South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1853-05-20
TuE sTRAWpRnsY HoS-


The following simptf and uuvatI,ishrd
story is strictly true. ~ .giyr4 as a
horticultur al item, t0{llus 4. sthr pro-
grsss in early life, or sfSuA &Yprti cultu-
ra!isi, in that branch oldnduA e.
Fourteen years ago M Ma ;Sltur-
day at noon, a boy calIedat t,ie!ling
house, TO sell Strawberries. Mas oi
slender icrm,, apparently saboA s4Eteen
years oC age, with o brigt,tand2 lpS Nigen,
coun,rnancc. The fruit t&as taatifui
and tempting, but had bought tSdlgii al
market in the morning for dinaes ;,ii jar tp1l
tea. and refused to purchase III
observed that Hls, ,.straWbs, s,,TieLs iia.s
'I'srn picked iroh. tas ,inciS$aYa enid
keep for Sunday. My wife, ATT snuch
pleased with his gentle and pieasit snan-
ners, and decided at once 10 putclair, and
to engage daily supply from hiuEfer tn.
season. Upon inquiry we learnh that,
with his father and a young brother, he
cultivated vegetables and fruit to ssl q the
Cincinnati market on small piace nsar
Newport, Kentucky that he had : taste
for horticulture aud for books, andilat no
effort was spared to improve his sk,,pwl-
edge in both. In summer he cultivated
the soil, in winter the mind. KS
For three years we were regularly tup-
piled by this boy, from the earliest 10 th..
latest period Of the season, with strawaer-
ries freshly gathered, Of fine quality, and
at moderate prices then with raspbeIfics
in succession.
The fourth year we. missed him on his
accustomed round, and feared that we
should see him no more. My wifi felt
disappointed, and grieved good deal, a.
bout it, n
He was SO intelligent and obligilg, SO
gentle and engaging in his manners that
she had taken great fancy to him. Be-
sides all this where could we supply our
table with such fine Strawberries, brougat
daily 10 the house? Various inquiries
were made, but nothing could be heard qf
him. She only knew his christian aama;
the other, If she ever had heard it, hai rs-
capped her memory. She recoilected 10
have observed an occasional hectic flush d,
his cheek, and feared that the fell destret
'r, consumption, had marked him for. lis
own. Poor boy, said she, we shall MEYER
see him again; he has run his race, and
will soon be forgotten.
Years had passed away, and We had
ceased 10 speak Of him, when one day a
young man Of genteel appearance called
at my store. and presented his hand, asked
il remembered him. In the, hurry e,n
bus.!c oi UusiSS stiff, ole ior!9is So; -.
acqnain!anS/ that it is not easy 10 rpcoi-
icct evrI,ys.,ame or face at first sight. /
4 Ipr Inr,. n t,of L
piled, that when boy he used to supply
II with STRAIT" r-irs, and then he inquired
kin!!y for my wife and children.
fi- stated, that by diligence in his hcrti-
cultural pursuits he had saved some money,
and was then Interested in small s!o-e in
a n"ighboring town. I was delighted 10
see him, and to hear of his prosperity and
gave him cordial invitation TO my h.use,
hat he pleaded want Of time and departed.
On reaching home in the evening, my wife
was much pleased 10 hear that her Young
friend The "Strawbrrry boy" was wing
and well, but felt rather sighted b.. his
not calling TO see her.
Two years ago when saw him q :; il, he
was comparatively rich, worth som fifty
thousand dollars = had married the dugh-
ter Of late distinguished lawyer had
m! chased and WAS then residing il, his
iIr mansion, in one Of th' cities imneGi-
a'r'y opposite our own. Occupied il busi-
ness Of public trus; and rcsponsibilh h"
lives respected an! cstrrmr'd by al his
neiGhooTs. Il.' is wei! hnown to ,nnv q:
on. cit'z"ns o: r:n.;.:nati. With Il lis
iH2er'rhy, il" i.as tn good scrsr o re-