Year: 1873


myriads Of grasshoppers came down from Dakota!
They came


Aswhen the potent rod OF Amrai1's son


In Egypt's evil DAY y norose


o'er the land Of impious Pharaoh,


All the land OF Nile.


They fell upon the waving fields and continue2
their march OF devastation until they had destroyed
the beauteous grain and blighted the hopes Of the
expectant farmers. The poor people thus sOrelM
stricken knew that desolation and death must fol3
low, and such as could command the means gathS
cred their little families about them, and In mOra
prosperous country


SOUGHT NEW HOMES.


But hundreds OF families were haunted BY
present poverty, which rooted them to their
bghted fields and compelled them to endure all the
mseries OF the situation. Hay was growing everyY
where upon the prarles and men set about gather
Ing il in for the sustenance OF such live stock as
they possessed The sharper heard OF their disj
tress. and, coming like a carron crow to the feld
of death, ne bartered with the suffering larmeri
for what cattle he had 10 sell, always driving q
bargain which was ever upon his side The
fuel was upon coal, which the poor families cOuid3
not purchase because they had no money TO pay,
ior H. Mnen M sne rnir cni nds @ intes
menced to blow across the barren prairies they res
sorted to the use OF twisted grass and weedS
In lieu Of more substantial fuel, burning as much
as would barely answer to put warmth into their;
shivering bodies Anticipating the necessity 0a
providing sustenance OF some kind, the men WENT
to the lakes and streams and caught abundance on
fish, but they spoiled 3 upon taes IL hands oecans
serve them against decay.


FEVER AND FAMINE.


As thicker, thicker, thicker grew the ice on lakes
and river; as nearer, nearer nearer, with relent-
less march gaunt famine ncared the homes OF thas
unhappy farmers. they unyoked the patient OK!
from the plough, brought the idle draught horse
from the field and slaughtered them to feed their
families. That ever-present companion OF hunger
and 1t Is now not an uncommon thing to hn6
every member but one Of q wretched house1
nota NOT Hopeless Sah. 0u against n fsSea ever
and famine. Now it is a devoted mother, who
bends ali her weak energies to the care OF sick and
dying children, to q desperate and despondln&
husband. Again, it will be found that Of the house,
hold single child ministers to the wants OF both
parents. Zone touch OF nature makes the whoei
world kim" The sufferngs which the settlers havoa
borne in common have created feeling or f0r-'
to aid those who are past the physical ability Of
aiding themselves Some heartrending instances
OF suffering have been brought to my attention.
Several mothers have lain down in poverty and
hunger upon the bed whereon their offspring
would find entrance into the world. They have
ones; they have clasped them to their bOsOms, and
have found that the maternal font at which they
lheir awfnl sorrow and have been buried with the
babes which were born but to starve.


FEEDING THE SICK.


In some districts the young men who possessed
powder and shot have taken their guns out upon
the pralries and have managed to kill sufficient
amount OF game to furnish sustenanCe to the SICK.
Those who are well are not permitted to enjoy such
luxury as game, but must thrive as best they may
upon roots and cOrn-for some corn escaped the
fate OF the small grain.


AN APPEAL FOR AID.


l have not 0verdrawn the picture Ny state.
ments are fully borne out in the call for assistance
which has just been issued. Read this extract
from appeal printed in the Register of this city,
and signed by a number of the respectable citizens
OF Osceola county


The most of the settlers came here last spring with
little no means and depending entirely upon their
efforts during the summer 10 carry them through tho
winter; honestly and faithfully have they toled. A
very large amount of ground and planted in
the sprngmore than sufficient to raise subsistence for
all Tor the coming winter If 1t had not been for
uemely wet backward spring and the invasion OF
failure OF and small crops that they
find themselves on the eve Of a long, cold winter.
plaincst kind and without means to purchase fuel
10 protect themselves and families during the
coming winter. There are. hundreds of families
where the bread that they will eat ten days hence
coming from their fuel These same people, relying
on their crops to them through the winter have
OF of the prairie have been turned ready
crop next spring. Now. therefore, be known TO tho
people OF the state of Iowa that without liberal assist
of this county will be without the ncccssares to
sustain lilc and also fuel keep them from frecxng.
and unless from seed Is furnished to these
acres tat are ready will have 70 lie lido inc COM
ing season.


And now let me add that the feeling OF hD-
manity which is inherent In the heart mas peeh
stirred by this appeal, and that iowa Is PusninE
relief and aid into the stricken district, 80 that
there is every hope that the sunerings OF the pco
pie will be mltgated that they VIII pass through
the winter In safety.