The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-02-14
1arn', 8arns'r 5 8oHsesoID.
FEBRUARY.
THEY WENT UNpREPARED

THEY WENT UNpREPAEED
We came upon them at the close
of "a September day, five miles out
from Columbus, Nebraska, their
schooner anchored on the prairie
sea for the night and the wander
ers preparing their evening meal.
The little Arabs tossed aboutin an
extemporized hammock while father
fetched the water from the stream
and mother boiled the potatoes
and broiled the grouse shot two
hours before. Close by the horses
were eoralled. Old Towser, the
faithful watch dog during all these
long iourneyings--stretched under
the wagon waiting his finish at the
vietuals, which, however, soaring
hawk apparently belleVed Woold
fall to his lot. It was a most pic
turesque scene, as the setting sun
cast a food Of light upon all around,
and then disappeared beneath the
billowy grass, just as one sees the
bright orb drop below the ocean
waYes.-They had been travelling
all day, poor things. Man and
beast were weary ard worn. They
had been to the far West, and
were now vending their way slowly
back home east of the Mississippi,
heartsick and disappointed with
days and weeks Of travel before
them. We did not question them
too closely, bat it was plain to OBJ
serve that they belonged to that
large class who push for the far
West without sufficient forethought
and preparation. Very many reach
their destination in safety, construc:
q sod house, break few acres, and
then have not means to tide them
over until they can harvest a crop.
Others lose their crops and are un-
able to winter. Still others be-
come discouraged owing to sickness
and other causes, and are bound to
get back east again, no matter at
what sacrifice. If Shey have not
funds to carry them back by rail
they drive back, consuming weeks
and even months in making the re-
turn trip. So it transpires that at
certain seasons and in certain local
tiles in the Western States and Ter
ritories, claims and breakings can
be bought from discouraged owners
at fraction of their value. Ere
quently the disheartened settler,
after he has bnilt his house, made
his first payment, AMI broken thirty
acres or more, will ''let the whole
business slide" for enough to carry
him and his family out of the coun-
try. During the grasshopper pc
riod, and prairie roads of Kansas
and Nebraska were at times fairly
alise With returning settlers, whose
cropS had been devoured, and whose
claims were being bought at q song
by eornorant spectators or old
and new comers who had more
faith in the future of the country.
In 1855 and 7, the railroads ez-
perienced great difficulty in selling
their lands in some portions OF
Kansas and Nebraska, the aban-
doned claims were so numerous
and sold at such low figures. Of
ten the deserters after remaining
East for a yer or more, will re-
turn again, 70 find the claims which
they gave up now held by thrifty
occupants and very valuable. So
they have to push on still further
away from the railroads, where
lands are cheaper, and begin all
over again. Moral-Don't be
tempted by the alluring advertise
ments of some railroad to start for
the new West, before you are fully
equipped. And when you do start,
go expecting to encounter hard
ships, and determined to stick it out,
though grasshoppers, or short
crops, or rainy seasons, or blasting
winters are among your earlier ex-
periences. Then time will bring
you out ell right.-David. W. Judd,
IN American Agriculterist for Febra-
cry.
Frequent cultivation is good sub