The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-06-12
EARTHLY AFFLTCTTONs,


A party of Southern ladies were assem-
bled in lady's parlor, when the conversa-
ton Glanced to turn on the subject of
earthly Affections. Each had her story of
peculiar trial and bereavement to relate,
except one pale, sad-looking woman, whose
lustreless eye and detected air showed she
was prey to the deepest melancholy.
Suddenly arousing herself, she said, in a
hollow voice
''Not one Of you know what trouble is. Z"
''Will you please, Mrs. Gray" said the
kind voice of lady who we'll knew her
story ''tell the ladies what you call trou-
BILE ?''
81 will, if you desire it." she replied,
''for have seen it. Ny parents possessed
a competence, and my girlhood was sur
rounded by all the comforts of life. I sell
dom knew an ungratified wish, and was
always gay and light-hearted. 1 married
at nineteen, one 1 loved more than all the
world besides. Our home was retired, but
| the SUN never shone on a lovslier one or
happier household. Years rolled on peace
fully. Five children sat around our table,
and little curly head still nestled in my
bosom. One night, about sundown, one of
those black storms came on which are so
common to our Southern climate. For
many hours the rain poured down inces-
sanity. Morning dawned, but still the ele-
ments ragged. The whole Savannah SEEM
ed afloat The little stream near our
dwelling became raging torrent Before
we were aware of it, our house was sur
rounded by water. l managed, with my
babe, to reach a little elevated spot, on
which a few wide-spreading trees were
standing, whose dense foliage afforded
some protection, while my husband and
sons strove to save what they could Of our
property. At last a fearful surge swept
away my husband, and he never rose again.
Ladies, no one ever loved a husband more
but that was not trouble.
Presently my sons saw their danger,
and the struggle for life became the only
consideration. They we're as brave, loving
boys as ever blessed mothers heart, and
watched their efforts to escape with such
agony as only moth ers can feel. They
were 50 far off could not speak to them,
ObAS SOulNA SSS GtlSlll ClOSlAIS l-SdASl anu
nearer to each other, as their little island /.
grew smaller and smaller.
''The sdllen river raged around the huge
trees dead branches upturned, trunks,
wrecks of houses, drowning cattle, masses !
of rubbish, all went floating past us. My /
boys waved their hands to me, then point /
ed upward. knew it was a farewell sig
and ina an
guish. 1 saw them all perish and disap-
pear, and yet-that was not trouble.
81 hugged my babe close to my heart,
and when the water rose to my feet l
climbed into the low branches of the tree,
and so kept retiring before it till All all
powerful hand stayed the waves, that they
should come no further. All my worldly
were swept away, all my earth
y hopes blighted-yet that was not trou-
bio.
s'My babe was all had left on earth.
abored night and day to support him and
myself, and sought to train him in the
right way but as he grew older evil COM
oanions won him away from his home. He
ceased to care for his mothers counsels
le would snser at her entreaties and agon-
zing prayers. He left my humble roof
hat he might be unrestrained in the pur
uit of evil; and at last, when heated by !
vine, one night he took the life of fell .
ow-being, and ended his own upon the ,
caffold. Ny heavenly Father had filed
ny cup of sorrow before now it is such
s 1 hope His mercy will save you from
1periencing." u.
There was not dry eye among the lis :
eners, and the warmest sympathy was ex-
ressed for the bereaved mother, whose :,
ad history taught them a useful lesson.
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