The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-05-01
Rock at The Bottom.

we'll His father was absent from home !;
and without consulting me, he resolved 10
recover the treasure. Providing himself
J long handled rake, he gave it in charge 10
| his sister Jennie, Two years younger, and
bid her lower it TO him when he called, ne
stepped into the bucket and, holding fast
by the roPe, commenced his descent The
bucket descended more rapidly thot Willie
expected, and struck heavily against the
side of the well the rope broke, and he
was thrown into the water
"Mother, / shall be drowHed ~ was his
despairing cry, which Jennie re-echoed
with wall of anguish. But | knew the
/ depth OF the water, and shouted 10 him as
camly as could "Stand upon your feet,
Willie the water isn't over four feet deep"
"But shall sink in the mud" said the
poor boy, still striving 10 keep himself
ahoat by clinging desperately 10 the slip
perry stones.
"No, Willie, there's rock at the bottom.
Let go the stones and stand up"
/ The assurance of hard foundation, and
/ the impossibilty of holding much longer to
( the Shiny surface of the stone wall, gave
/ him confidence. He felt for the rocky bot
/ tom, placed his feet firmly upon it, and 10
his great Joy found fiat the water scarcely
reached 10 his shoulders. sent Jennie 10
the house for new strong rope, and fast
ening one end OF il securely | lowered the
other to him 10 be tied into The bucket, and
we drew him safely up.
go mother ~ said the dear boy when he
/ to me-"thercs roSk al the bottom !" | shall
I never forget Them"
J Two years after, in a commercial panic,
my husbands property was swept away,
and we were reduced TO poverty. AT first
! ! bore bravely up. | did not prize wealth
and luxury for my own sake, neither did |
cove, il for my children. chify mourned
for my husbands disappointment as his
! crushed hooes, and sirove by unhagging
! cheerfulness TO chase away the gloom
which settled so heavily upon him. en-
! deayored TO assist him, not only by the Ut
most economy in household expenses. but
by devising plans for the future Willie
and Jennie were old enough to earn their
own support, and even 10 assist in the edu-
cation OF the younger children. succeed
ed in putting them in the way TO do this.
felt srong and brave and almost wondered
al my husbands dependency.
But new reverses. The bauk in which
Jennie had deposited her quarters salary,
1 h. aIi,
suddenly failed. and her money was lost.
| could bear this too she wonid soo1 be
able TO replace it. Next, The school in
which she taught was disbanded, and Jen-
ME had to take mnch lower wages bu
she sill earned little, and said cheer
fully, "We will not murmur; half loaf is
better than no bread" Next Wilie's hand
was disabled by an accident, and he los
his situation My courage began 10 give
way; but rallying myself for one more eff
fort, resolved 10 brave The re2roaches o.
friends and The worlds dread laugh, anc
seek remunerative employment for myself
1t soreIy tried my womanly delicacy, yet i
brought the needful aid, and batiIed with
my wounded sensitiveness, and again
screwed up my failing courage. But lhs
last blow came sickness suddenly laid me
PROSTATE. al shall give up now; we mus
all sink together :" was the language of my
despairng soul.
'sDear mother" said Willie, when he
heard my lamentation, ''do you remembe
what you said 10 me when was al the bot
tom of the well | have often thoughl OF i
of late. ] know we are in deep waters
but God has promised that they shall no
overflow US and is not his word sole
foundation Let US plant our feet upor
his promises, and stand firmly. We canno
sink, for there's rock at the botom'"
/ heard aud took the lesson to my heart
saw that had been clingng TO the slip
perry stones of human strength and sef-de
pendence; and so, when the providence o
God bade me let go my hold, was in des
pair. But the Bank OF Heaven had not fail
ed God was able TO redeem ais promises
and though stood in deep water il shoulC
not everwhelm me, neither should | sink
for ''there's rock at the bottom"
So from the chamber where pain ant
illness still hold me prisoner, send to eact
burdened and weary child OF God, who j,
tempted 10 feel that all is lost, the keynote
OF my new and greatful psalm, whaieve
your sorrow or strait my be, plant your fee
trustingy upon the Rock of ages, and wit
me, '.thank God and take courage. ."-Ame1
icon Messenger.