, 1875-07-25
OLD UNCLE BILLY.
4 man Who Had Seen Trouble,

/ Cincinnati Saturday Wight
We found HIM sitting Oh the post-O Of6ce 6tepaL
His clothes wero old aud we'll worn; his straw
hat looked Like it had seen many summers his
boots we're out At the toes, and everything went
to show that time had been hs enemy.
We approached him gently, and laid our hands
on the old mans shoulder and SAID
"Old man, why those tears :"
Re looked up au5piclousty ut uA, draw up hm
leg. brushed OF the mud. and naid, in voice
eloquent with emotion:
choppers -
We knew at once that ho had been = victim OF
the g1asshoppers, and p1tied him from the
bottom OF our heart In hours az suffering the
soothing voice or the graceful touch OF wonanly
hands will do more toward 2lieyitting the misery
Of a poor, sogrow-stricken heart or heaxt
bowed down With trouble than the most feeling
expression OF which awkward, uncouth man ia
capable in his most sympathizing n1ooda Bat
there was no female there, 80 VIC did the best Ne
could, aud invited the old man homo to dinner.
II don't know what put it into your hesrt to
be so kind to me-" sopbed tho poor old man.
"Old Uncle Billy isn't used to it," and he
wiped the tears from bis eyes as he walked along
the street.
There Was SILENCE for moaant or two, and
then he heaved deep Sigh, pulled his hat down
over his eyes. and the silence was broken BY him
saving:
+" Would were in the grave. I've nothing IA
live for now."
wife and children desd?"
'tYa-yaas," !" he gaspeL "An gone."
How did it happen ?" ve inquired, ~ ws
flied up his plate for the thirteenth time.
And then Uncie Billy told his story-hov he
came from Nebraska, aud how he had bean eaten
out by the grasshoppers, and how be had seen
his wife waste away day by day, for the want OF
sufficient food until ha finally had the ruel4n-
choly pleasure OF attending her funeral, and
how the g1aashoppe:s stopped the funeral pro-
ceasion, broke open the ccnin, ate up his wifes
rena1na, and chased him across q forty-acre lot
by ah1niny, ish dot so?" pped in the hired
Yes. Ell; thas'a as sure as God made htsls
apples"
He went on:
s.Matte1s became worse and worse, until ons
day the hoppers tackled my two youngest chill
dren, ste them right up before my eyes, and so
weak from the want Of food ~ to be unable to
Lift my hand to sase them !"
'Ihnfs terrible :" We said.
~ should say it was J" and Uncle Billy bowed
his attenuated form, mud shed the bitter blind
ing tears OF q strong man in agony.
We all Joined in the sorrowtul wall, which
went up from eympathizing hearts. and We lad
general net time all around But team reiey-
ed the soul, and after the poor old man had wept
awhile and eaten considerable he felt better, and
had us go up into the hot gazret and hunt
around about three-Quarte1a Of an hour, amid tho
dust and cobWebs, for the sickle which ne Ea
1nembered putting up there last summer, and
then he went out into the front yard and CON-
menced cutting grass, to show how gratatn be
was for the kindness rendered.
not that time- No, the miserable galoot went
on down town With the sickle to get it sharpen
ed, he said, and on his way down stopped into
the pawnbroker's and made raise OF rs cents,
aud in less than ton minutes was DOM On
the legee as drunk IS lord.