Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-10-29

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when the conversation CHANGED to tur
On the subject of earthly afaiction Ea
' had her story Of peculiar trial and bt
: reavcment to relate except one pale, 81,
E cooking woman, whose lustrcless ey
+. md detected air showed that she was
prey to the deepest melancholy. Sud
ienly arousing herself, she said in
hollow voice, "Not one of you kno1
. what trouble is."7 1@a 900. .-7l- H.
! sfessWill7 you please Mrs. Gray" saii
the kind voice of a lady, who we'll knew
her story, tell the ladies what you cal
trouble ?'
5'I win, if you desire it," she replied
''for have seen It, Ny parents pos
sesscd a competence, and my girlhooe
was surrounded by all the comforts o.
life. I seldom knew an ungrati6ed wish
and was always gay and light hearted
married at 19 one loved more than
all the world besides Our home was
retired; but the sunlight had never
Ishone on a lovelier one, or happier
household. Years rolled on peacefully
Five children sat around our table, and
a little curly head still nestled in my
bosom. One night, about sundown, one
of those fierce black storms came on
which are so common to our Southern
climate. For many hours the rain pour
ed down incessantly. Morning dawn
ed, but still the elements ragged. The
whole Savannah seemed afoat The
little stream near our dwelling became
a raging torrent Before we were aware
of it, our house was surrounded BY
water; managed with my babe to reach
Il little elevated spot, on which few
wide spreading trees were standing,
whose dense foliage afforded some pro
lection, while my husband and sons
strove to save what they could of our
property. At last fearful surge swel
away my husband, and he never rose
again, Ladies-no one ever loved
husband more; but that was not trou-
BILE.
Presently MY sons saw their danger,
and the struggle for life became the only
consideration. They were as brave, low
ing boys as ever blessed a mothers
heart, and watched their efforts to es-
cape, with such agony as only mothers
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 sullen river ragged around the
huge trees; dead branches upturned
trunks, wrecks of houses, drowning cat
tie, masses Of rubbish, all went floating
past US. My boys waved their hands to
me and then pointed upwards. I knew
it was a farewell signal, and you, moth
ers, can Imagine my anguish l. saw
them all perish, and yet-that was not
trouble. -. .-...--.-...
Il hugged my baby close to my heart, !
and when the water rose to my feet, 1
climbed into the low branches of the |
tree, and SO kept retiring before it, till
an All-powcrful hand staid the waves,
that they should come no further. i
was saved-all my worldly possessions
were swept away; all my earthly hopes
blighted-yet that was not troub' e"~
My baby was all had left on earth.
I 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
counsel; he would sneer at her entrea-
ties and agonlzing prayers. lie lettmy
humble roof that he might be sunre-
strained in the pursuit of evil, and at
last when heated by wine one night, he
took the life of fellow being, and end
ed his own upon the scaffold. My hca-
venly father had filled my cup of sorrow
before: now it ran over. That was
trouble ladies, such as hope His mer-
cy will spare you from ever experience
ing.
There was no dry eye among her list
ners, and the warmest sympathy was
expressed for the bereaved mother,
whose sad history had taught them II
useful lesson.
B~ A beautiful mind is like pre-
cious and prolific seed-the mother of
loveliness-the fountain of bliss-the
produce of many treasured and inesti-