Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-10-30
WHAT IS TROUBLE?

A company OF ladies' were one day as-
sembled in parlor, when the conversation
Glanced to turn on the subject Of earthly
affliciion. 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. Sud-
denly, arousing herself, she said, in hol.
low voice, "Not one of you know what
trouble is"
"Will you please, Mrs. Gray" said the
kind voice of lady who knew her story,
",ell the ladies what you call trouble ?"
81 will, if you desire it," she replied,
"for l have seen it. My parents possessed
a competence, and my girlhood was sur
rounded by all the comforts Of life. l
seldom knew an ungratifed wish, and was
always gay and light-hearted. l married,
at nineteen, one l loved more than oil the
world besides. Our home was retired, but
the sunlight never fell on a lovelier one,
or happier household. 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 storms came on, which are SO
common to our climate. For many hours,
the rain poured down incessantly. Morn
ing dawned, but still the elements ragged.
The whole savannah seemed a1oat. The
little stream near our dwelling, became a
raging torrent. Before We we're aware Of
it, the house was surrounded by water; I
managed with my babe to reach little,
elevated spot, on which few widespread
ing trees were standing, whose dense foli-
age afforded some protection, while my
husband and sons strove to save what they
could of our property. At last, a fearful
surge swept away my husband, and be
never rose again. Ladies-no one ever
loved husband more. But that was not
trouble.
presently, my sons saw their danger,
and their struggle for life become the on
ly consideration. They were as brave,
loving boys, as ever blessed mothers
heart, and l watched their efforts to es.
cape, with such agony as only mothers can
feel. They were so far of l could not
speak to them, but could see them clos.
ing nearer and nearer to each other, as
their little island grew smaller and small
cr- The sullen river ragged around the
L-S- 49,, - A---h--.A----.I Al
trunks, wrecks of houses, drowning cattle,
masses Of rubbish, all went floating past.
My boys waved their hands to me, then
pointed upward. l knew it was a fare.
we'll signal, and you, mothers, can imag-
inc my anguish. saw them all perish,
and yct-that was not trouble.
81 hugged my babe slose to my heart,
and when the water rose to my feet l
climbed into the low branches of the tree,
and so kept retiring before it, till an All
Powerful hand stayed the waves, that
they should come no further. l was saw
ed. All my worldly possessions were
swept away; all my earthly hopes blight.
ed-yet that was not trouble.
"My babe was all 1 had left on earth.
l labored night and Cay to support him,
and sought to train him in the right way /;
but, as be 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
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;
now it ran over. This was trouble, la.
dies, such as hope His mercy will spare
you from ever experiencing"
There was no dry eye among her list
eners, and the warmest sympathy was ex-
pressed for tho bcreaved mother, whose
sad history had taught them . useful
lesson.