What see I yonder rise
There in the northern skies,
Like a tall oak?
Say, are they clouds of blue
That to the south pursue,
Or is it smoke?
See, see how it doth fly,
Soon 'twill o'er spread the sky
Like a dark pall.
That is no smoke, nor clouds,
But grasshoppers in crowds,
Down, down, they fall.
Numerous like the dust,
Come the 'hoppers or locust,
They fill the air.
The corn that looks so green,
Will soon no more be seen,
All will be bare.
Then will the harvest field
Naught to the farmer yield,
If they abide.
But on the coming day
They very likely may
Float with the tide.
A visit brief they made
With us three days they stayed,
Then went away.
Onward on their courses bent,
Straight to the south they went,
On the third day.
Great was the damage done
But helped by the shining sun,
And a few rains,
Plenty of corn and wheat
For man and beast to eat,
There still remains.
If they do not appear
Upon another year
Our crops to spoil,
Then will the people see
What splendid crops that we
Raise on our soil.
For tis not alone for health
But tis the place for wealth--
In the far west.
Of all the countries wide
Around on every side,
It is the best.