The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-10-07
The Overflowing Cup.

A company of Southern ladies were one
day assembled in friends parlor, when the
conversation chanced to turn on earthly aff1ic-
ton. Each had her story Of peculiar trial
and bereavement to relate, except one pale
sad looking woman, whose lrsterless eye and
detected air showed that she was prey to
the deepest melancholy. Suddenly arous-
ing herslf, she said in a hollow voice. "Not
one of you know what trouble is"
"Will you please, Mrs Gray" said the
kind voic of lady who we'll knew her story,
"tell the ladies what you call troubled"
"Iw,ll, if you DESIRE" she replied, "for I
have seen it. Ny parents possessed COM
petence, and my girlhood was surrounded by
all the comforts of life. l seldom knew an
ungrteful wish, and was always gay and
light hearted. / married at nineteen one
loved more than all the world besides. Our
home was retired, but the sun light never
fell oa lovetier one, or on a happier house
hold. Years rolled on peacefully. Five
children sat around our table, and little
curly head nestled on my bosom. One night
about sundown one Of those fierce black
storms came on, which are so common in
Southern climate. Fo. many hours the rain
poured down necessarily. Morning dawned
still the elements raved. Tho whole sa-
vannah seemed aAoat. The little stream
near our dwelling became raging torrent.
Before we were aware of it cur house was
surrounded by water: man aged, with my
babe, to reach little elevated spot, on which
few wide-spreading trees were standing,
whose dense foliage affords some protection,
while my husband and sons stroye to save
what they could of our property. AT last
a fearful surge swept away my husband, and
he never rose again. Ladies-no one loved
a husband more-but that apos not trouble.
"Presently my sons saw the danger, and
the struggle for life became the onty consd-
Grafton. They were brave, loving boys as
ever blessed mothers heart, and atched
their efforts to escape with such agony as
only mothers can feel. They were so far eff
| could not speak to them, but could see
them closing nearer and nearer to each 9TH
er, as their little island grew smaller and
smaller.
"The sullen river ranged around the huge
trees; dead branches, upturned trunks,
wrecks of houses, drowning cattle, masses
Of rubbish, all went floating past us. My
boys waved their hands to me, then point
ing upward. l knew it was farewell sig
nal, and you, mothers, can not imagine my
anguish. l saw them all perish, and yet
that was not trouble.
II Rugged my baby close to my heart, and
when the water rose to my feet, | climed into
the low branches Of the trees, and SO kept
retiring before it until an all-powerfui Hand
stayed the waves, that they should come no
further. was saved. All my worldly pos
session were swept away-all my earthly
hopes bHghted-yet that aoas not trouble.
my baby was all had left on earth.
labored night and day to support him and
myself, and sought to train him in the right
way; but as he grows older, evil companions
won him away from me. lie ceased to care
for his mothers counsels; he would sneer
at her entreaties and agonizing prayers
He left my humble roof that he might be
unrestrained in the pursuit Of evil; and at
last, when heated by wine one night, he
took the life of fellow-being, and ended
his own upon the scaffold My Heavenly
Father had filled my cup Of sorrow before,
but now it ran over. That was trouble,
ladies, such as hope His mercy will spare
you from ever experiencing"