away
To join the godly man.
It