Middletown transcript., 1895-04-20
SITUATION IN NEBRASKA.

uiScOuraged Contributions, and Stl
more unfortunate that the lack {
business management, in the distribl
ion at Lincoln, has discourage pee
: pie in the East, in theil efforts to shi
supplies. But the people of Wester
Nebraska ought not to be left to sui
@ fer. And there are ways in whic
different localities can lie helped b
direct shipments.
: The long dreary winter of sufferin
has passed, and the coming of sprin
has brought the helpless condition O
the afflicted people more sorely to light
net one farmer in ten in Holt or Boy,
) counties, has feed and provisions, O
money to buy it with.
To-Day it is estimated, officially, tha
there are three hundred thousand peo
pie that stand iii need of bread, aH'
over half million that will have to b
helped until the harvest of '95. Th
state commission, is unable TO suppl,
| feed and provisions for our relief, ant
hundreds are thrown upon the mercie
of charity.
| With hot and dry winds, we have
had partial failure for the past three
years in this section, and last year al
might be said total drouth.
Our business men have credited anC
given until they are no longer able te
do so. The farmers have divided with
each other to keep the wolf from the
door, until hundreds and hundreds have
drifted together, to destitution, dis.
tress and suffering.
While I sit and think of the good
work that can be done, my heart goes
out to the poor. hungry and cold, who
are, as might be said, fighting against
fate. 1 would have you, who have
plenty of this worlds goods, with COM
Portable homes and overfowiDg gar
ners, to step along with me and visit
the drouth stricken sufferers.
We move on to the next and find a
once sturdy farmer and family, who
settled in this county two years ago,
has raised no crop owing to drouth, and
his all has vanished some time ago in
support of his family. He tells of his
labors and struggles with many tear,
of the dark prospects ahead, with not a
penny or a grain of seed. We step into
his dwelling and find the wife sitting
by smouldering fire of wet "cow
chips" with sick and starving child
in her arms, and another on the bed un-
able to rise from the ravages of hunger.
The poor mother worn out with grief
and care for her children, looks ready
for the grave, the only nourishment
for days has been pounded rye made
into soup, and eaten without salt.
Who can imagine the poor mothers
thoughts and sufferings, as she holds
her starving child to her breast day after
day, expecting each moment to be its
last, sick, faint, ard worn out herself
with the keen pangs of hunger, gnaw-
ing at her life strings, is it not miracle
she escaped becoming a raving maniac?
Never in the history of our beautiful
country has poverty been so broadcast
and terrible. Starvation roams at
sweet will in land of plenty, moving
down strong men, true woman, and
frail children. 1t is true that many of
our fellow-countrymen have come
nobly to the front with willing hands
and open pocketbooks. Yet still the |
cry goes up to God, "Give US bread or
else we die."
The calls for provision, are too
great for our supplies. Despairing
parents, look upon their last mite of
flour, then the pinched and wan faces
of their children, and lift their tea:
wet faces toward heaven, in heart rend-
ing, applications to God; fol the We
fare of their helpless ones.
AS the season advances the change
able weather of spring, and the long
continued use of food, without veget-
sbles, fruit, or meat, IS causing an
alarming amount of sickness; which
needs medicine, proper nourishment
md care, also fuel to keep th m warm.
In their utter destitution and depen-
ience, well might they exclaim, SO,
1odl why hast thou forsaken u.s."
Cruel starvation. GAS the messenger
If death" stands in the midst of many
sadly afflicted home. Yet the land a.
Boomer" and the selfish and un- ,
"Shylock" are proclaiming 8
through the press, that there is no ,
estitution; and the people have plenty !
n Nebraska.
The frequent, and urgent calls from g
he sick, bring many heart ache, for Z
We have not the money to properly pro- r
ide and care for them. Could you
tand with me and hear their pleading
oices, it would fill your heart to over t
owing with sadness. b
Our needs are many, "and will q
ontinue until harvest;" such as n
eed, clothing, boots, shoes, and pro- :
isions. Contributions of the neces-
aries of life, and means of caring for
le sick and suffering; are urgently n
eeded at once.
Will you in your homes of health and
enty; Gas you think of the future of u
our loved ones;" help us in this noble q
'ork, of relieving the distress and y
lfferings, of our many destitute and II
eedy people.
Aid us to care for the.sick and feeble; :,