It seems to be saying that one of the worst thing that someone can do is to take sexual advantage of a poor woman. This seems like something of an antiquated idea--it implies that women are prey for predatory men and that men who use the poverty of women to exploit them are the worst sort of person.

It seems to be saying that one of the worst thing that someone can do is to take sexual advantage of a poor woman. This seems like something of an antiquated idea--it implies that women are prey for predatory men and that men who use the poverty of women to exploit them are the worst sort of person.

William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862—June 5, 1910), known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American writer. O. Henry's short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings. The best known ones are A Service of Love, The Cop and the Anthem, The Furnished Room, The Gift of the Magi and The Last Leaf, which help him win fame abroad.

O. Henry's stories are gems of their kind; mellow, humorous, ironic, ingenious and shot through with that eminently salable quality known as 'human interest.'" —Bennet Cerf and Van Cartmell