The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-10-15
The OvcrnOwing Cup.

| A company Of southern ladies' were ons
day assembled in friends parlor, when the
conversation chanced to turn on earthly af
Fiction. Each had her story of peculiar triu
and bereavement to relate, except one pale
sad looking woman, whose lustreless eye
and detected air, showed that she was prey
to the deepest melancholy. Suddenly arous
ing herself, she said 10 hollow voice, "No'
one of you know what trouble is"
"Will you please, Mrs. Gray" said the
kind voice of lady who well knew her story
"tell the ladies what you call trouble"
al will, if you desire," she replied, "for
have seen it. My parents possessed COM
petence, and my girlhood was surrounded by
all the comforts OF life. seldom knew al
ungratlfed wish, and was always gay and
lighthearted. l married at nineteen one
loved more than all the world besides. Our
home was retired, but the sunlight never fell
on lovlier one, or on happier household.
Years rolled on peacefully. Five children
sat around our table, and little curly head
still nestled in my bosom. One night about
sun down one of those fierce black storms
came on, which are 80 common in cur south
ern climate. For many hours the rain pour
ed down incessuntly. Morning dawned.
still the elements raved. The whole Sa-
vannah seemed ahoat. The little stream
near our dwelling became raging torrent
Before we were aware of it our house was
surrounded by water; managed with my
babe to reach little spot on which few
wide spreading trees were standing, whose
dense foliage afforded some protection, while
nv husband and sons strove to save what
they could Of our property. At last fear
fu surge swept away my husband, and he
never rose again. Lndies-Do one loved a
husband more-but that pas not trouble.
"Presently my sons saw their danger, and
the struggles for life became their only con
sderaton. They were as brave boys as ever
blessed mothers heart, and | watched their
mothers can feel. They were 80 far off
could not speak TO them, but could see them
closing nearer and nearer to each other, as
their little island grew smaller and smaller,
"The sullen river ragged around the huge
trees; dead branches, up turned trunks,
wrecks of houses, drowning cuttle, masses
ofrubbish, all went floating past us. My
bows waved their hands to me, then pointed
upward. knew it was farewell signal,
and you mothers cannot imagine my anguish.
I saw them all-perish, and yet-that ,ras not
trouble.
81 hugged my little baby to my heart, and
when the water rose to my feet, climbed
into the low branches Of the tree, and so
kept retiring before it, until an A hll.powerful
hand stayed the waves--that they should
come no further. was saved. All my
worldly possessions were swept away, all
my earthly hopes blghted-yet that avGS no!
! trouble.
"My baby was all had left on earth.
labored night and day to support him ane my
self, and sought to train him in the right
way; but as he grew older, evil companions
won him awsy from me. He ceased to care
for his mothers counsels; he would sneer al
her entreates and agonjzing prayers. He
left my humble roof that he might be unres
trained in the pursuit Of evil; and at last
when heated by wine one night he took tht
life of fellow being, and ended his life OF
the scaffold. My Heavenly Father had fill
ed my cup of sorrow before, but now it ran
over. That waS trouble, ladies, such as
hope his mercy will spare you from ever ex
periencing." ..
There was not dry eye among her lis
teners, and the warmest sympathy wa' ex
pressed for the bereaved mother whose ga
history has taught them useful lesson.