Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-02-19
TEMPERANCE DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by
THE GOOD TEEPLiRS 0F MULBERRY.
WHAT. is TROUBLE /?

ton CHANGED to turn upon earth
" affection. Each had her sto-
ry of peculiar trial and bereave-
ment to relate, except one pale,
sad looking woman, whose lus-
treless and detected air showed.
that she was prey to the deep
est melancholy. Suddenly arous-
ing herself she said in a hollow
voice." Notrone of you know
what trouble ISL
IS 1sWill; you please, Mrs. Grey
said the kind voice of a lady
who well knew her story, sstell
the ladies what you call trouble?"
81 viii, if you desire it." she
~for l have seen it. Ny
parents possesseda competence,
and my girlhood was surround
ed by all the comforts of life, |
seldom knew, an ungratifiedwis
e y -aEf -
and was, always gay and light
hearted. / married at nineteen,
one / loved more than all the
world besides. Our home was
retired, but the sunlight never
fell upon a lovelier one, ora hap
pier household. Years rolled on
peacefully. Five children sat a.
round our table, and a little curly
head still nestled in my bosom.
One might, about sunset, one Of
those black storms came on,
which are so common to our
southern cline. For many hours
the rain poured down incessant-
ly. Morning dawned, still the
elements ragged. The whole Sa-
.yannah seemed afloat. The lit
tie stream neareour. dwelling be-
came torrent. : Before We were
aware of it our home was sur
rounded by water. l managed
with my babe to reach a little
elevated spot on which a few
wide-spreading trees were stand
ing, whose dense foliage afforded
some protection, while my hus-
band 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 were as brave, loving boys
as ever blessed a mothers heart
and | watched their efforts to es.
cape, with such agony as only
mothers can feel. They were Sc
far off could not speak to them
but / could see them closing
nearer to each other as their lit.
tie island grew smaller an6
smaller.
"The sullen river ragged around
the huge trees, dead branches
Iup-turned trunks, drowning cat.
tie, wrecks of houses, masses of
rubbish, all went floating pas
us. My boys waved their hand.
to Inc, and then pointed upward
/ knew it was a farewell signal
and you, mothers, can imagine
my anguish. ] saw them cal
perish, and yet, that was no
trouble. H
81 Rugged my babe close Il
my heart, and when the water
rose to my feet / climbed into
the low branches of the tree
and so kept, retiring before it
till an All-powerfil hand stale
the waves that they should come
no further. / was saved. AL
my worldly possessions. SWEEP
away; all my earthly hopes
Ebligbted--yet THAT was MOI
trouble. 81 ;voTgea asfe
| fMylbabe was all / had lief
on earth. j labored night ant
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. lie ceased to care
for his mothers counsels, he
would sheer at her entreaties
and agonizing prayers. Heleft
my humble roof that he might
be hnrestiained in the pursuits
of evil, and at last, when heated
by wine, he took the life of a
fellow being, and ended his own
upon the scaffold. My Heaven
ly Father had filled my cup of
sorrow before, now it ran over.
This was trouble, ladies, such as
| hope His mercy will save you
from experiencing"
There was not dry eye a.
mong her listeners, and the
warmestsympathy was express
ed forthe bereaved mother, whose
sad history had taught them a
useful lesson Weekly Rescue.
a Il.