The Press., 1895-03-21

A few weeks ago Stafford Grange senttwo barrels of clothing to the drought stricken sufferers of Kansas. A short time ago letters were received acknowl- edging the receipt of the clothing. One from the secretary of the Colby relief committee reads
 "A barrel of clothing and letter was re- ceived by us in a carload of clothing and provisions sent to us by the Christian Herald. We do not know who the recip- ients were that received your donation, but we do know that the needy received them, and they gladdened the hearts of many families. The clothing did not quite reach around, so there are 8 number of families who still need clothing. We furnished from 630 to $50 families with the carload of goods. A committee was appointed by the several churches to look after the needy of our county. This con- mittee were assisted by number of our christian ladies in distributing these goods. We can assure you that these goods reach ed the place where they did an immense amount of good. We thank you all very kindly for your generous and timely do- nation. May God bless you all.
 Yours truly, c. B. DAKIN,
 Sec. Colby Relief Com.
 Another letter from a teacher and farmers wife in Athena, Kansas:
 Dear Friends of Stafford II call you friends, for your kind deed gives you right to the name. I am the wife of farmer, and have taught the school this winter in country district, and know the needs of the people and what good was done with the clothing sent. It was need ed, and was gratefully accepted. It is hard work to build state under the best of conditions, but when the crops fail two years in succession the suffering is greatly increased. I must tell you that the fail ure was entiEes My husband had to face 2 an cuTnsCribs granary, barn and cellar. nothing but q handful you may of corn fodder to ksep his stock and 1anl11Y TOT Q yesll Y sSN2ssla mt lrann otlr kens 0r pigs, for e had nothing to iced them, and could scafeely sell them for a song, for we are too far from mark et, and no one around us had any money to buy. It is hard for farmers to go with just enough to keep soul and body to- gether, when by their work they feed the world. I have known of families that could not afford bit of meat or meal of potatoes this winter have had chill dren come to school day after day with bread and grease upon it, and many days not even that. The clothing sent helped us to get through hard winter, but we are in awful straits yet. It is feed for our horses, so they can soon begin spring work and seed grain. There have been plans talked of for helping us to.feed and seed, but our stock will starve and grain grow and be harvested before the plans go into effect. No wonder farmers and their wives furnish the greater amount of the inmates of the asyIums. The farmers were the last ones to accept the aid brought by kind friends, and great many of them could not humble themselves to go and sign their names for the clothing they were suffering for. Farmers are too self-respe pecting to become like beggars, even if they were needy. I have distrib- uted some clothing privately, and that they accepted gladly and were very grate- ful for, as their tears proved. I could dispose of more among good respectable farmers families, for I know them, and am one of. them. Give our thanks to all who so kindly helped us in our deep dis sress, and we pray you may never know what it means to have two crop failures In succession. Gratefully yours,
 MRS. F. J. BOSE.