Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-18
Anmoruns department.
THE GRASSHOPPER SUFFERER.

He looked into the waitinp.room at the
Central depot the other day, saw an elderly
couple there waiting to 60 west and then after
making sure that the special policeman was not
around, he entered the room. He was a man
who 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 men,
tally recorded him as a "vag" without mo.
ments hesitation, and the fellow would have
stood chance of being trotted to the central
station.
"My good friends" he commenced as he
approached the innocent old couple from
Vermont; "for heavens sake help me lit
tlep
"Who are you ?" asked the husband, struck
with the bummer's lonesome voice and gene
raj hard look.
"Name's neutrality-suspicious. p
replied the man turning away his head as if
deeply affected.
"Be you one of those poor unfortunates who
were almost eat up by the grasshoppers ?' ex.
claimed 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 I! Hea-
ven only knows what'll become of u.s.
"Are you married ?" she asked.
eyes 'um-wife'n n nine children ; they re out
here on the commons in a wagon, all sick and
shivering with the cold p
"Ive heard about them grasshoppers were
they very thck?' asked the man.
"Thick !" echoed Jones, "you couldn't tell
fho lot 10 - ~
roaring of their wings made US deaf?"
my grashus but wasn't that awful p said
the woman.
81 had hundred acres of corn, fifty of
wheat, thirty of ofoats-nice meadow-lots of
fruit, but the grasshoppers made beggar of
me in five hours T' continued Jones.
"They eat the stuff right up, did they?"
"Eat! Why the farm looked as if fire
had passed over it They took everything
even chewed up log chains. I timed 'em on
100 rods of fence, and every mouthfull of it
went in thirty seven minutes, by the watch." "
81 never heard of the likes p exclaimed
the man.
"There's folks east here who don't believe
it," continued Jones "but it is solemn fact
that the grasshoppers chewed up iron wedges,
points all up, and if we hadn't hid our horses
in the cellar, they'd have been munched,
sure p
"And you had to leave?"
eyes; ; sold my land for eleven dollars, got
my family into the wagon and started east.
Been 1870 days coming this far, and buried
two children on the way. Lor' only knows
what's to become of US wish I was in the
river out there; then my heart wouldn't be
burstin' with grief and trouble!"
"Poor man ?' sighed the woman. "Ebene-
zer, let's give him two dollars"
1.-TWO dollars isa pile of money" unused the
man.
"But it's an awful sad case, Ebenezer-nuff
to tech heart of flint
"The Lord loveth cheerful giver," added
Jones as he drew his sleeve across his nose.
"Wall, s'pose it's a 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 50 BILL
Thanks, my kind friends" replied Jones
81 hope you will never see the trouble I'm
having. This'll buy medicine and provisions,
and kinder help US along like, and feel as if
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 outstretched hand
He slid out, and ten minutes afterward
might have been seen in Front street saloon
pouring bad gin out of tall decanter and re-
marking to the bar keeper:
"Say, old pard, was it in Virginia or Kan
sas that the grasshoppers was so thick ?"