Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-05-03
A MorHER's GRIP OF AGONY

A MOTHERS Cup OF AGONY
The following story possesses a thrill.
ing moral. Let the thoughtless and
hayward children of loving and
devoted mothers read the story, and
study the moral:
A company of Southern ladies were
one day assembled in a friends parlor,
when the conversation CHANGED to
turn on earthly Affections. Each had
her story of peculiar trials and bereve-
ments to relate, except one palo, sad
looking woman, whose lusterless eyes
and detected air showed that she was
a prey to the deepest melancholy
Suddenly arousing herself she said in
hollow voice:
I "Not one of you know what trouble
is"
"Will you plea Sc, Mrs. Gray" said
kind lady who knew her story, "tell
the ladies what you call trouble 7"
81 will if you DESIRE she replied
"For | have seen it. My parents
possessed competence. and my girl
hood was surrounded by all the com
forts Of life. l seldom knew an
ungrati6ed wish, and was always gay
and light-hearted. / married, at
nintesn, one loved more than all the
world besides. Our home was retired,
but the sunlight never fel! on lOvelier
one, or on happier household
Years rolled on peacefully Five
children sat round our table, and
little curley- head still nestled in my
bosom. One nj ght, about shutdown,
one of those fierce storms, so common
in southern climates, came on. For
many hours the rain poured incessant.
~. Morning dawned still the
elements rsved. The little stream
near our dwelling became a raging
torrent. Before We were aware of it,
our house was surrounded by water.
| managed, with my little babe, to
reach little spot on which a few
wide-spreading trees were standing,
whose dense foliage afforded some
protection. while my husband and
sons strove to save what they could of
our property. At last 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-the struggle for life became
their only consideration. They were
brave, loving boys as ever blessed
mothers heart and | watched their
efforts to escape with such agony as
emily mother can feel. They were so
far off could not speak to them, but
| could see them closing with each
other, and their little island grew less
and less. The sullen river ragged
around the huge trees dead branches,
upturned trunks, wrecks of houses,
drowning cattle, and masses of rubbish
all went floating past US. My boys
waved their hands to me, and then
pointed upward. / knew it was
farewell signal, and you mothers can
not imagine my anguish. | saw them
all perish-and yet that was not
trouble. Ihugsed my little babe to
my heart, and when the water rose to
my feet climbed into the low branches
of the tree, and kept retiring before
it, till an all powerful Hand staid the
waves, that they should come no
further. All my worldly possessions
were swept aWay-all my earthly
hopes blighted-yet that was not
trouble. My babe was all I had LETT
on earth. l labored night and day
to support him aud myself, and sought
to train him in the right way; but, as
he grew older, evil companions won
him from me. He ceased to care for
his mothers counsels, he would sheer
at her entreaties and agonizing pray
ers. He left my humble roof that he
might be unrestrained in the purpsss
Of evil-aRd at last, when heated BY
wine, one night, he took the life of a
fellow being, and ended his life on the
scaffold. My Heavenly Father had
filled my cup before, but now it had
run over This was trouble ladies.
such as hope His mercy will spare
you from ever experiencing
There were no dry eyes among her
listeners, and the warmest sympathy
was expressed for the bereaved neither,
whose sad story had taught them
useful lesson.