Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-11-18
What Is Trouble !?

A company of Southern ladies were
one day, assembled in a lady's parlor
when the conversation chanced to turI
on the subject of earthly afffiction
Each one had her story of peculiar tria
and bereavement to relate, except one
pale. sad looking woman, whose lustre-
less eye and detected air showed that
she was a prey to the deepest melan-
cholly. Suddenly arousing herself, she
said in a hollow voice; 7,
! ''Not one of you know what trouble
is" sia5 ela
r'Will you please, Mrs. Grey" said
the kind voice of lady who well knew
trouble s. ' 'N' ''N 'N'-
a"I will, if you desire it,n she replied,
"for I have seen it. My parents pos
sessed competence, and my girlhood
was surrounded by all the comforts of
life. I seldom knew an ungratified
wish, and was always gay and light
hearted. married at the age of nine
tedh, one that I loved moro than all
the world besides. Our home was re-
tired, but the sunlight never fell on a
lovelier one, or happier household.
Years rolled on peacefully Five chill :
dren 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 cline. For
many hours the rain poured down in
cessantly. Morning dawned and still
the elements ragged. The whole Savan-
nah seemed af1oat. The little stream
near our dwelling became a raging tor
rent. Before we were aware of it,
our house was entirely surrounded by
water. I managed. with my babe, to
reach an elevated spot, on which few
wide-spreading trees were standing,
whose dense foliage afforded some little
protection, while my husband and sons
strove to save what they could of our
property. AT last fearful surge swept
again. Ladies-no one ever loved Is
husband more, but that was not trouble.
Presently my sons saw their danger,
and the struggle for life became the only
consideration. They were as brave, |
loving boys as ever blessed q mothers |
heart, and watched their efforts to es-
cape, with such agony as only mothers
can feel. They were so far off 1 could |
not speak to them, but could see them
closing nearer to each other as their lit. |
tie island grew smaller aud smaller.
"The sullen river ragged around the
huge trees; dead branches, upturned
trunks, wrecks of houses, drowning cat
tie, masses of rubbish all went floating
past us. My boys waved their hands to
me and then pointed upward. T knew
it was farewell signal, and you, moth
ers, can imagine my anguish. saw
them all perish, and yet-that was not !
trouble.
II hugged my babe close to my heart. |
and when the water rose to nv feet. I |
climbed into the low branches of the |
tree, and go kept retiring before it, till
an An-powerful hand staid the waves.
that they sheuld come no further. /
was saved. All my worldly possessions
swept away; all my earthly hopes
blighted-yet that was not trouble.
MY baby was all had left on earth.
l labored night and day to support him
and myself and sought to train him in
the right way; but as he grew older,
evil companions won him away from
home. He ceased to care for his moth
er's counsels; he would sneer at her
entreaties and agonfzing prayers. He
left my humble roof that he might be
in the pursuit of evil, and at
last, when heated by wine one night he
took the life of fellOw-being and ended
his own upon the scaff6ld. NV Heav-
enly Father had filled my cup of sorrow
before. now 1t ran over. This was trou-
bio. ladies, such as I hope His mercy
will save you from ever experiencing.
There was not a dry eye among her
listeners. and the warmest sympathy
was expressed for the bereaved mother,
whose sad history had taught them
useful lesson.