St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-05-10
for thu 4|can9 2roplc.
Cherries OT HdMbuIy.

ny. There had been d rot, and it wa,
with the utmost difficulty that any could
br preserved. But a citizen of IIamhur.
named Wolf had in the middle of the
town 4 walled garlcn, and in the Garden
he lad gathered the rarc>t of cherry
trees, and by constant watchtulne>s he
mad KEEP, away the disease from hi, fruit.
81 that he alone possessed healthy cherry
trees, and those III great abundance.
hearing the iuicie-t cherries All who
wished cherries must 90 to him for them.
and he sold them at the highest prices.
50 that every season he rcapcd q Great
harvest oi cold from his cherries. Far
and near VOLTS cherry tree, were
known, and he became richer and more
famous.
One season, when his cherry trees were
in blossom, and Giving promise of an
abundant crop, war broke out in the
north Of Germany, in which Hamburg
Wa, invaded. Tie city Wa, bcsciggl.
and So surrounded by the cucmy, that no
L,lp could reach il. Slowly they con-
>mol the provisions that were .amyryd,
but famine was staring them III the lace
nor lid they dare yield to the enemy, for
in those day there va, little mercy
shown to the conquered, and while any
hope remained, the people held out, max
n@ yaIn sallics into the cnrmy's camp,
and growing weaker daily. as less am
les, food remained to them
Meanwhile, the enemy had crown
more fierce without. The heat was in
tense, and had dried up the brook and
spring- in al the country about, so that
the bcsicgcrS were becoming Wild with
thirst it made them savagcr. and the
commanding general would listen to no
terms, but SWore to destroy the city.
and to put all the inhabitants, soldiers
and old men, women and children, to
the sword.
lut would il not be better thus to be
hillcd outright than TO suffer the slow
death OF famine ? Wolf thought Of these
filings as he returned one day to his gar
don in the midst Of the city, after week
Of fighting with the enemy. In lis alb
Srncr the cherries had ripencd fast in the
hot sun, and were now superb, fairly
bursting with the red Juice. and making
ones mouth 10 water at the sight.
\ sudden thought came into lis head
as he looked at his cherries. and hope
spramg up that he might yet save hi, fell
low townSmen. There was not mo
mcnt 70 lose, for twCnlv-tour hours more
o. suffering would make the people dylir-
iou- He brought together I'LL the chill
drcn OF the town, to the number of three
hundred, and had them dressed wholly
III white. In those days, and in that
country, the funeral professions were
Illus dressed. He brought them into his
orchard and loaded each with a branch,
lcavy with rich, juicy cherries. and
larshalIn@ them, sent them out Of the
ely, a feeble procession, to the camp OF
the enemy. The dying men and women
filled the streets a. the white robed chill
drrn passed through the gates and ont
into the country.
The bc>irging general saw the pro-
cc,,lon drawing near. concealed by the
Dough, they were carrying hc suspected
some Stratagcln. ~ if it We're Biz
nam wood coming to Dusinanc. Then
hr was told that they were the children
g. Hamburg. who had heard that he and
his army Were suffering of thirst, and
were Lrnoin" lu,ciOu, cherries to Gucnch