The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-13
THE OVERLOOKING CUP.

company Of Southern ladies were once assem-
bled in friends parlor, when the conversation
Glanced to turn Oh earthly affctons Each had
her story of peculiar trial and bereavement to
late except real bad-looking woman, whose
lustreess eye and detected air showed that she was
a prey to the deepest melancholy Suddenly
arousing herself she said in hollow voice, "Not
one ofyou know what trouble is"
"Will you please Mrs Gray" said the kind
voice of lady who we'll knew her story, ''tel the
ladies what you call trouble"
81 will, if you desre' she replied, "for | have
seen it. My parents possessed a competence and
my girlhood was surrounded by all the comforts of
life. [ seldom knew ungratified wish. | was
always gay and light-hearted and married at nine
teen one [ loved more than all the world beside.
Our home retired, but the sunlight never fell
on loveer one, or on happier household
Years rolled on peacefully. Five children sat
around our table, and little curly head still nes-
tied in my bosom. One night about sundown, one
of those fierce black storms came which so
common to our Southern climate. For many
hours the rain poured down incessantly Morning
dawned, still the elements raved. The whole
savannah seemed afoat. The little stream near
our dwelling became raging torrent. Before we
were aware OF it our house was surrounded by
water. | managed with my babe to reach little
spot, on which few wide-sprcading 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 swept away my husband, and he never rose
again Ladies, one loves a husband more than
| did-but that acds not hOubte.
"Presently my sons saw their danger, and the
struggle for life become the only consideration
They were brave, loving boys as ever blessed a
mothers heart, and | watched their efforts to
escape with such agony 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 their little islands grew smaller & smaller
.''The sullen river ragged around the huge trees
dead branches, upturned trunks, wrecks Of houses,
drowning CATTLE masses Of rubbish, all went float
ing past us. My boys waved their hands to me,
then pointed upward. | knew it was a farewell
signal, and you, mothers, cannot imagine my an
guish. saw them all perish and yet-that aeas
not hoat6lc. r..s..-lf ...as ~ ..-. "A f~
"I hugged my babe close to my heart, and when
the water rose to my feet, J. climbed into the low
branches of the tree and kept retiring from it,
until an Al-powerfui Hand stayed the waves, that
they should come no further. [ was saved All
my worldly possessions were swept away: all my
earthly hopes blghted-yet hGt wds not trouble
''dy baby was all that / had left earth. |
labored night and day to support him and myself
and sought to train him in the light way; but as
lie grew older, evil companions won him away from
me. lie ceased to care for his mothers counsels
he would sneer at her entreaties and agonized
prayers. He left my humble roof that he might be
unrestraincd in the pursuit of evil, and at last,
when heated by wine one night, he took the life
of fellow being, and ended his the scafold
My Heavenly Falher had filed my cup of sorrow
before, but now it ran over. That ,cas hoatte,
ladies, such as l hope His mercy will spare you
from ever experiencing ree
There was no dry eye among her listeners, and
the warrnest sympathy was expressed for the be-
reaved mother whose sad history has taught them
a useful esson-New Brunsrichocr. Es..