The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-02-06

shouldered his bags Of apple-seeds; and,
penetrating to the remote wilderness, plant
ed them in some secluded spot, combining
picturesqueness and fertility of soil, letting
them grow until required by the ssettiers,
whose homes had in the mean time sprung
up in the neighborhood of his isolated clear
ings. In this way the wilderness was made
to blossom and bloom like rose, and the
| foundation was laid for that immense growth
Of fruit trees whose yield forms so important
part Of the annual products of this part OF
| the state.
JoHNNY's BUSINESS METHOD.
When the trees were ready for sale john
ny either sold them hims elf, for very low
price, or left them in charge Of some one to
sell for him. And in this matter Of sales
he was as methodical as any merchant. Ii
the customer was too poor to purchase trees,
which trequsptly happened, he got them
without pay ii in better circumstances,
but destitute of ready cash, Johnny made
some convenient trade, taking old clothing
or supply of corn meal in exchange but
| il the owner was well-to-do, Johnny de-
manded money, which he was seldom with
out. His general custom, however, was to
cake a note, payable at some indefinite peri
cd. Having received it, he troubled himself
no further about the payment. considering
the transaction at an end, as indeed it gen.
orally was. Caring little for money and
with very limited personal wants he fire.
quently came into the possession, by the
sale of trees, of more money than he cared
to keep. This he soon disposed OF in gifts
to some poor family, struggling against the
misfortunes common to life on the border,
in the purchase of doctrinal books Of the
Swedenborgian faith for the gratuitous dis
tribution, and in the care of aged and in
firm horses. This latter charity, indeed,
seems to have constituted an important part
of his mission. Wherever ne saw or heard Of
an animal being abused he at once purchas-
ed it, and gave it to some more humane far
mer, STIMULATING for Its kindly treatment
The severe labors incident to rough from
tier life often manned or disabled horses
which, otherwise burden to their owners,
were turned loose to die. Whenever Johnny
heard of such an animal he immed lately
made diligent search for it, and, bargaining
for its proper care during the winter, led it
away ia the summer to some rich pasture
which he had found in his wandering. In
this way he often collected considerable
drove Of animals, the convalescent members
of which he persistently refused to sell, but
readily gave away to such persons as bound
themselves solemnly to treat them we'll.
AN EXAGGERAT TED BERGH.
| Upon the same principle he regarded the
infliction of pain or death upon any crea-
ture as an almost objectionable sin. His
conception of the Nervousness of this sin,
too, was not limited to the higher forms OF
life, but extended to the minutest insect,
and to its mere disturbance or inconveni-
ence. One cool autumnal night, while lying
by his camp fire in the woods, he observed
were burned. Taking the huge tin dipper,
which answered the double purpose OF cup
and mushsbot, from his head he fill
ed it with water and quenched the fire,
remarking afterward, 'tGod forbid
that l should build fire for my
comfort which should be the means
OF destroying any of His creatures 70 At
another time he made his campfire at the
end Of hollow log in which he intended to
pass the night; but finding it occupied by a
bear aud her cubs, he removed the fire to the
other end, and slept in the snow rather
than disturb the bears. Walking one morn
| Ing over a small prairie he was bitten by a
| rattlesnake. Some time afterward friend
| long sigh, and replied: ''Poor fellow ! he
| only just touched me, when l, in an ungod
| ly passion, put the heel of my scythe in him
and went home." Again, while assisting in
the construction of road through the
| woods, a hornet whose nest had been de-
| stroyed in the operation found lodgment
| underneath Johnny's shirt. Notwithstand-
| ing the fact that he was repeatedly stung by
the enraged insect, he removed it with the
greatest gentleness. His companions laugh
ingly asked him why he did not kill it, re-
ceiving in reply, SIT would not be right to
kill the poor thing, for it did not intend to
| hurt me.'
JOHNNY'S RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM.
Next to his enthusiasm for the cultivation
| of apple trees in what he termed the proper
way, that is, from the seed-was the zeal
| with which he advocated the peculiar doc
| trines of the Swedenborgian faith. In the
| purchase of books and tracts treating on
this system Of religion he expended much
OF his revenue, and it was his custom always
most the first thing he did upon entering a
| settlers house, wearied with his long tramp,
was to lie down on the floor, with his KNAPP
sick for a pillow, and inquire il his auditors
would hear 'some news right fresh from
heaven Drawing forth his few tattered
books, he would enlarge upon the beauties
Of his faith until his hearers caught the
glow OF his enthusiasm, while scarcely COM
pretending his words. So anxious was he
that every one should read his books, and SO
limited was their number, that he devised
an original method by which one book was
converted into serial. Dividing volume
into many pieces, each containing single
chapter, he left one at Lighthouse, and on d
subsequent visit furnished another fragment,
continuing this process until the whole book
had been read. In this way he was enabled
to furnish reading matter to several families
at the same time; the only drawback to the
| process lying in the fact that the first install
ment given to some illiterate backwoods-
man sometimes happened to be the last frac
ton Of the volume, and the unfortunate re-
cipient was thus compelled to read the bool
through backward.
THE DRESS AND APPEARANCE OF TIL
MISSIONARY.
The personal appearance OF Chapman
Was as singular as his character. He wa
a small wiry man, quick and restless in his
motions and conversation !; his beard, though
not long, was unshaven; his hair was lonI
| and dark and hic oves hlack nj snark1i n O