Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-02-23

]
must be enriched aud the trees given time to
grow, and the ruthless work Of the wood
mans axe must be kept within reasonable
bounds in the existing forests East and West
The Mission Of Johnny AppIeseed.
Jonathan Chapman, better known as
johnny Applesoed" was born in Boston
about the year 1873. He early driftod to
western Pennsylvania, where in its wild from
tier life bis mania for planting appleseeds
was first discovered. Tired of the rapid set
tlement Of that wilderness, he soon pushed
out for the West In 1901 no visited Ohio
with horse-load Of applesoeds which be had
gathered from the cider presses of western
Pennsylvania He planted his seeds on the
fertile spots, on the banks Of the Licking
Creek. In 1906 he was seen by a settler
drifting down the Ohio river in two canoes
dashed together, and loaded with appleseeds
destined for the western border of the white
settlement He often planted as high as
bushe Of seed in one locality then in.
closed the spot with a slight fence, or guard
Of brush, when he would leave the place till
the trees had in a measure grown Planting
one stock Of seeds he returned TO pennsyl-
vania for another, which he gathered from
the cider presses in different places. He first
carried the seeds in linen bags, but the dense
underbrush hostile with thorns and briars
made leathern bags the only safe ones for his
purpose Sometimes the bags found trans
portaton on the back Of an old, broken
down horse, but more often on his own stur-
dy shoulders. He was man of vigorous
muscle, and great endurance, or he could not
have stood the long, weary journeys through
the lonely and trackless wilderness for so
many years journeys in which he was loaded
like mule ascending the Andes. He always
planted his seeds in some remote picturesque
I IL .
by the settlers, whose homes sprang up in
the isolated clearngs. In this way the will
dorness was made to blossom like a rose, and
the foundation was laid for that immense
growth of fruit trees whose yield to-day forms
so important u part Of the annual products of
the great state of Ohio.
When the trees were largo enough for sale,
johnny either sold them or left them to be
sold by some settler for him. In this bust.
ness lie was as methOdical as merchant.
The really poor got the trees for nothing, of
others more able he took old clothing. some
meal or anything he could use, in exchange
OF those able to pay he demanded money,
which he was seldom without. He usually
took notes payable at some indefinite period.
This done he paid no more attention to the
matter quite often it was the last time he
ever saw the giver of the note. His wants
were few, and he cared little about money.
AAo uhcN '" Lat luOlltN ne BOt III buying OWt-
denborgian books which he gave to the set.
tiers, where he stayed, and he very often
helped poor families in need of the neccssuries
of life
An old, infrm horse excited his pity. Buy
ing up old broken down horses and leaving
them in charge Of some one who was pledged
to care for them, was another part of this
strange mans mission. He had at times quite
drove of aged and manned horses under the
~ a
on dumb creature was with him an unpar-
donable sin This sympathy extended to the
smallest animals even to insects. He put out
the fire in the camp in the woods because the
wind blew the mosquitoes into the flame, saying
ashequenched the blaze God forbid that
should build fire for my comfort which
should be the means Of destroying any of his
creatures. lie once built fire at the end Of
a hollow log in which he intended to pass the
night but finding bear and her cubs cccu-
plying 1t, he removed the fire TO the other end
and slept in the snow rather than disturb the
bears. snake having bit him, "a friend ask
ed him in regard to it, Johnny drew a long
sigh and replied poor fellow he only lust
touched me, when l in an ungodly passion
put the heel Of my scythe in him and went
home While a. work in the woods hornet
got underneath his shirt, and although re-
peatedy stung by the enraged insect, he de
intruder. His friend laughed at him and ask
ed him why he did not kill the little imp, to
which Johnny replied 1T would not be
right to kill the poor thing, for it did not
intend to hurt me-
He lived the toughest life camping out in
the woods, or, if sleeping in house, occupy
ing the floor; his dress was au indescribable
medley, composed of cast of clothing he had
taken in exchange for apple trees In latter
years this Epcoud- hand rair,ar,t h. tbopubt too
luxurious, and wore as principal garment
an old coffee sack, IN the bottom and sides of
which he cut holes to thrust his head and
arms through. He thought this a cloak good
enough for any man to wear He seldom
wore shoes except in winter. For travelling
on rough roads he wore rude pair Of sandals.
He bought no covering for his feet used old
cast-of boots or shoes, generally unmatched,
and wore them while they would stick to his
feet. He made his own head gear for a long
time be wore the large tin dipper in which he
cooked his mush while travelling. But it fail
ed to shade his face from the sun. Hence he
made hat Of pasteboard with an immense
peak in front and bent down at the sides to
protect his face from the heat. He led a
blameess and moral life and likened himself
to the primitive Christians, literally taking no
thought Of the morrow. This conviction
made him at all times serenely happy At
one time an itineraut minister holding forth
on the public square in Mansfield was de-
nouncing the sins Of his life and pride in
dress, and exclaimed inquiringly Where
now is the barefootod Christian travelling to
heaven p Johnny, who was lying on his
back on the ground near by, took the ques-
ton in its literal sense, raised his bare feet in
the air, and vocferatci, Here's your print
tive Christian ~ 20 the discontinue of the
well-dressed missionary. The physician who
was present at his death was heard to inquire
what was Johnny Appleseed's religion he
had never seen a man in so placid state at
the approach of death, and SO ready to enter
upon another life. - Grange Visitor.