Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-04-22

PHILIP BARRETT, IN ORPAHN FRIEND
In the spring of the year when
the snow on the Rocky Mountains
begins to melt and the early rains
pour down their floods of water in
this low, level country, the Mississ-
ippi rivcrrises very rapidly. When
swollen by these torrents it is one
of the grandest sights | ever wit
messed in my lite; and one can
only stand still and declare how
wonderful arc the works of God.
Very often it rises above the
banks and flows all over the coun-
try, destroying houses, crops, stock
and everything in its reach.
In order to keep back this water,
the people who live along the banks
bui.d high dams or levees.
Several years ago, in the dead of
night, when every body was fast
asleep, the levee which protects
this place proke, and before any
one knew anything about it, the
water came rushing and moaning
all through the streets, creeping mp
here and there into the chambers
of the citizens, washing away many
OF the houses and almost destroy
ing the whole city, And yet,
children, it was grand but terrible
sight. Hogs, dogs, cows, pigs:
chickens, ducks, were seen swim
ming all over the place. There
was an old cat with her little kit
tens way np on top of one OF the
houses as it foated down the
stream looking just as Qnict and
satisfied as if nothing had happcne!
BOOSTERS were tapping their wings
and growing as if they really en-
joyed it fathers and mothers with
their precious little children hug
ged closely te their loving, anxious
bosoms were seen padding away
in dug outs (Idian canoes,) to the
hills where they would be safe from
the jaws Of the angfy waters.
Aud, now, my dear little friends
how do You suppose that great biz
aevee was broken2 Did the waite,
break and burst through all s'
once2 BY no aeans. One dro{
of water carried away one grain o
sand; and then another drop came
right behind it carrying another
and so on each one following th,
other, making room for those which
were pressing hard On its littl,
heels, just as yoa have seen twent,
or thirty children trying to ge
through door at the sane time.
And now4 wish you to lear4
several iKaisortant lessons from tlli
broken lepec.
First, you must build a leve
around each one of yoar littl
hearts to keep ost the STREAMS G
sin which are always trying t
make an entrance. Neither ca
this lsvee be built in aday a spad
full Of dirt is first threxa up, an
then another, until it is laigl, enoag
and strong enough TO keep bac
the water. SO you must torna ca
one good habit to-day, another to
morrow, and then the next, neve
feeling that ycH are safe, alway
taking care to make the weake;
part OF yoar character strongest.
Let ma teil you now, how 81
breaks into little boys and li:tl
girls hearts, One drop at tim
The first bad thought, tie fir
bad word, the first bad act, is onI
the commencement. Keep the
down, keep them out, and you wi
be safe IT one gets in, then az
other comes right after it, and aft
awhile You will not DO stror
enough to keep them back.
Tie FIRST drop Of liquor m.
make yoa drrnkard ; the fir
stor. yoa tell May make room f
great many more, and yonr litt
characters be faineo forever; DO
and girls, keep the levees aronl
your hearts high and strong.
The leyee around Jnany mar
heart is broken when he is a lit1
bcFa and he acrcr nesrds ;t-h