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Literary
July 15, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A narrator encounters a freezing, starving prostitute sheltering in a doorway, torn between prudence and charity. Upon learning she is the daughter of an old friend ruined by disappointment and seduction, he provides immediate aid and vows to care for her, naming her Magdalen.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
FRAGMENTS from a MUTILATED. - MANUSCRIPT.
The PROSTITUTE.
I have neither eat nor drank for two days nor have I laid my head upon a pillow for a week; and I am drenched with the snow that falls upon my almost naked body--O relieve me for heaven's sake!
These words respired with tremulous sound and broken accent, closed with a sigh the most piteous.
They issued from a creature crouched up against a shop door--a female, who had there taken shelter from the inclemency of the night.
The voice of Sorrow, though feeble, insinuates its prayers to the heart with the subtlety of plaintive music--I felt mine in perfect unison, every nerve vibrated--I had passed the door and was going back when that curious old virgin Prudence said, Go on.
Turning from the object that accosted me, Charity stood full in front---She laid her hand upon my breast, and instantly put the following interrogatories to me.
Have you a wife, a sister, a daughter, a female relation, or a female friend?
If you have not, yet remember you had a mother; remember you are a man
While Charity thus urged my feelings, I involuntarily returned to the spot where the unhappy girl lay--There Charity held me fast-and Prudence stepped to the other side of the street, to assist a drunken old debauchee, in calling a watchman to escort him home.
The girl before me was an object demanding immediate assistance from five out of the seven works of mercy--She was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and a stranger.
A short conversation discovered she was the daughter of an old friend.
Disappointment broke his heart--Grief deprived his widow of life, and Seduction robbed his daughter of her virtue.
There was but one to administer immediate relief--I clothed her with my surtout--brought her to my chambers, roused up my servant, and insisted on her getting into his bed.
Let us leave her there, and inquire what is to be done with her.
She is a child that Providence has thrown into my way, and must not be neglected
Profession she had none--or if she had, she wants what the world calls character--or rather she has the worst character in the world---She is unfortunate.
But I will take care of thee, Magdalen.
The PROSTITUTE.
I have neither eat nor drank for two days nor have I laid my head upon a pillow for a week; and I am drenched with the snow that falls upon my almost naked body--O relieve me for heaven's sake!
These words respired with tremulous sound and broken accent, closed with a sigh the most piteous.
They issued from a creature crouched up against a shop door--a female, who had there taken shelter from the inclemency of the night.
The voice of Sorrow, though feeble, insinuates its prayers to the heart with the subtlety of plaintive music--I felt mine in perfect unison, every nerve vibrated--I had passed the door and was going back when that curious old virgin Prudence said, Go on.
Turning from the object that accosted me, Charity stood full in front---She laid her hand upon my breast, and instantly put the following interrogatories to me.
Have you a wife, a sister, a daughter, a female relation, or a female friend?
If you have not, yet remember you had a mother; remember you are a man
While Charity thus urged my feelings, I involuntarily returned to the spot where the unhappy girl lay--There Charity held me fast-and Prudence stepped to the other side of the street, to assist a drunken old debauchee, in calling a watchman to escort him home.
The girl before me was an object demanding immediate assistance from five out of the seven works of mercy--She was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and a stranger.
A short conversation discovered she was the daughter of an old friend.
Disappointment broke his heart--Grief deprived his widow of life, and Seduction robbed his daughter of her virtue.
There was but one to administer immediate relief--I clothed her with my surtout--brought her to my chambers, roused up my servant, and insisted on her getting into his bed.
Let us leave her there, and inquire what is to be done with her.
She is a child that Providence has thrown into my way, and must not be neglected
Profession she had none--or if she had, she wants what the world calls character--or rather she has the worst character in the world---She is unfortunate.
But I will take care of thee, Magdalen.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Prostitute
Charity
Seduction
Misfortune
Providence
Moral Duty
Literary Details
Title
The Prostitute.
Key Lines
I Have Neither Eat Nor Drank For Two Days Nor Have I Laid My Head Upon A Pillow For A Week; And I Am Drenched With The Snow That Falls Upon My Almost Naked Body O Relieve Me For Heaven's Sake!
Have You A Wife, A Sister, A Daughter, A Female Relation, Or A Female Friend?
If You Have Not, Yet Remember You Had A Mother; Remember You Are A Man
Disappointment Broke His Heart Grief Deprived His Widow Of Life, And Seduction Robbed His Daughter Of Her Virtue.
She Is A Child That Providence Has Thrown Into My Way, And Must Not Be Neglected
But I Will Take Care Of Thee, Magdalen.