New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-04
cOurtly Boston gentleman CT the genuine Old
THE MISSION OF JOHNNY APPLESEED.


From The VISITOR.
Jonathan Chapman better known az Johnny
Appeseedv was born in Boston about the Seai
l775 He early driited to Western IennsSNHinia'
where in It's wild frontier LIE his mania lo[ pan E
inu npnleseeds was first discovered llreu Vi thI
rard SET tleu ent OF that Wilderness he soon pusheu
ont for the West. In 1901 he visited ONO WIN -
hOrse-oad of appleseeds which lie had Patnei tn
from the cider presses OF Western @IennSiNania'
He planted his seeds on the fertile spots on inc
banks of the Licking Creek. In $40 ne was s .
by settler drifting down the ONO hlVeI III ~
canoes dashed together and loaded with appiesce9S'
destined for tho western border OF the wlie ~ tto
ment he often planted as high az pusnel VI ST.
in one locality, then lnclosed the spot VI ~ % The
fence or guard Of brush wnen lie "oulu 10" pIout
place till the trees had in measure gr0Wn' 80
ing one stock of seeds, he returned 10 ehnsS 49,
for another. which he gathered rom trU The
presses in different places. lie hrst c4lI,'u ,iio
seeds in linen bags but the dense unaeIoI usn nIo
tile with thoTns and brars mace ieat.eIh u't9 o,,o
only safe for his puI pose oIlo, ne I iot1
found transportation on the back Oh ~ on, plomt
down horse but mo1e often GA his own STURDY
shoulders. lie man oil NlSorpuH H'aO w. e.
great endurance. OF he could not nave eloou tuo
long weary Journeys through the lonely nhl tI"'n
less wilderness for so many years, journeys IN
which he was loaded like mule ascuhulns tue
Andes. lie always planted his se.Gs III sUhlu 80,
mote nicturesuue spOt and there let them gro" 10
be claimed by the settlers, whose homes spIIns vi
III the isolated clearings. In TINS way tue "itTI-
ness was made TO blossom lhe II ioSo eIu 'I1 1
foundntIou WAS laid for that immense CROWN Oh
fruit trees whose yield today forms so important
part of the annual products OF the great o'a'e Vi
When the trees were large enough for sale
Johnny either sold them or lett them 10 DC SOFA ny
some settler for him. In this business he was as
methulical as a merchant. Inc IcalIS IuI' ~,
treca for nothing Of Others more able he took old
clothing some meal or anything lie cOuiu use III
exchange. Of those able to pay nc 9enanI Ie
money which he was seldom without. lie usually
took notes payabe at some indefinite prrlou. MS
dons. he paid no more attention TO ne matter
ouite often il was the last time he ever saW tho
gyeI of the note. His wants were few, and be
cared little about money lie used what money ne
FOL in buving SwcdenbOTglan books which ne gave
10 the settlers wLere he stayed, anu ne very olton
helped poor families IN need OF the hecesSirIes o.
life. r-.-.
old broken down hOrsca and leaving them IN charge
of some one who was pledged 10 care Tor theln, was
another part 81 this strange man mission ne had
at TIRES quite drove OF aged ana malmeu no .
under the care OF some humane farmer. luNJctIhg
main Oh a dumb creature was with HIM an unpdI-
dOnablc sin This sympathy extended 10 ne small
est animals even 10 insects. lie No out the NE III
thu camp in the woods. because the wind blew the
uosuuItocs INTO the flame. saving ~ me quenched
the blaze: Gd forbid that should build fire Tor
my comfort which should be the means ol destroy
ing any oil His creatures. ne once bu!I u HIe al
the end OF hollow log III which he INTENDED 10 pass
the night, but finding bear and her cubs occupy
iur IT, he removed the fire To The other emf ana sept
i'm tba snow rather than disturb the bears. snake
having bi: him, friend asked him IN regard 10 H.
johnny drew a long slIh ana iephGd; lo"r
fellow he only us' touched m, when ! IN un nm
cody passion put the heel Il my scytle m him ami
wrnt homc' While at work IN tie WOODS hornet
got Underneath his shirt. ana although -rpehtedlN
Stun by the euraped insect hc deliberately TOOK of
m. shirt and liberated the intruder HIS friend
laughed al him and asked why he did not Nil the
little mp, to which johnny replied. " H. Nuu't hot
lie night 10 Kill the poor thng, ioT II dd not intend
10 hurt me. ,
lie lived the toughest life. camping ont in the
yvoOds az. III ..erIlug IN house. occupy INK The
floor his dress was an iude-cIihallc medley. com
posed of east on clothing he mad taken In exchange
Tor ample trees la latter years TINS second hand
raimeIt he thought too luNuilon' ana wore as
linz. I. Il O. o..
aod sides oi winch hc cut bocs % thrust hi. hta
and arms thrnu IL lie thought this cloak good
enough for auy man TO wear. lie seldom wore
SHOES cXccut In winter IoI travelling Un rough
roads he wore 20 m e par If sandals. tie houlut
no covering for his icct uScd OH cast OF boots or
shoes. generally unmatched. and wore them lille
they would stick t. las lc = Tie MADE LIS own
clipper IN when he cooked his muSh NhiI" travel
ling But il Jailed to shade hl@ lace from the sun
Hence he made hat of pSgtcb1ATd, with al IN
mense prak In front and bent down ut the sides 10
protect his face from the heat. lie led blameleSs
and moral life. and ikened himself 20 the primitive
Christians literally taking no thought OF the NOR
row This conviction made bun AZ al times SC
rnnclv happy. Al ono time an itneiant minister
holding forth the public square In MHnsI cll was
denouuciug the SINS his HE ana pride IN dress.
and eAca med iuquirugiy " here now is tho bare
foote Christian travelling 90 hcaveE " johnny,
VINO was l,iug on 3 Is back on the ground near hF,
took the ~ ats literal sense, raised his bare
feet IN the arr and Ierdted. Here's YOU print
tive Christian" to the discontinue ol tho we'll
dressed missionary. The phy >irian who Nas pres
ent al his death was heard 10 inquire what as
johnny Appcsccd's religion; lie had never seen
man In 40 placid a state a. tie approach D! death,
and 50 ready 10 enter upon another life.