Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-06-05

morrow l will join my sons at valley
Forge"
"T'hcre's Rock at The Bottom"
When my Willie was about l6 he ac-
cidently dropped a valuable watch into
the we'll His father was absent from
home, and without consulting me he re-
solved to recover the treasure. Provid-
ing himself with long handled rake, he
gave it in charge of his slater Jennie, two
years younger than himself, and bidding
her lower it to him when lie called for it,
he stepped into the bucket, and holding
fast by the rope, commenced his descent.
The bucket descended more rapidly than
Willie expected and struck heavily
against one side of the wall the rope
broke, and he was thrown into the water.
"Mothor, | shall be drowned !" was
his desperate cry, which Jennie re-echoed
with wall Of anguish. But l knew the
depth of the water, and shouted to him
as calmly as ] could, "Stand upon your
feet, Willie, the water isn't over four feet
deep" "But | shall sink into the mud" "
said the boy, still striving to keep him
self afloat by clinging desperately to the
slippery stones. "No, Willie, there s
rock at the bottom. Let go the stones
and stand up"
The assurance of hard foundation, and
the impossiblity Of holding much longer
to the Shiny surface of the stone wall,
gave him confidence. He felt for the
bottom, placed his feet firmly upon it,,
and to his great joy, found the water
scarcely reached his shoulders. | sent
Jennie into the house for new strong
rope, and fastening ono end securely,
lowered the other to him to be tied into
the bucket, and we drew him safely up.
"Oh, mother" said the dear boy, when
he was rescued, "those were precious
words to mo- THERE's ROCK AT THE
BOTTOM ! shall never forget them"
Two years after in q commercial pan
ic, 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 covct it for my children.
: chiefly mourncd for my husbands disap
. pointmcnt and his crushed hopes, anC
strove by unflagging chcerlulness to chase
away the gloom which settled so heavily
, upon him. ! cndeavorcd to assist him
not onl y by the utmost economy in house
hold expenses, but by deyising plans fol
the future. Willie ana Jennie were ole
enough to earn their support, and even tC
assist in the education of the younger
children. | succeeded in putting then
{ in n way to do this. | felt strong ant
| brave, and almost wondered at my hus
. bands dependency.
But new revcrseS came. The bank il
d. which Jennie had deposited her quarter
Q salary, which might have possibly me
i our necessities, suddenly failed. and he
e money was lost. could bear this too
u she would soon be able to replace it,
Next the school in which she taught wa
= disbandcd, and Jennie had to take nue.
e lower wages but she still earned little
z and | said cheeriuly, awe will not mu,
}. mur half loaf is better than no bread.
Next Wilic's hand was disabled by a
n accident, and he lost his situation. Nj
l, courage began to give away but rally
ing myself for one moro effort. resolve
10 to brave the reproach of friends and tn
n worlds dread laugh, and seek remuncra
n tive employment for myself 1t sorel
: tried my womanly delicacy, yet it brougf
d the needed aid, and | battled with m
/. wounded sensitvcness and again screwe
up my failing courage But the last blo'
!. came; sickness suddenly laid me pro:
d trate. 81 shall give up now we mus
a all sink together" was the language {
" my soul,
"Dear mother" said Willie, when h
= heard my lamentation, "do you remem
r, ber what you said to me when l was {
l. the bottom of the we'll? | have oite
II thought of it lately. know we are
= deep waters, but God has promised the
t. shall not overflow rs. And is His wor
without foundation? Let us plant OF
is feet upon His promises, and stand firm
l, ly. We cannot sink, for THERE'S ROC
g AT THE BOTTOM
heard and took the lesson to m
Of heart. | saw that had been clinging
A. the slippery stones of human strengt
SO and self Independence, when the providenc
of God babe me let go my hold. was
ig despair. But the bank Of Heaven ha
,e not failed and though | stood in dee
water, it would not overwhelm me, neitl
is er should l sink, for "there's rock und
b. me-"
"THERE arc two ways of doing it,
said Pat to himself, as he stood muSir