Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-08-10
THE STRAWBERRY BOY.

The following simple and unvarnish-
cd story is strictly true. 1t is given as
horticultural item, to illustrate the
progress in early life of a young horti.
culturist, in that branch Of industry.
Fourteen years ago, last May, on a
Saturday afternoon, a boy called at my
house to sell strawberries. He was of
slender form, apparently about fourteen
wears of age, with a bright and intelli-
cent countenancc. The fruit was beau
iifnl and tempting, but l had bought
enough at market in the morning for
tea. and refused to purchase more. He
observed that his strawberries had Just
beeu picked from the vines, and would
keep for the Sunday. My wife was
much pleased with his gentle and pleas
ant manners, and decided at once to pur-
chase, and to engage daily supply from
him for the season. Upon enquiry we
learned that with his father and a young
er brother, he cultivated vegetables and
fruit to sell in the Cincinnati market, on
a small place near Newport, Kentucky,
that he had taste for horticulture, and
that no effort was spared TO improve bis
knowledge in both. In summer he cul-
tivated the soil, in wintcr-the mind.
For three years we were regularly
supplied by this lad, from the earliest to
the latest period of the season, with
Strawberries freshly gathered, of fine
quality, and ut moderate prices; then
with raspberries in succession.
The fourth year we missed him from
his accustomed round, and feared that
we should see him no more. My wife
felt disappointed aud greved,a good deal
about it.
He was so intelligent and obliging,so
gentle and engaging in his manners, that
She had taken great fancy to him.
Besides all this, where could we supply
our table with such fine Strawberries,
brought daily to the house! Various
. Inquiries were made, but nothing could
/ be heard of him. She only knew his
christian name the other, if she had ev-
er heard it, had escaped her memory
She rccollected to have observed an &C.
casional hectic flush on his cheek and
she feared that the fell destroyer, con-
sumption, had marked him for its prey.
Poor boy, said she, we shall never see
him again, he has run his race and will
soon be forgotten.
Years had passed away, and we had
ceased to speak of him, when one day n
young man of genteel appearance called
ut my store, and presenting his hand,
asked if remembered him. In the hur-
ry and hustle of business life, one forms
o so many acquaintances that it is not GA
sy to recoIlect every name or face at
first sight-thereforc ! answered that |
did not. lie replied that when boy
he USED to supply us with strawberries,
and then he inquired kindly Cor my wife
and children.
lie stated, that by diligence in his hor-
icullural pursuits, he had saved some
money, and was then interested in Il
small store in neighboring town. |
was delighted to see him, and to hear of
his prosperity, and gave him cordial in.
Jvtation to my house, but he pleaded
want Of time and departed. On reach
ing home in the evening, my wife was
much pleased to hear that her young
Strawberry Boy" was alive and well,
but felt rather sighted by his not calling
10 see her.
Two years ago, when ! saw him
again, he was comparatively rich, worth
Some fifty thousand dolars--had MARI
edethe daughter Of late distinguished
lawycr-had purchased, and was then re-
siding in fine mansion, in one of the
cities Immediately opposite our own.--
Occupied in business of public trust and
responsibility, he lives respected and es-
reemed by all his neighbors. lie is well
: known to many of our citizens of Gin
.cinnati. With all his prosperity, he has
the good sense to remember that he was
;, once the little Strawberry Boy" and
no doubt feels prouder of being the arch
itect of his own fortune, from that found
alton, than if he had inherited ten times
'rls much from his ancestors.
Horticulturaist.