Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-06-04
.srhere,s Rock at tho Bottom. /"

/ When my Willie was about 10 ne accf
IDENTIFY dropped valuable watch into the
well. His father was absent from home,
and without consulting me he resolved to
recover the treausure. Providing him
self with a long-handled rake, he gave il
in charge of his sister Jennie, two years
younger than himself, and bidding her
lower it to him when he called for it, he
stepped into the bucket, and holding fast
by the rope commenced his descent. The
bucket descended more rapidly than VIII
lie expected, and struck against one side
of the wall the rope broke, and he was
thrown into the water.
Mother, | shall be drowned :" was his
desperate cry which Jennie re-echoed with
wall of anguish. But | knew the depth
of the water and shouted to him rs calmly
as could. Stand upon your feet, Will
lie, the water isn't over four feet Deep"
"But shall sink in the mud" said the
boy, still striving to keep himself afioat
by clinging desperately to the stones
mo Willie, there's rock at the bottom
Let go the stones and stand up"
The assurance of hard foundation, and
the impossibillity 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 reach
ed his shoulders. | sent Jennie into the
house for a new strong rope, and fastening
one end securely, lowered the other to
him to be tied into the bucket. and We
him safely up. "Oh, mother" said the
dear boy when he was rescued, ''those
were precious words to me-'THERE'
ROCK AT THE BOTTOM | shall never forget
them"
Two years after, in commercial panic,
my husband property was swept away and
we were reduced to poverty. At first l
bore bravely up. / did not prize wealth
and lxuury for my own sake, neither did
| covet it for my children. Ichiefy mourn
ed for nay husbands disappointment and
his crushed hopes, and strove by unfag-
ging cheerfulness to chase away the gloom
which settled so heavily upon him. /
endeavored to assist him, not only by the
utmost economy in household expenses,
by devising plans for the future. Willie
and Jennie were old enough to earn their
support, and even to assist in the educa
ton of the younger children. succeed
ed in putting them in a way to this. /
feltstrong and brave, and almost wondered
at my husbands dependency.
But new reverses came. The bank in
which Jennie haddeposited herquarters sal
ary, that might have possibly met our neces-
stiles, suddenly failed, and her money was
lost. / could bear this too; she would soon
be able to to replace it. Next the school
in which she taught was disbanded, and
Jennie had to take much lower wages but
she still earned little, and | said cheer
fully, 1--WE will not murmur; half loaf
is better than no bread" Next Willie's
hand was disabled by an accident, and he
lost his situation. Ny courage began to
give away; but rallying myself for one
more effort, resolved to brave the re-
proach of friends and the worlds dread
laugh, and seek remunerative employ
ment for myself. 1t sorely tried my wo-
manly delicacy, yet it brought the need
ed aid, and l battled with my wounded
and again screwed up my
failing courage. But the last blow came
sickness suddenly laid me prostrate. 81
shall give up now; we must all sink to-
gether," was the the language of my soul. |
Dear mother" said Willie, when he
heard my lamentation do you remember |
what you said to me when / was at the |
bottom of the well? l have often tho't |
of it lately. know we are in deep waters,
but God had promised the shall not over
flow us. And is His word without foun- |
dation? Let us plant our feet upon His
promises, and stand firmly. We cannot
sink, for THERE'S ROCK AT THE BoTToN,"
l heard and took the lesson to my
heart. saw that had been clinging to
The slippery stones of human strength
ind self-dependence, when the provi-
lence of God babe me let go my hold,
vas in despair. But the bank of Heaven
1ad not failed; and though 1 stood in
leep water, it would not overwhelm me,
neither should l sink, for there's rock
lnder me-"