Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-26
The Champion sra..hOpper sufferer.

lie looked upon the waiting room at the
Central depot yesterday, saw an elderly
couple there waiting to go west, and then
after making sure that the special policeman
was not around he entered the room. He
was man who had seen other days; that
was plain. HIS plug hat was years old, his
coat shonc with age and grease, and there
was no collar on his neck. A policeman
would have mentally recorded hin as "vae"
without moments hesitation, aud the fellow
would have stood chance of being trottod
to the central station.
"Ay good friends" he commenced as he
approached the innocent old couple from
Vermont "for heavens sake help me lit
tie"
"Who are you 2" asked the husband,
struck with the bummer's lonesome voice and
general hard look.
Names neutrality-suspicious. ~
replied the man turning away his head as if
deeply affected.
"Be you one of those poor unfortunates
who were almost cat up By the grasshop-
pers ?" exclaimed the woman, her sympa-
thies all aroused.
"The same, madam sighed Jones chad
to leave the state-going to New Hampshire
got as far as here and money played cut
Heaven only knows what'll become Of u.s."
"Are you married r. she asked.
"Yes'um--wife'n niuo children they arc
out here on the common 10 . wagon, all sick
and shivering with the cold ~
"I've heard about them grasshoppers !;
khax kks.l Il
"Thick !" echoed Jones. "you couldn't tell
the difference 'twixt day and night, and the
roaring Of their wings made us deaf"
"My grashus! but wasn't that awful :"
sighed the woman.
81 had hundred acres Of corn, fifty Of
wheat, thirty Of Oats-nice meadow--ots OF
fruit but the grasshoppers made boggar OF
me in five hours !" continued Jones.
They eat the stuff right up, did they :"
There's folks east here who don't believe
it," continued Jones, "but it is q solemn fact
that the grasshoppers chewed up iron wedges,
gnawed the boards of'n the barns, bit pillow
points all up, and if We hadn't hid our horses
in the cellar, they'd have been munehed
sure :"
"And you had to leave?"
"Yes, sold my land for eleven dollars, got
my family into the wagon aud started east.
Ben one hundred and eighty days coming
this far, and buried two children on the way.
Lor' only knows what's to become Of us |
wish was in the river out there then my
heart wouldn't be burstin' with grief aud
trouble!"
Poor man !" sighed the woman. "Ebe.
nezer, let's give him two dollars"
1.-TWO dollars is pile Of money" unused
the man.
"But it's an awful sad case, Ebenezer-
nuff to touch the heart Of flint"
THE Lord loveth cheerful giver," ad.
ded Jones as he drew his sleeve across his
nose.
"Wall s'pose its hard case, and we
won't be any poorer for givin' two dollars"
said the husband as he pulled out his wallet
and handed out two dollar bill.
Thanks, my kind friend" replied Jones,
al hope you will never see the trouble I'm
having. This'll buy medicine and provis.
ions and kinder help us along like, and |
feel as if l could throw my arms around ye
and hug ye for your kindness"
That's all right" said the husband.
81 wish it was ten" added the woman, as
she shook Jones's outstretched hand.
lie slid out and in ten minutes afterward
might have been seen in a Front street sa.
loon pouring bad gin out Of tall decanter
and remarkine to the barkeeper
Say, old pard, was it in Virginia or
Kansas that the grasshOppers was so
thick2 ?"