Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-03
THE Strawberry BOY

The following simple and unvarnished
story is strictly true. It is given as 4
horticultural item, to illustrate the pro.
gress in early life of a young horticul.
turist in that particular branch of in.
dustry:
Fourteen years ago last May, on Sat.
urday at noon, boy called at INV dwell.
ing house to sell strawberries. He was
of . slender form, apparently abotft four.
teen years Of age, with bright and in.
telligent countenance. The fruit was
beautiful and tempting, but had bought
enough at market in the morning for
dinner and for tea, and refused to buy
any more. He observed that his straw.
berries had just been picked from tine
vines, and would keep for the sunday.
Ny wife was much pleased with his g,n.
tie and pleasant manners, and decided at
once to purchase, and to engage a daily
supply from him for the season. Upon
inquiry, we learned, that, with his father
and young brother, he cultivated yeee.
tables and fruits to sell in the Cincinnati
market, on small place near Newport,
Kentucky; and that he had a taste for
horticulture and books, and that no effort
was spared to improve his knowledge in
both. In summer he titled the soil-in
winter the mind.
For three years we were regularly
supplied by this boy, from the earliest
to the latest period of the season, with
strawberries freshly gathered, of fine
quality, and at moderate prices he then
supplied us with raspberries in success.
sion.
The fourth year we missed him "on
his accustomed rouDd;" and feared that
we should see him no more. NV wife
felt good deal disappointed and worried
about it.
He was so Intelligent and obliging, so
gentle and engaging in his manners,
that she had taken a great fancy to him.
Besides oil this, where could we supply
our table with such fine Strawberries.
brought daily to the house? Various
inquiries were made for him, but moth.
ing could be heard of him, She only
knew his Christian name; the other. If
she had ever heard it, had escaped her
memory. She recollected to have oh.
served an occasional hectic flush on his
cheek, and feared that the fell DESTROYER.
consumption, had marked him for it's
own. Poor boy! she said, we shall
never see him again.
Years had passed away, and we had
ceased to speak of him, whsrf one day q
young man of genteel appearance called
at my store, and, presenting his hand,
asked if / remembered him. In the hur.
ry and hustle of business life one forms
so many acquaintances that it is not easy
to recollect names and faces. answered
that did not. He replied that when
boy he used to supply US with straw ber-
ries, and he then inquired kindly for nv
wife and children.
He stated, that by diligence in his hor.
ticultural pursuits he had saved some
money, and was then interested in small
store in neighboring town. Twas dc.
lighted to see him, and to hear of his
prosperity, and gave him cordial invi-
tation to my house, but he pleaded want
of time, and departed. On reaching
home in the evening, my wife was
IuuCu plcASCu W ucUr SQ8L ueT young
friend, the strawberry Boy" was living
and well, but felt rather slighted at his
not calling to see her. OIL
Two years ago, when 1 saw him again,
he was comparatively rich, worth some
$4,000; had married the daughter of q
late distinguished lawyer, and had pur-
chased and was then residing in bis fine
mansion in one of the cities opposite our
own. Occupied in business of public
trust and responsibility, he lives respec.
ted and esteemed by oil his neighbors.
He is well known to many of our citi.
zens of Cincinnati. With all this pros
perity, he has the good sense to remem:
Der that he was once the 4" little Straw
berry Boy" and no doubt he feels proud
er of being the architect of his own for
tune, from that foundation, than if he
had inherited ten times as much from his
ancestors. .-Hortiemturist. Ii
A TALL INURss FEET SIX
n A