The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-21
They Went Unpreparea.

We came upon them at the close OF O
September day, five miles out from Co.
lumbuo, Nebraska, their "achooner"
anchored on the prairie cen FOR the night
and ths wan6sreIs preparing she;r aveaing
meal. The little Arabs tosaed about II
an eXtemporized hammock while father
fetched tho water from the stream and
mother boiled the potatoes and broiled
the grouse obot two houru before. Oloae
by the horees were coralled. Old Tow.
ser, the faithful watch dog during ell
these long journeyipgS-stretched under
the wagon waiting his finish ct the vict-
uels, which, however, o eoaring hawk
apparently believed would fall 70 his lot.
It vas o most picturesque ncene, as the
acting aun caot food of light upon all
around, and then disappeared beneath
the billouy grass, just 90 one Goes the
bright orb drop belou the ocean waves.
They had been travelling all day, poor
things. Man and beat were weary aud
worn. They had been to the far West,
and we're now vending their way alowly
back homo East Of tie Mississippi, heart.
sick and disappointed with dayo and
weeks &C tca:ei ssfaEs .lsEs. Hs did
not question thom too closely, but it vas
plain to observe that they belong to that
large class '7ho pueh for the far West
without sufficient forethought and prop.
arstion. Very many reach their desti-
nation in uafoty, construct sod house,
break few acres, and then h'Te not
means to tide them ever unit hey can
harveat crop. Others lose their crops
and are unable to winter. Still Others
become discouraged owing to sickness
and other cnuees, and are bound 20 get
back east again, no matter at what eacri.
6ce. II they have not funds to carry
them back by rail they drive b1ck, con.
cunning weeks and even months in max.
ing the return sfiP. So 1t tfsrsP;7es that
at cartain aeasons nnd in certain iocaii-
ties in tho Western states and Territories,
claimo and breskingc can DO bought
from discouraged ounero at 0 fraction oi
their value. Frequently the dinh earteDed
eettler, sfter he has built his house, made
bis frst payment, and broken. sbirty
ecres or more, will "lot the whole busi.
meas Glide" for enough to carry him and
bic family out of the country. During
the grasshopper period, the praisio roads
Of Ksnuss and Nebraska uere at times
fairly alive with returning settlers, uhoss
cropo had been devoured, and whose
claims were being bought ct cong by
cormorant spectators or old and new
comers who had moro faith in the future
of the country.
In 1855 and 7, the railroads expert
enced great difficulty in selling theil
lsnds in some portions OF Kansas and
Nebraska, tho abandoned claims we're st
numerous and sold at ouch low figures
Often the deasrters after remaining Eas
for O year or more, will return again, tt
find the claims which they gave up nov
held by thrifty occupants and very vsiu
able. So they have to push on still fur
thef away from the railroads, where land
are cheaper, and begin all over again.
Morsl.--Don't be tempted by the allu
ring advertisements of sonle railroad u
start for the new West, before you ar
fully equipped. And whom you do start
10 expecting to encounter hardshipo1
and determined to stick 1t out, though
grasshoppers. or short crops, or rain,
soasons,, or blasting winters are amonl
your earlier experiences. Then tim
will bring you ont oil right.-DAvID W
JUDD, in american Agrieulturiss for REQ
1 a. . O.