The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-10-22
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&c 10 . Sz a kG "a z&ses s-GE 81
A company Of southern ladies' were ere
asy assembled in friend parlor, when
the conversation Glanced to turn on o,9tA.
u afuiotion Each had her story Of ps-
ouiiar t.ial and bYreayeuect9 70 relate,
except one pale, sd looking woman, wAos9
luatre!ess eye AMI dajootod ar showed
that she was prey to the deepest nelaa-
irholy. Suddenly arousing herself, she said
in holov VOICE, ".%oI oao 9. yo4 kuog
wbst trouble is.
"Will you please, Mrs. Gray. sad tie
kind voice OF q lady who well knew her
story, tel tae ladies wat goa o4u trouble
Il will If you deairs," she replied, for
] have seen it. My parents possessed !
rollpstonoe, aud ny girLboo4 "as sur,
rounded by ali the comforts Of lie /
seldom knew al uagra;iaed wish, aud was
siways gay and light-hearted. l mqsried
St ninatecn oro ! loved more th4u al the
world besides. Our home was rc,i1ed,
BAT the sunlight never fell on lovelier
one, or on happier household. Years
rolled on pOacotull. Five odildten sat
around our table, and l.stle curly head
still nestled in my bosom. One niglt
shout sun down cno Of thoae felo3 black
storms csps Oh, which are SO common IL
pur southern climate. For many hours lie
rain poured doRG iuccssantIy. NJlning
dawned, still the elements r4v3d The
whols Sayaunsh seemed aloat. The li>t.c
stream near our dwelling BECAME 3 Tag
ing torrent. Before We vera aware OF il
our house was surrounded by water; /
mapaged ~ith my babe TO rca5h q i!ttle
spot, On which few wide spreading tree
were standing whose dense foliage afforded
some protection, while my husband and
eous stEoye to save what they could of on
property. At last fearful surge swept
away any husband, and &c never rose again
Ladies' no ono loved husband more
pat that ,oGS not trouble.
"Presou:ly ny sons saw taa;r Jangos
snd tho struggles for life bs9ane tha oply
consideration. Ihey were brave, Loving
boys as ever blessed mothers heart, and
watched their efforts 70 escape With
'uoh agony onlynotaos can feel. Tacy
vcra so Clr or could net SPEAK 10 tlem,
but SEQ them closing nearer and nearer
to each other, as thar Iittlo island grew
smaller and smaller.
"Ihe sullen river ranged around the
hggo trees; dead branches, uptuvped
trunks, wrecks Of houses, drowning cattle,
masses of rubbish, siL vent floating past
us My boys waved their hands 10 NE,
then pointed upward ! knew it wa2
farewell signal, and you, mothers, cannot
imagine my anguish. l saw tholn all pr
iEh, and yet-that 1cas not tron5ie
u bugsed ny baby to my heart, ana
wbao the water rose to my fo5t, Io,ilb,G
iaso the low branches Of the trao, kept -
tlrins before it, till an All-PowerEpl Hand
stayed the waves, that they should come
20 further. was saved. All ny world
y possession woro swept away, all my
earthly hopes blightod--yot that aoos no.
tyovbke.
"hy baby vas al ] had left on earth !.
] isbored night and day TO support hin.
and myself, and sought TO train him IN
the right way; but as he grew older, evil.
companions won him away from me. H.
coaeed to care for bis mothers oounscls
he would sneer at her entreati3s and ago
rizipg prayers. He left my bumblo rool
that he might be unrestrainod in the Fur-
sult OF evil and at last, when heated With
vine one night, ho took the life Of fel-
low-oeing, and ended his own upen tlt
eoafold. Ny Heavenly Father had GIe4
my cup Of sofroF before, but now il raj
PVor. That WAS TROUBLE, ladies, suth
s' ho2o RS lueroy VIII spare you from
asFer experiencing"
I4Sfe rs aos a dry eyo a,aoag Asr Is