The Contrast, Or—One Missing

Francis Bourdillon, 1873

It is night. The bustle of the day is over; the shops are closed; the noise of wheels has almost ceased; the streets are nearly empty. Most in the great city have gone to bed.

But not all. Here is a house that is open still. Its great plate-glass windows, lighted up from within, throw a glare across the street; its gay-colored lamp seems to invite all to go in, and huge casks painted and gilt, and bright glasses and bottles of every shape and size—show plainly what business is carried on there. A placard hanging in the window has on it in large letters the word "Dancing!" Hark! You may hear from upstairs the sound of many feet and of loud laughter; the dancing is going on now. Shall we look within?

A large room on the first floor is bright with lights and filled with dancers. They are mostly very young—some mere boys and girls. Almost all are of the lowest class, it is plain; but many of them are gaily dressed. They seem very merry, and one young girl especially is the merriest of all. Her dress is the gayest, her step is the lightest, her laugh is the loudest.

But the mirth of that place is not a right mirth, and the joy is not true joy. Sin is there—bold, reckless sin! The ear is pained by the words that are spoken! The eye is shocked by what it sees. So young—and yet so wicked! Here are the tempter— and the tempted! Here are those who are well used to the place and its ways—and here are some who are but beginners.

All looks bright and mirthful—but the faces are not really happy faces. Many are pale and worn; many look old before their time, and even those faces which are flushed with excitement have no look of peace. We turn away, sick at heart.

Again it is night. Again the streets are silent and lonely. Again the work and din of the day are past, and the city and its people are at rest. But as before, not all. In a poor room at the top of a miserable house, lies a sick person. That sick room has none of the comforts which some sick rooms can show. No quieting medicines stand by that bedside; no cooling drinks are applied to those parched lips; no gentle nurse watches beside the sufferer, or steals with noiseless step across the floor. There she lies alone, for she is in a raging fever, and all have fled from her.

She can get no rest from burning pain; she cannot lie still; she tosses her arms wildly; she speaks bewildered words; she seems to want, she knows not what; and to call for, she knows not whom. She is not herself; her brain is on fire; her senses are gone.

How will it end? Will she ever rise from that bed? Will she live, or die? No one knows, not even the parish doctor who came to see her today. No one knows. But she is in terrible danger, too ill to be moved; she must stay where she is.

Only too well did the doctor's face show what he thought. Come nearer and look. Who is it? See, it is the mirthful dancer, the gayest of the mirthful. A few nights ago we saw her there—look at her now!

And this very night the dancing-room is open again, and the rest of the dancers are there, and the same sounds are heard as before, and everything looks as bright and gay—while she lies on her lonely bed, most likely dying.

Oh, you who are seeking pleasure from the pleasures of sin—think of this! For this is no dream, but a daily reality! Such things have often happened. You who are far gone in such ways—stop and think! You who are but beginning, led on by others—stop and think!

Remember that you have to die—would you die in this wretched state? You are in the way to eternal ruin. You are departing from God. You are going in a way that will never make you happy here—and that will end in misery forever, and that perhaps soon. God calls you from it. He bids you to turn from sin, from all sinful places and all sinful ways—to Christ. You stand in need of Christ. You need His blood to wash away your sins. You need Him as a Savior to save your souls. He is mighty to save. He will save you—if you sincerely seek him.

"Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).