Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-10-14
THE OVERLOOKING cup.

/ company of Southern ladies we're one day
assembled in friends parlor, when the con-
yeIsation chanced to turn upon earthly sffiic
ton. 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. Suddenly arousing her
/ self, she said, in hollow voice, s.Not one Of
/ you know what trouble is.''
/ "WIll you please, Mrs. Gray said the kind
/ voice Of lady who well knew her story, "tel
tie ladies' what you call trouble1"
II will, if you desire" she replied, "fer l
have seen it. My parents possessed conipe-
tence, and my girlhood was surrounded with
all tho comforts of life. seldom knew an
upgratifed wish, aud was always gay aud light
| hearted. | married at nineteen one | loved
more than all The world besides. Our home
was retired, but the sunlight never fell on
lovelier one. nor d happier household. Years
rolled on peacefully. Five children sat around
our table, ard little curly head still nestled
IN my bosom One evening, about sundown,
one OF those fierce black storms came on, which
are SO common in our Southern climate. For
many hours the rain poured down necessarily.
Morning dawned, but still the elements raved.
The little stream near our dwelling became
raging torrent. Before We were aware OF it.,
our house was surrounded BY water. man
aged With my babe, TO reach little elevated
spot, on which few vide spreading trees
were standing, whose deuse foliage afforded
some protection, while my husband AMI sons
s'rove to save what they could of our property.
At last fearful surge sxept away my husband,
and he never rose again. Ladies, no one ever
loved a husband more --bQt that nUqS not hou-
blet
Presently my sons saw their danger, and
the struggle for lie became the only consider
alton. They were brave, loving boys as ever
blessed mothers heart, aud | watched their
efforts TO escape with such agony as only moth
ers can feel. They were SO far off that
could not speak TO them, but | could see Them
closing nearer 10 each other as their little is
land grew sm. Her aud smaller.
'sIae sulien river ragged around the huge
ttees, deal branches, upturned trunks, wrecks
al vent floating past US. Ny boys waved
their hands to me, then pointed upwards. |
knew it was a farewell signal, aud you, mothers,
cannot imagine my anguish. l saw them all
perish, and yet tint lcas not troHbtei
dugEtu uiy Oaoc close 10 nay ueart, anc
wAen the water rose to my feet lelimbed into
the low branches OF the tree, aud so kept re-
turing from it, until an Ali Powerful Hand
stayed the waves, that they should come no
furtner. | was saved. All my worldly pcs
sessions were swept away, all my earthly hopes
biighted-yet that caS MT trouble!
"My baby was all that had left on earth
laboFed day and night to support him and
myself, and sought to train BIN in the right
way; hut be grew older, evil companions
won him away from me-. He ceased to care for
his mothers couasel be would snecr her en-
treaties and agouizing prayers. He left ny
humble roof that be might To uarestrained in
the pursuit Of evil, and at last, wheo heated
by wine one night, lie took the life Of fellow
being, aad ended his own upon the scafold.-
Ny heavenly father had filed my cup of sor-
row before, but nov it ran over. That WAS
TROUBLE, ladies, such as J hope His uiercy will
spare you from ever experiencing"
There was not dry eye among her listen
ers, and the Warmest sympathy was expressed
tor the bereayed mother, whose sad history has
taught them useful lesson.