Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-09
Terrible erasshOpper suRerings.


We copy from the Omaha Herald the fol-
lowing graphic description of individual
suffering, resulting from the -grasshopper
plague. We most sincerely hope that this
is an isolated case, and that our readers
may not be oflcn put TO the test of sym
pathetic endurance which this relation de-
mands -
"He was from the lower Platte valley,
he had eaten nothing but grasshoppers since
the 4th of July, 1874, and his stomach was
in an awful condition-it was full of grass
hoppers He could feel them jumping about
and trying to find their way ont, but their
toe-nails scratched his alimentary canal, and
spasmodIc movement of the muscles of
his thorax forced them back into the cavity
before they reached the root of his tongue.
lie had left wife and nine famished chill
dren and had gone to Omaha to collect funds
and save his neighbors from starvation. lie
had not been suceesslul-perhaps because
his Credentials were not strong enough.
And now, if the barkeepcr would aecommo-
date him with spoonful of wlIisky-it was
the only thing that would keep the grass
hoppers quiet in his stomach; it kinder stu
pelied then and caused them to be dormant
for several hours, but as soon rs they sobered
up they became as lively rs crickets, and
played leapfrog in the pit Of his stomach.
He had killed good many of them with
whisky, but their eggs were all the time
Matching, and he believed there were at
least ten thousand live ones occupying the
space designated by nature for the laborato-
ry of bread and meat and such things. He
had no money, but if the barkoeper would
trust him for few drops of crowfoot, he
would remunerate him out of the first col
lections for the sufferers. BY adding a little
peppermint and few grains of sugar to the
liquor, the medicine would be made more
potent; or If there was no peppermint con-
venient, drop Of ginger would do rs well,
The barkeeper deeply sympathized with
the grasshopper stricken people of Nebraska.
He pitied any man who had grasshoppers in
his stomach. If whisky, and peppermint,
and ginger, or anything else his bar afforded.
would relieve him, he was welcome to par
take. He could not accept thanks for so
small a favor; was only sorry he didn't have
whisky and peppermint enough to destroy all
the grasshoppers in Nebraska.
The harkecper poured two tablespoonlnls
of the essence Of Jamaica ginger into tum-
bier ,added an equal quantity ofpepper-sauce,
shook in thimblelul Of Cayenne pepper,
emptied small vial of suphuric acid on
top, and then sprinkled few props of tan
glefoot over the mixture, and handing the
tumbler to the Nebraskian, told him to
swallow 1t quick" The grasshoPPer-
tation, but poured the decoction down his
throat ut one fell swallow.
GLOW do you like itP" asked the barkeep.
The grasshoppered individual made no re-
ply. HIS eyes rolled IN their sockets, and
the tears ran out of them in streams His
barkeeper and all his decanters He placed
both hands over his stomach and cast an inn
ploring glance at the water pitcher.
'Do you feel 'em crawl3" said tho bar
keeper in the anxious tone OF II sick horse.
The stranger made no reply, but continued
to press his stomach and water the hoor with
his tears.
Take some Of this horsO-radish," said the
barkeeper. lit will do you good"
The stranger still made no reply, hui
gradually his mouth grew smaller, and his
lips contracted, and the air rushed into his
throat with whistling sound, like the win
ter wind through II broken window pane
At length the barkeeper took compassion
upon his writhing customer and gave him Il
glass OF ice water to cool his throat. When
Tie stranger WAS athletic speak he looked re.
proachiully ut the "medicine man. and
said;
"See here stranger, If that's the kind Of
stuff you give u man for grasshoppers, I'd
like TO know what in hi you'd give a fellel
II he had u tape worm.n