Amelia, the ruined girl of the poem, evidently comes from a background of
abject poverty where she had inadequate clothing and shoes and had to work and
dig in the dirt to find too little food for her own sustenance. Her life was
miserable and bleak, and she appeared to have only a similar future to which
she could look forward. She was virtuous then, but she was uneducated and
destitute and hungry. Now that she has been "ruined" (either taking up as
someone's mistress or becoming a prostitute), she is no longer considered
virtuous by society, and, thus, her social value and worth have been
diminished; however, she is clearly quite valued by someone (as she has earned
money), and her moral ruin has provided her with pretty clothes and
accessories, like feathers and bracelets and gloves. Not only is she now
provided for, but she appears a great deal happier and more lively; she has
evidently received something of an education (it has given her some "polish"),
and so she looks and sounds more like a lady. Of course, her value in society's
eyes has decreased because she is no longer virtuous, but being virtuous only
seemed to result in hunger and pain because she was so poor. Amelia has traded
financial ruin for moral ruin, and she seems a great deal happier as a result
of her choice. While society may emphasize the importance of virtue, it did not
serve Amelia well, and while society may discourage immorality, Amelia's life
seems better for it. What's a woman to do? Amelia has made her choice, and it
seems that the "raw country girl" to whom she speaks may ultimately make the
same choice.