The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-03-05
"TBEN GRAssHOPPERS.-
rsr TALE OF CHAMPION SUFFERER

II "a n Il > >.
T9E TALE OF A CHAMPION SUFFERER
He looked into the waiting-room at
the Central Depot, saw an elderly lady
come there waiting to 90 West, and
then, after making sure that the special
policeman was not around, he entered
the room. He was a man that had
seen other days, that was plain. His
plug hat was years old. his coat shone
with age and grease, and there was no
collar on his neck. A policeman
would have mentally recorded him as
n "vsg" without moments hesitation,
and the fellow would have stood a
chance of being .rotted of to the Cen
trail Station.
My good friends" he commenced
as he approached the innocent odd
couple from Vermont; for heaven S
sake, help me little.'
''W ho are you ?'askcd the husband,
struck with the bummer's lonesome
voice and general hard look.
Names JOnes-Kansas-grasshop-
pers :" replied the man, turning away
his head IS If deeply affected.
BE you one of those poor unfortu-
mates who were almost eat up by the
grasshoppers - exclaimed the woman,
her symplthies all aroused.
''The same, ma lam, " sighed Jones ;
had to leave the State-gOing to New
iIampshire-got As far as here and
money gave out ; Heaven only knows
what will become of rs"
Are YOU married ?' she asked
Yes'um-wite and nine children !;
they're out here on the commons in a
wagon, all sick and shivering with The
cold"
I've heorn about them o;asshop-
pers; were they very thick !'' asked
the man.
"rhick ~ echoed Jones. couldn't
tel the difference 'twixt dav and night,
and the roaring OF their wings made us
deaf"
My grashus wasn't that awful, =
sighed the woman.
Il had hundred acres Of corn. Fl e V
of wheat, thirty of oats, nice meadow,
al lots Of fruit, but the grasshoppe. 5
made beggar of me in five houIs -
continued Jones.
"They eat the stuff right up, did
thcy :"
Eat. Why the farm looked as ifa
fire had passed over it They took
eyervthiE--eyen chewcl u log
chains. i timed en- on 100 rods of
fence, and every myuthful of it went
in tLirty-sereu minutes by the watch. -
Il never heard the likes - excl-im-
ed the man.
There's folks East here who don't
believe it, continued Jones: but it
Is a solemn fact that the grasShoppers
chewed up iron wedges, gnawed boards
OF n the barns, bit pIow-points all up.
and If we hadn't hid our horses in the
cellar, they'd have been munched,
sure ~
And YOU had to leave
Yes sold my land for eleven dol
lars, got my family in a wagon and
started East. Been lsO DAYS coming
this tar, and buried two children on the
way. Lor' only knows what's to be.
come of US / wish was in this river
cte tiltitf > tL-H Vt uedFt WB BlitH De
burstin' with grief md trouble!'
Poor mani" sighed the woman.
''Ebenezer, lets give him two dollars. =
Two dollars is a pile of money. .
unused the man.
But it's All awful sad case. Eben-
ezer-nuh TO tech a heart OF flint"
The Lord loveth a cheerful eiver. =
added Jones, as he dIew his sleeve
across his nose
Wall, I s'pose it's hard case, and
we won't be ans poorer for givin' Cwo
dollars, said the husband, as he puile !
out his wallet ana handed out a 81 bill.
Thanks, my kind friend, . replied
Jones =" hope you viii never see the
trouble I'm having. ThisIl bav U.
medicine and provisions, and kii dei
help us along like and feel as if
could throw my arms around We and
hug We for your kindness"
That's all right, " said the husband
''i wish it was ten" said the woman
asshe shook Jones outstretched hand
He slid out, and ten minutes alter
ward might have been seen in a saloor
pouring bad gin out of q tall decanter
and remarking to the barkeeper:
Say, old pard, was it in Virginia
or Kansas that the grasshoppers were
so thick ~