The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-02-24
..Thcm arasshOppers.''
THE TALE OF A CHAMPION SUFFERER.

THE TALE OF A CHAMPION SUFFERER.
He looked into the whiting-room
at the Central Depot, saw an elderly
lady come there waiting to go 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 re-
corded him as a "vag" without a
moments hesitation, and the fellow
would have stood a chance of being
trotted off to the Central Station.
my good friends, "he commenced,
as be approached the innocent old
couple from Vermont; "for heavens
sake, help me a little ~
"Who are your asked the hns-
band, struck with the bummer's lone
some voice and general hard look.
Names Jones-Kansas-grass-
hoppers replied the man, turning
away his head as if deeply affected.
"Be you one of those poor unfor-
tunates who were almost eat up by
the grasspoppers ?" exclaimed the
woman, her sympathies.all aroused.
"The same, madam, . sighed Jones
chad to leave the State-going to
New Hampshire-got as far as here
and money gave out; Heaven only
knows what will become of us"
"Are you married ?" she asked.
"Yes'um-wife'n nine children ;
they're out here on the commons in a
wagon, all sick and shivering with
the cold.n
"I'Ve hearn about them grasshop-
pers; were they very thick ?" asked
the man.
"Thickln echoed Jones, couldn't
tell the difference 'twixt day and
night, and the roaring of their wings
made US deaf"
"My grashus wasn't that awful,
sighed the woman.
al had hundred acres of corn,
fifty of wheat, thirty of oats, nice
meadow-lots of fruit, but the grass
hoppe.s made beggar of me in FIVE
hours |" continued Jones.
"They eat the stuff right up, did
theyIn
"Eatl Why the farm looked az il
fire had passed over it! They tool
everything even chewed up log
chains. | timed 'em on ZOE rods o
fence, and every mouthful of it went
in thirty-seven minutes by the
watch"
81 never heard the likes p exclaim
ed the maR.
There's folks East here who dom
believe it." continued Jones ''but j
is a solemn fact that the grasshop
pers chewed up iron wedges, gnawet
boards off'n the barns, bit plow
points all up, and if we hadn't hit
our horses in the cellar, they'd have
been munched, suren
"And you had to leave"
"Yes; sold my land for eleven dol
lars, got my family in a wagon an(
started East. Been $50 days coming
this far, and buried two children OF
the way. Lor' only knows what
to become of US l wish | was il
this river out there then my hear
wouldn't be burstin' with grief anC
trouble!''
"Poor mani" sighed the woman
"Ebenezer, let's give him two dol
lars.n
1.-TWO dollars is a pile of money
mused the man.
"Rut it's az awful sad case, Ebel
ezer-nuffto tech a heart of flint"
"The Lord loveth cheerful giver,
added Jones, as he drew his sleev,
across his nose.
"Wall, | s'pose it's a hard case
and we won't be any poorer for CIV
in two dollars" said the husband
as he pulled out his wallet and'hand
ed out 50 bill.
Thanks, my kind FRIEND" reptile,
Jones. 81 hope you will never Sc
the trouble Im having This'll bu,
US medicine and provisions, an,
kinder help US along like; and | fee
as is could throw my arms aroun'
We aud hug We for your Kindness"
That's ell right" said the bus
j band.
Il wish it was ten,n said the VIC
man, as she shook Jones' outstretct
ed hand.
He slid out, ard ten miButes after
ward mighs have seen in a ss
loon pouring bad gin out of a ia
decanter, and remarking to the bal
keeper:
Say, old pard, was it in Virgini
or Kansas that the grasshoppers wa