The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-12-19
There,. ROCK Al the Bottom.

When my Willie was sixteen be acci-
dsntally dropped valuable watch into
the we'll. His father was absent from
home; and, without consulting me, he re.
solved to recover the lost treasure. Pro
viding himself with long handled rake,
he gave it in charge of his sister Jennie,
two years youu ger, and bidding her low
er it to him when he called, Ee stepped
into the bucket, and holding fast by the
rope, commenced his descent. The bnck.
ct descended more rapidly than Willie
expected. and struck heavily against the
side Of the we'll. the rope broke, and be
was thrown into the water.
Mother, l shall be drowned" was bis
despairing cry; which Jennie re-echoed
with vail Of anguish. But I knew the
depth Of the water; and shouted to him as
calmly as l could. "Stand upon your
feet, Willie. the water isn't over four feet
Deep, "Bnt l shall sink in the mud "
said the poor boy. still striving to keep
himself ado,s by cIiDgiug desperately to
the slippery stones. "No, Willie, there's
rock al The bottom. Lst 60 the stones and
stand up.
The assurance Of q hard foundation.
and the impossibility of holding much
longer TO the Shiny surface Of the stone
wall, gave him confdencs. He felt Tor
the rocky bottom, placed mis- feet firmly
upon it, and to his great joy. found that
the water scarcely reached to his shoul.
ders. l sent Jennie to the house for a
new strong rope, and fastening one end
securely lowered the other 10 him, to be
tied irto the bucket, and we drew him
up safely. oh. mother, said the dear
boy when he was rescued. those were
precious words to me, There's rock al hhs
bottom. I shall never forget them
i. Two years after, in commercial panic.
my husbands property was swept away,
and we were reduced 10 poverty. AT
first bore bravely up. l did not prize
wealth and luxury for my own sake, mel.
ther did covet it for my children.
chiefly mourned for my husbands disap.
pointment and his crushed hopes, and
unfaging cheerfulness to chase away the
gloom which settled 80 heavily upon him
| sndeavore1 to assist him, no, only in
economy. in household expenses, but by
devising plans for the future. William
and Jennie were now old enough to carr
their own support. and even to assist il
the education of the younger children.
succeeded in putting them in the way tc
do this. felt strong and brave, and al
most wondered at my husbands despon
dency. ......
But new reverses came. The hank il
} which jennie had deposited her quarter
salary, which might partially meet ou
!, luecessities. suddenly failed, and her mon
0 ey was lost. 1 could bear this too; sh
t would soon replace it. Next. the schoc
: in which she taught was disbanded, an
r Jennie had to take much lower wages ;bu
a she still'earned a little; and l said cheer
! fully. "We will not murmur; half loa
I is better than no bread" Next, Willie
3 hand was disabled by an accident. and h
: lost his situation. My courage began t.
0 give way; but rallying myself to one NOR
p, effort, I resolved to brave the reproache
9 ofmY friends and; the worlds dread laugl
n and seek remunerative employment 70
s myself. 1t sorely tried my woman
e delicacy. yet it brought the sneedfu aid
s and l battled with my wounded sensi
!. tiveness and again screwed up my failin
= courage. But the last blow came; sick
ness suddenly laid me PROSTATE. g
9 shall give up now; we must all sink to
e geIher," was the language of my despai
h ring soul.
o "Dear mother" said Willie, when h
y heard my lamenlation, "do you remembe
:. what you said to me when | was at tn
1t bottom oi the well? have often though
l. of 1t of late. know we are in deep wa
IS ters, but God has promised that the
l. shall not overflow u.s.. And is his wott
o without foundation? Let us plant ou
If feet npon his promises and stand firmly
l. We cannot sink for There's rock al III
10 bottom. p"
a | heard and took the lesson to m
t, heart. l saw that | had been .clingin!
q, to the slippery stones Of human streng,
l. and self dependence; and so when ii
t, providence Of God bade me let go my hol
I was in despair. But the bank ot Hes
,e ven had not failed; God was able to IT
as deem his promises, and though | stoo
y in deep water, it should not overwhel
er me. neither should l sink, for "there
st rock at the bottom"
a So from the chamber where pain an
er illness still .hold me prisoner, | send
n each burdeIed and weary child Of Go
d, who is tempted to feei that all Is lost, Il
w key note of my new and grateful psalr
+ whatever your sorrow or strait may b
plant yourifeet trustingly upon the Ro'
of ages, and with me "lhank God al
take courage"
w The Alliance against Mexico.