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[[end of previous sentence]]ress.  There are instances with farmers in which debt can hardly be avoided, as was the case here in 1856 and 1857; the grasshoppers destroyed our crops two years in succession, and many had given credit to those who became involved at the time of the financial crash; the latter might perhaps have been avoided by judgment, and perhaps a better knowledge of natural history and science may have aided in providing against the ravages of the grasshoppers.  One fact I noticed, although they ate the bark from the saplings, and consumed our corn, tobacco, etc., ate holes in clothes hanging out to dry, destroyed boots and shoes when they lit on them in the house, yet peas they avoided, and it was an odd sight to see the field completely stripped, even of the weeds, and the pea patch left undisturbed. There was no turning to the right or left with them, they went hopping on to the tune of John Brown, and they may be hopping yet for aught I know.  I only hope they will never come here again.  Many resolved then to keep two years supply of produce on hand afterwards, but I fear most of us have forgotten the good resolution made in time of distress, as is often the case.     O.H. Kelley.
  Anoka Co., Minnesota, June 28, 1862

[[Hand written in Margin:]] N. Y. Country - Gentleman
July 31. 1862