The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-02-04
EARTHLY AFFECTIONS.


A company Of southern ladies were
assembled in u lAdy's parlor. when the
conversation cha need :" 'urn IN the sub,
iect of earthly nm CT ,ua Each had her
story 81 peculiar trial and bereavt ment
TO relate, except one pale. >ad;ooking
woman, whose iusterl less eye AM detected
sir sh' wed she was prey I" the deeu pest
melancholy. Suddsuya ar using herself
sic said, In II hollow Tni'r:
mot one al you know whas trouble
is"
"Will sou p.esse, Mrs Gray said the
kind voice 81 lsdy who seil X ew her
story, tell he ladies what you call
trouble?"
Il will. If you desire It," she replied
''for nave seen 1t Ny parents assessed
competence, and my girlhood was aur-
rounded by al the comforts Of life.
seldom know an uugrasifd wish, and
was always gay and llght-hearted Imar-
Yied ~ nineteen one loved m ere than q J
che world besides; our home was retired,
Ou5 the sun never sh0ne on lower one
Or happier household. Years rolled on
peacefully; five children sat around our
table, anu little curey head still nestled
in my bosom. One night about sundo wn
one of these black -stotms came on which
are SO CommbH u our Southern climate.
For many hours she fain poured down
incessantly. Morning dawned, but still
che elements ragged The whnle savan.
nab seemed af1uat. The little stream
near or dwelling became raging tor
rent. Before we were aware of II our
house was surrounded by water I man
aged with my babe to reach q little ole
va'ed spot, On which lew widespread
trees were standing, whose dense foliage
afIrfed some protection, while my hus-
band anu two sons strove to save what
they could of our properly, At least
fearful surge swept away my husband,
and he never rose again Ladies, no one
ever Loved husband more; bu' that was
not trouble.
presently my sons Saw their danger,
and the struggle Ior life became the only
consideration, They were as brave, low.
ing boys Il ever blessed mot hers heart
and watched their ef'rs TO escape with
such agony rs only mother can feel.
They were 80 lar off coLlG rot speak to
Them but l could see them closing near
er and nearer to each other, as their little
island grew smaller and smaller.
The snllen river ragged around the
huge trees; dead branches, unturned
trunks, wrecks Of houses, drowning cat
IT, masses OF rubbish, all went floating
past US. My boys waved their hands to
me, then pointed upward. I knew it
was a farewell signal. and you, mothers,
c1n imagine my anguish. I saw them
all perish and disappear, and yet - that
was not trouble.
u Rugged my babe close to Inv heart
and when the water rose to nv feet
Climbed into the low bra inches of tho
trees &C 80 kept retiring before it. till
an all~poweTful hand stayed the waves
That they should come no further. was
saved. All my worldly possessions were
swept away, all my earthly hopes blight
ed>~yet that was not troable.
my babe was all had left on earth
1 iabored night and day to support him
ana myself, and sought to train him in
'he rlght way; but as be grew older evil
companions won MIN away from his
nome. He ceased to care for his moth.
sc 8 counsels he would sheer at her en-
treaties and agonizlng prayers. He left
my humble roof that he might be unre-
strained in the pursuit of evil and a.
last' when heated by wine, one night. be
took the life of a fellow being and
ended his own upon the scaffold M0
heavenly Father had allied my Gun of
soffoW before now it run over. This