The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-06-26
The Overlooking Cup.

AnV SNSAAVWAAS SuP
A company of Southern ladies we're one
day assembled in a friends parlor, when
the conversation chsncod to turn on earthly
affictiou. Each had her story of peculiar
and boreavementS 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 herself. she said in hollow voice,
"Not one of yon know what trouble is
"Will you please Mrs. Gray said the
kind voice of lady whe we'll knew her
ssory, "tell the ladies what yon call trouble.
Il will, if you DESIRE" she replied, "tor
have seen it. My parents possessed com.
petonoo, and my girlhood was surrounded
By all :he comforts of life. l seldom kuew
au uugratfi"d wish, and was alwsys gay and
light hearted married ut nineteen, one
loved moro than all the world besides.
Our homo was retired, but the sunlight
never fell on a lovelior one, or on happier
household, Years rolled on peacefully -
Five children sat around our table, and a
little curly head still nestled in my bosom.
One night about sun n.down ono of those
fierce blabk storms came on, which are so
common 10 our Southern climate. For
some hours the rain poured down incessant-
". Morning dawned, still "the elements
ravod.-The whole whole Savannah seemed
afloat. The little stream that ran near our
dwelling became raging torrent Before
we were aware of il, our house was surround
ed by water: l managed with my babe to
reach little elevated spot, on which fow
wide spreading trees were standing, whose
dense foliage afforded some protection,
while my husband and sous strove 10 save
what they could of our property. At last
fearful surge swept away my husband, and
he never rose again. Ladies--no one loved
husband more-but that ,oat not trouble.
presently my sous saw their danger, and
the struggle for life became the only con-
sderation. They were bravo, loving boys
as ever blessed mothers heart, and /
watched their efforts to escape with such
agony as mothers feel. They we're so far
off could not speak to them, but could
SEQ them closing nearer aud nearer to each
other, as their little island grew smaller and
smal ler.
"The sullen river ragged around tho huge
! trees: dead branches, upturned trunks,
wrecks Of houses, drowning cattle, masses of
rubbish, all wen floating past us. My boys
I III. ho, a. TO han inf tnd n N.
| ward: knew 1t was q farewell sigual, and
you, mothers, cannot INA gine my anguish
l saw them all perish, yet-thdt oas mol
trouble.
81 hugged my little baby to my heart,
and whsu the water rose to my feet, climb
cd into the low branches of tho tree, and so
kept retiring before it, until an Allpowerful
Hand stayed the waves, that they should
come no farther. / was saved. All my
worldly possessions were swept away: all
earthly hopes bIighted--yct that was moi
trouble
my baby was all had left on earth.
Iabored night rnd day to support him aud
mytelf, and sought to train him in the righ'
way; but as be grew older, evil compan
ious won him away from me, He ceased tc
care for his mothers counsels; he would
sneer at her entreates and agonizing pray
ers. He left my humble roof that he might
be unrestrained in the pursuit of evil ; and
= at last, when heated by wine, one night, be
! took the life of fellow being, and ended
his own upon the scaffold.
My Heavenly Father had filed my cuI
of sorrom before, but now it ran over. Tha
,oas trouble ladies. such as hope Hi
mercy will spare you from ever experienc
ing"
There was no dry eye among her listen
I, , ers, sh6 the wsrmest sympathy was express
!, ed for tho bereaved mother. whose sad his
J, tory has taught them useful lesson.