Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-09-17
rnE MENTIONING cuP

n company OF Southern ladles were one day
assembled in friends parlor, when the con-
yersation chanced TO turn on earthly aillictiOn.
Each had her story of peculiar trial and be-
reavement to relate, except one pale, sad look
ing woman, whose lustrelcss 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.''
" win you please, Mrs. Gray" said the kind
voice of u lady who knew her story, " tell the
ladies what you call troublc.''
{" | will, if you dcsre,'., she replied, &c for l
have seen it. My parents possessed compe
tence, and my girlhOOd was surrounded by all
the comforts of life. ] seldom knew an ungrati-
lied wish, and was always gay and light-heart-
ed. married at nineteen one | loved more
than all the world besides. Our homo was re-
tired, but the sunlight never felt on lovelier
one, or on happier household. Years rolled
on peacefully. Five children sat around the
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
so common in our Southern climate. For mary
hours the rain poured down necessarily. Nor
ming dawned, still the elements raved. The
| whole Savannah seemed afioat. The little
stream near our dwelling became raging tor
| rent. Before we were aware of it our house
was surrounded by water / managed, 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 stiovo to save what
they could of our property. AT last fearful
surge swept away my husband and he never
| rose agail. Ladies--nO one loved husband
mOre--but that was not trouble.
"Presently my SONS saw their danger, and
the struggle for life became the only consider
ton. They were brave, loving boys as ever
blessed mothers heart, watched their ef-
forts to escape with such agony as only moth
ers can feel. They were so 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 swollen 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 upward. knew it
was farewell signal, and you, mothers, can
not imagine my anguish. | saw them all per-
ish, and yet-that was not trouble.
Sc hugged my baby close to my heart, and
when the water rose to my feet, climbed into
the lower branches of the tree, and so kept re-
firing before it, until an All.powerful Hand
stayed the waves, that they should come no
farther. | was saved. All my worldly possess
sions were swept away all my earthly hopes
blighted--yet thatwas not trouble.
My baby was all had left on earth. la
bored night and day to support him and my
self, 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 en-
treaties and agonizing prayers. He LETT my
humble roof that he might be unrestrained in
the pursuit OF evil and at last, when heat
ed by wine one night, he took the life of
fellow-being, and ended his own upon the
scafold. My Heavenly Father had filled my
cup OF sorrow before, but now it ran over
That was trouble, ladies, such as l hope His
cing.''
There was no dry eye among the listeners
and the warmest sympathy was expressed for the
bereayed mother, whose sad heart had taught
them useful lesson,