Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-05-17
What Is Trouble.

I
rarlor, when the conversation chauc.
el to turn on the subject of earthly
attiction. Each had her story of
peculiar trial and bereavement to re.
late, except one pale, sad looking wo'
man, whose lusterlesS eye aud defect,
cd air showed that she was q prey
10 the deepest melancholy. Sudden-
ly arousing herself, she said in q
hollow voice, Not one of you know
what trouble is.''
"Will you please, Mrs, Gray, :"
said the kind voice o. lady who
well knew her story, "tell the ladies
what you call trouble -
Il win, if you desire it," she re-
piled, 'for have seen it. Ny pa
rents possessed a competence, and
my girlhood was surrounded by all
the comforts oflife. i seldom knew
IN ungratitied wish, and W ~ always
gay and light-hearted. l married,
ut nineteen, one loved more than
I'll the world besides. Our home
was retired, but the sun never shone
on lovelier one or a happier house
hold. Years rolled on peacefully.
Five children sat around our table,
and little curly head still nestled
in my bosom. One night about sun
down one of those black storms
came on which are so common to
our southern climate. For many
hours the rain poured down iucess-
antly, Morning dawned, bat still
the elements ragged. The whole Sa-
YanEah seemed ahoat. The little
stream near Qua dwelling became a
raging torrent. Before we were
aware OF it our house was surround
ed with water. managed with my
babe TO reach a little elevated spot,
on which few wide Spreading trees
were standing whose dense foliage
afforded some protection, While my
husband aud 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
husband more. but that was not
trouble.
Presently my sons saw their
danger and the strugyls for life be-
came the only consideration. They
were as brave loving boys as ever
blessed a mothers heart, and I
watched their efforts to escape with
such agony as only mothers can feel.
They were so far off | could not
speak to them, but l could see them
closing nearer and nearer to each
other as their little island grew
smaller and smallea.
"The sullen river ragged around
The huge trees; dead branches, u2-
turned trunks, wrecks of houses.
drowning cattle, masses OF rubbish,
all went floating past us. My boys
waved their hands to me, then point
ed u2 gard. / knew it was a fare
well signal and you, mothers, can
Imagine my anguish. | saw them
all perish, and yet-that was not
trouble.
huSgpd my babe close to my
heart, and when the water rose to
my feee l climbed into tue low
branches Of the tcee, and SO kept
retiring before it, till an allpoworful
1I;lnd stayed the waves, that they
should coae no further. 7 was
saved. ALI nay worldly possessions
were swept away, all my earthly
hopes blighted that was not
trouble.
my baby vas all had left on
Garth. labored night anc day to
sepport him and myself, and sought
to train him in the right way; but
as he grew older evil companions
won hun away from home. lie
ceased to care for his mothers coun-
sels !; he woald sneer at her entreat-
It's and agonizing prayers. lie left
my humble roof that he might be
unrestrained iE the pursuit Of evil,
and at last when heated by wine,
one night hetook the life Of a fellow
being, and ended his own upon the
scafold. Ny, heavenly Father had
tiled my cup of sorrow Before. now
.ibran over. This was trouble, la
dies, such as 1nope His mercy will
save you from ever experiencing. -
There was not a dry eye among
her listeners, and the warneSt SYM
pathy was expressed for the bereaved1
mother, whose sad history had taught
them a useful lesson. BdltnlOredT.
APRIL LND DECEMBER.