The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-03-03
THE JERKY BIRD.

CHEYENNE, March LIST, 1877.

Yesterday, as 1 was taking my accus-
toned walk out on the plains, 1 was
surprised at seeing numerous young
grasshoppers nimbly moving over the
ground; a 1 continued my stroll, 1 be-
came convinced that, from all direc-
tions, they were moving toward a COM
mon centre. 1 followed, and soon
came upon a vast concourse assembled
on and around a broad, low knoll.
They were not huddled together pro-
miscuously, but gathered in anxious
groups around a few Of the larger
ones, who seemed to be in earnest de-
bate. On top Of the knoll, in a space
which seemed to be kept purposely
clear, were quite a number engaged in
certain manGuvres, the object of which
I was anxious to discover.
Five or six distinct groups were each
working as follows: One hopper, back
ing away from al upright spear of
grass, brought his eye, the top Of the
blade, and the sun in a line; then an
other, with measured tread, stepped
from him to the base of the blade,
while another climbed with measured
II should, probably, say measuring)
steps to the top. The PAGERS of each
set then repaired to their respective
groups, which, evidently, took their
reports into serious consideration. The
different groups then came together,
and after a few minutes deliberation,
appeared to arrive at some definite con.
clusion, for there was quickly circu.
lated through the large assembly some
reports which caused q great commo-
ton, and a sharp Though plaintive wall
arose from the mass
You may be sure 1 was greatly as
tonished, though prepared by past ex-
perience to believe almost anything of
them. 1 pondered awhile, and then
it broke through my thick skull that
they were a~scertaining the d~eclension
of the sun lit being on the meridian,
as it was then noon), to determine the
season of the year. This conclusion I
Don learned was the correct one, for
soon, my presence being observed they
were previously too much engaged with
their own affairs to notice me), l saw a
hurried consultation, and then one
hopper, separating himself from the
principal group, and approaching me,
said politely, though in a tremulous,
anxious voice:
Kind sir, will you please tell me
what the Indications are for the
coming month";"
Surprise for a moment scattered my
senses and silenced my tongue. At
last, comprehending the situation, l
answered, modulating my voice to its
most sympathetic ones:
1t is my firm belief that in March
we shall have a decided spell of
weather."
My answer seemed to crush him to
the ground-crushed him as all the de-
vices of the Governors could not.
I used all the consoling expressions 1
could think Of. These gave him some
relief. He hoped a little nearer and
said, in an apologize tone:
"You see, we were beguiled by the
warm, sunny smiles Of February to
leave our snug homes, where we
might have defied the cold and storms
of snow and hail, until man had sown
that we might reap. Alas! we may
never return to them again o. would
we could return till May"
1 thought 1 felt a sadness for their
condition creeping over me II after
wards discovered that it was nearly a
hundred hoppers after my flannel I'M
derwearl, and said:
81 hope kind Nature will do some
thing for you"
81 hop So" he replied in a broken
voice as he returned to his companions,
who were anxiously waiting his tidings,
which, when heard, seemed to dis
hearien them entirely, for they broke
into a loud wall. Some began 20 draw
their serrated legs acros the tough
dried spears of grass, producing a dull,
rasping sound, which was skillfully
made to harmonic with their voices as
they all broke forth:
o, naughty weather, to deceive US,
To bring us out. and then to leave US,
Young and tender, starving fast
To the noIther's chilling blast.
Woe! woe! woe! We young hoppers,
VIII sell ourselves for five old coppers;
We're done for, sure; tits useless crying,
Cold storms will come, and Wen be dying.
Woe! Woe! Woe! We prematurely
We're brought into the world, and surely
We will die! Then will mems hoppsrs groan
vi. h that which should have been our oun-
Woe! Woe! Woe!-
But I could stand no more, and say
ing sadly, Poor things; Poor things;
But 1 must leave" 1 turned away.
They became suddenly animated, and
swarmed after me with eager eyes, but
as 1 kept on my way, my action inter-