The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-09-28
Plant u Tree.

Ned. Just as sweet and juicy m
gong TO pIaut the seed. Come out
into the orchard with me-
"Oh, what's the good?" said Will
Papa says that, if peach grows
well, it will begin to bear-just begin,
you know-only very little at first
in about four years"
oh! said Will again, this time
in great scorn. "Four years! Why,
think how long a year is. Think how
long tbs since last Thanksgiving!
And four years to wait"
"But the time goes by, anyway.
That's what papa says. You might
as well have something growing.
You'd better plant your seed"
81 shant bother to. Come on"
He waited impaticntly while Ned
brought spade to dig, and finally,
after also bringing water, smoothed
the earth over his pcach-stonc.
See ME shy this at Rover"
Koyer gave little yclp as the
stone hit him; and that was Wills
last thought Of the small kernel in
which was wrapped up so much of
beauty and sweetness, ready to be
brought out by little care.
Later in the day Ned spied it and
picked it up. He carried it to where
he planted the other, then looked
about with a thoughtfulness unusual
in SO small a boy, born Of wise head
to what papa says
Il don't believe there will be quite
room enough here when it's tree.
Those apple trees II shade it too
much. I guess it had better go over
in that corner"
Some years later Will followed Ned
into the orchard and to special spot,
where the latter gave little exclama-
tion of delight.
What is it?" asked Will.
MY peach tree" said Ned. GIVE
been watching out for some blossoms
this year, and here they are
"And will the peaches be all your
own?"
'Wby, of course. I planted the
seed. Don't you remember? You
were here when I did it. You had a
stone, too. that day; but you threw it
away
"No," said Will, 81 don't remem-
ber.'
Il remember, because I've watched
and watched it. I saw when it
sprouted out of the ground and when
the leaves began to grow. And it's
been fun, [ tell you, to see it get big
ger. And now to see these pretty
pink blossoms!'
"And then to see the peaches. +"
said Will, regretfully. II wish I had
planted my stone."
Were not so very old yet," said
Ned, "you twelve and eleven. Papa
says that, if boy keeps planting, he
will enjoy them all his life-the
things that will keep growing and
growing while he is doing something
else. He says" Ned's face lighted
as his hand gently touched the deli
cate bloom, "that God sends all his
beautiful things to help the one that
plants seed or a tree. The sun helps
him, and the rain and TIE dew and the
wind"
"I'm going to plant" said Will.
"But you've got the start of me by
years"
"Come here,'' said Ned. He led
the way to corner Of the orchard
and pointed out tree exactly like the
one tkAy had just left. ssThat's 8
yours" he said.
II don't know what you nean,' -
said Will. II never planted q peach
stone"
II planted it for you,'' said Ned.
when you threw it away, picked it
up. See, it has about as many buds
as the other-one, two, three, four,
five-more than dozen. This isn't
the time of year for transplantinp
things; but papa says that, when the
right time comes, it won't step its
growth at ALL"
you're real good" said Will, fer
vently. I'm going to plant. trees
after this"
He keeps his promise, and the two
boys are making the world more beau
tiful for having lived in it. They
drop acorns and fruit stones. They
bring vines and ,saplings from the
woods. Nature gives them her kind
liest aid; and, as they go on in life,
they will more and more rejoice in