The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-02-06
A PlTlFUL TALE,
The Champion GrnSSIIOppCr Sui
teFer. .

teFefs
From the Detroit Free Press.
He looked into tho waiting room al the
Central depot yesterday, saw nn elderly
couple there waiting 10 go West, and
then, after making sure that the special
policeman was not around, he entered the
room.
lie was man who had seen other days
that was plain.
Ills plug hat was years old, his coat
shone with age and grease, and there was
no collar On his neck. \ policeman
would have mentally recorded him .
"vag" without n moments hesitation, and
tho fellow would have stood chance Of
being trOtted to the Central station.
any good friends" he commenced as lie
approached the innocent old couple from
Vermont; "fOr heavens sake, help me Il
liulep u,
NNho are your asked the husband
struck with the bummer's lonesome voice
and general look.
dNamu's Jones Kansas - grasshop-
pers p replied the man, turning away his
head as II deeply affected.
"l}e you one Of those poor unioerl''ha'eS
who were almost eat up with by grass
hoppcrsY exclaimed The woman, her
Sympatlies all aroused.
"fhe same, madame" sighed Jones;
"had to leave the Statc--gOing to New
IIampshire-gOt AZ far Ns here and money
gave outl Heaven only knows whaPll
become Of usW
"Are YOU mNrripdY she asked.
ayes 'um-wife'n nine children; they're
out here on the commons in u wagon, all
sick and shivering with the cold y
'I've hear'n about them grasshoppers
were they very thick" asked the man.
"Thick y echoed Jones; you couldn't
tell the difference 'Lwixt day md night
and the roaring Of their wings made III
deafp .
"AIy grtishus but wasn't that awtul2'
sighed the woman.
al had hundred acres Of corn, fifty
of wheat, thirty Of Oats--nice meadow
lots of fruit, bit the grassOoppGrs made q
beggar of me in live hOnrs!" continued
Jones.
0They eat the stuff right up, did
they?" .t.
o'Eatl Why the farm looked Us II 4
fire had passed over It. They took every
thing-even Chewc,l up log chuins.
timed EN- oil one hundred rod, OF fence
and every mouthiul Of II went in thirty
seven minutes by the watch"
"Ineyer heard Of the like +" exclaimed
the man, -,
"Theres folks east here who don't be-
lieve it, continued Jones; shut it's
solemn fact that the grasshOppers Ghewet
up iron wedges, gnawcd the boards our
abarn, Bit plow-points all up, and 7 W
hadn't hid our horses in the cellar theyt
have been munChed, sure "
"Anl you had to leavc|
ayes, sold my land for $ll, got my
family into the wagon, and started Gust
ben one hundred and eighty lays coming
this far, and buried two children Oh thu
way. Lor' only knows what's 10 become
of usl | wish | was in the river ou
there; then my heart wouldn't be Dustin
with grief and trOnblep ,
"P6or man ~ sighed the woman. "Ebeh
czer, let's give him two dollars
"Two dollars is Il pile Of money
unused the old man.
"Butsits an awful sad case, Ebenczer
huff to tech heart Of flint" ,l /,
'"rhe Lord lovcth II cheerful giver,'
added Jones, rs 10 drew his sleeve across
his nose.
avail, | s'pose ita hard case, and We
won't be any poorer for givin' two dol
lars" said the husband, as he pulled oil
his wallet and handed out u 50 bill.
~rhanks, my kind friend" replied
Jones; n hope you will never see tht
trouble am having. This,ll buy medi
cine and provisions, and kinder help us
along like, and | feel rs u cou ID throw
my arms around ye and hug ye for yolll
Kindness"
"rlats all right" said the husband.
n wish IL was ten" said the woman, NJ
she shook Jones oulstretched hand.
He slid out, and ten minutes alter
ward might yaye been seen In a From
street saloon, pouring Ind gin ont Of
tall tlecanter, and remarklng to the D0r
keeper: u,...
0Say, old psrd, was II in Virginia o
Kansas that the graSshOppers was II
thick