Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-10-14
The OVERLOOKING Cup.


day assembled in friends parlor, when the
conversation chanced to turn on earthly af-
Fiction. Each had her story of peculiar trial
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 arousing
herself, she said in hollow voice, {" Not one
of you know what trouble is"
"Will you please, Mrs. Gray" said the
kind voice of a lady who well knew her
story, tell the ladies what you call trouble
81 will if you DESIRE" she replied, =" for !
have seen it. My parents possessed COM
petence, and mo girl-hood was surrounded by
all the comforts of life. l seldom knew an
ungratiied wish, and was always gay and
light-hearted. | married at nineteen one l
loved more than all the world besides.-
Years rolled on peacefully. Five children
sat around our table, and little curly head
still nestled in my bosom. One night about
sundown one of those fierce black storms
came on, which are so common in our South
ern climate. For many hours the rain pour
ed down incessantly. Morning dawned, still
the elements raved. The whole Savannah
seemed ahoat. The little stream near our
dwelling became regular torrent Before
we were aware of it our house was surrounded
by water; l managed with my babe to reach
a little elevated spot, on which a few wide
spreading trees were standing, whose dense
foliage affords some protection, while my hus-
band and sons strove to save what they could
of our property. At last fearful surge
swept away my husband, and he never rose
again. Ladies-nobody loved husband
more-but that was not trouble.
Presently my sons saw their DANGER and
and the struggle for life became the only
consideration. They were brave loving boys
as ever blessed a mothers heart, and watch
ed their efforts to escape with such agony as
only mothers can feel. They were so far of
| 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, upturned trunks,
wrecks of houses, drowning cattle, masses Of
rubbish, all went floating past us. My boys
waved their hands to me, then pointed up
wards. knew it was farewell signal, and
you, mothers, cannot imagine my anguish.
l saw them all perish, and yet-that aOas
not trouble.
81 hugged my baby close 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 All-pow-
erful hand stayed the waves that they should
come no farther. was saved. All my
worldly possessions were swept away; all my
earthly hopes blighted-yet that was not
trouble.
"My baby was all had left on earth. l
labored night and day to support him and
myself, and sought to train him in the right
way; but as he grew older, evil companions
won him away from me. He 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 unre-
strained in the pursuit of evil; and at last,
when heated by wine one night, he took the
life of felow-being, and ended his own up
on the scatfold. My Heavenly Father had
filled my cup of sorrow before, but now it
ran over. That was trouble, ladies, such as
l hope His mercy will spare you from ever
experiencing"
There was no dry eyes among her listen
ers and the warmest sympathy was expressed
for the bereaved mother, whose sad history
has taught them a useful lesson.-Baltimore
Patriot.
GLOOMY PRospEcT.-The New York Zri-
bune predicts that by the first or middle of
next December, at least one hundred thou
sand persons in the city of New York will be
out of employment and nearly out of means.
The shipyards in New York are nearly idle,
the boundaries but half working and the
great clothing stores doing very little. 1t is