Gothic Victorian Clip Art Devil and Fallen Woman

Why Are You Weeping, Sister?

Why are you weeping, Sister?
Why are you sitting alone?

I’m bent and gray
And I’ve lost the way!
All my tomorrows were yesterday!
I traded them off for a wanton’s pay.
I bartered my graces for silks and laces
My heart I sold for a pot of gold–
Now I’m old.

Why did you do it, Sister,
Why did you sell your soul?

I was foolish and fair and my form was rare!
I longed for life’s baubles and did not care!
When we know not the price to be paid, we dare.
I listened when Vanity lied to me
And I ate the fruit of the Bitter Tree–
Now I’m old.

Why are you lonely, Sister?
Where have your friends all gone?

Friends I have none, for I went the road
Where women must harvest what men have sowed
And they never come back when the field is mowed.
They gave the lee of the cup to me
But I was blind and would not see–
Now I’m old.

Where are your lovers, Sister,
Where are your lovers now?

My lovers were many but all have run
I betrayed and deceived them every one
And they lived to learn what I had done.
A poisoned draught from my lips they quaffed
And I who knew it was poisoned, laughed–
Now I’m old.

Will they not help you, Sister,
In the name of your common sin?

There is no debt, for my lovers bought.
They paid my price for the things I brought.
I made the terms so they owe me naught.
I have no hold for ‘t was I who sold.
One offered his heart, but mine was cold–
Now I’m old.

Where is that lover, Sister?
He will come when he knows your need.

I broke his hope and I stained his pride.
I dragged him down in the undertide.
Alone and forsaken by me he died.
The blood that he shed is on my head
For all the while I knew that he bled–
Now I’m old.

Is there no mercy, Sister,
For the wanton whose course is spent?

When a woman is lovely the world will fawn.
But now when her beauty and grace are gone,
When her face is seamed and her limbs are drawn.
I’ve had my day and I’ve had my play.
In my winter of loneliness I must pay–
Now I’m old.

What of the morrow, Sister?
How shall the morrow be?

I must feed to the end upon remorse.
I must falter alone in my self-made course.
I must stagger alone with my self-made cross.
For I bartered my graces for silks and laces
My heart I sold for a pot of gold–
Now I’m old.

By Herbert Kaufman in Fighting the Traffic in Young Girls, or, War on the White Slave Trade, 1911

The Devil's Triple Demons

Fighting the Devil’s Triple Demons. Three Books in One Volume.

1. Traffic in Innocent Girls-Protect your Sisters and Daughters.

2. Rum’s Ruinous Rule: Save Your Father’s and Sons.

3. The Sins of Society: Guard Your Homes and Honor.

By Robert J. Moorehead and other well known students of social conditions.

Profusely Illustrated with Striking Pictures.

Copyright 1911.

Condition: Fair/Good copy of this rare and unusual book. Hardback.

Bound in blue cloth, color plate pasted on front. All pages present, all illustrations present, binding a little shaky and worn, in particular, the spine is faded and worn.

This is a very unusual book from a decidedly different time. Men were drunken gamblers and smoked opium, Women were either prostitutes or were frigid and oblivious to their cheating husbands, and the wealthy just gossiped all day and cared for nothing but fine clothes.

This book consists of stories and anecdotes about these people and other members of society that apparently were quite desperate need for the moral tongue lashing the author hands out.

Illustrated with unusual symbolic illustrations and a few photographs of criminals, gamblers, and more.

Available for purchase in my Etsy shop

The Devil's Triple Demons

Victorian Stereoview Devil and Temptress

This antique photograph is just one half of a stereoview. If you have a viewer, the scene comes alive!

And you can actually own this very vintage photograph! It’s for sale here.