Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-07
NO. l40.
The strawberry 2oy.

Inc eCIaW p0IIg Aoy.
The following simple and unvarnished
story is strictly true. 1t is given as q
horticultural item, to illustrate the pro-
gross in early life, of a young Horticpltc-
ralist, in that branch of industry
Fourteen years ago, last May, on
Saturday at noon, boy called at my
dwelling house, to sell strawberries. He
was Of slender form, apparently about
fourteen years Of age, with bright and
intelligent countenance. The fruit was
beautiful and tempting, but [ bought
enough at market in the morning for diE-
ner and for tea, and refused to purchase
more He observed that his straw berries
had just been picked from the vines, and
would keep for tie Surasy. My wife
was much pleased with his gentle and
pleasant manners, and decided at once to
purchase, and to engage daily supply
from him for the season. Upon inquiry
we learned that, with his father and
g young brother, be cultivated Vegetables
and fruit to sell in the Cincinnati market.
on 2 small place near Newport, Ken
tucky; that he had taste for horticul-
| ture and for books, and that no effort
was spared to improve his knowledge in
both. In summer he cultivated the soil,
IN winter the mind.
For three years we were regularly sup
piled BY this boy, from the earliest to
the latest period of theseason, with straw
berries freshly gathered, of fine quality,
| and at moderate prices; then with rasp-
berries in succession.
The fourth year we missed him on
his accustomed round" and feared that
we should see him no more. My wife
felt disappointed, and cried good deal
about it.
He was so intelligent and obliging, so
gentle and engaging in his manner that
she had taken great fancy to hlIa. Be-
sides all this, where could we supply our
table with such fine straw berries, 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 ever had heard it, had
escaped her memory. She recollected to
have observed an occasional hectic flush
on his cheek, and feared that the fell de-
stroyer, consumption, had marked him
for It's own. 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 a
young man Of sentoel appearance called
at my store, and presented his hand,
asked if remembered him. In the hurry
and hustle Of business life, one forms SO
many acquaintances that it is not easy to
recollect every name or face at first sight
i therefore answered that did not
He replied, that when boy he used to
supply us with strawberries, and then he
inquired kindly for my wife and children.
He stated, that by diligence inhis hor-
ticultural pursuits, he had saved some
money, and was then interested in a.
small store in a neighboring town. [
was delighted to see him, and to hear of
his prosperity, and gave him cordial
invitation 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
friend he Straw berry Boy" was living
and Wei, but rather Sighted by his not
calling to see her.
Two years ago when I saw him again
he was comparatively rich, worth some
fly thousand do!lars-and married the
:. daughter Of a late distinguished lawyer
: had purchased a1d was then residing in
his fine mansion. in one of the cities i'm.
mediately opposite our own. Occupied
in business Of public trust and responsi.
biIitjes, he lives respected and esteemed
! by all his ncighbors. He is well known
to many Of our citizens Of Cincinnati.
With all this prosperity, he has the good
sense to remember that be was once the
little Straw berry Boy and, no doubt
! he feels proudcr of being The architect OF
his own fortune, from that foundation
than if he had inherited ten times as
much from his ancestors.