The Minneapolis journal., 1902-09-30

by the lake toward Sandusky. There was
no horse path wide enough for us to- ride
abreast. Brush swished along our legs,
and green walls shut our view on each
side. The land dipped towards it's ba-
sin. Buckeye and gigantic chestnut trees,
maple and oak, passed US from rank to
rank Of endless forest. Skenedonk rode
change, as a pilot now watches the shift
ing of the current. So we had done all
day, and SO we We're doing when fading
light warned us to camp. ~ go >"
A voice literally cried out Of the wilder
ness, startling the horses and - ringing
among the tree trunks: *
"The spirit of the Lord Is upon me- and
He hath anointed me to blow the trim
pet in the wilderness, and sound an alarm
in the forest; for behold the tribes of the
heather are round about your doors, and
devouring flame followeth after them"
- Chapter ii. .. ;,.-
"Thats Johnny, Appleseed," said Skene-
donk. turning in his saddle. .
What is Johnny Appleseed?"
HE is man that, God has touched -
said Skenedonk, using the aboriginal
phrase that signified a man clouded in
mind.
God had hidden him, too. could see
no one. The voice echo still went OFF
among the trees. ..-
"Where is he?" - ~'
Maybe one side, maybe the other.''+
Does he never show himself?" '-t -
80, yes" S1enedonk said. He goes
to all the settlements. I have often seen
him when was hunting on these grounds.
He came to our camp. He loves to sleep
outdoors better than in cabin
why does he shout at us Alike a
prophet?' ,: ... t'..&
'To warn us that Indians are on the
warpath." ill., 49,. -
"He might have thought we were on
the warpath ourselves"
Johnny Appleseed knows shawanoes
and Tecumsehs men,"
massed rank behind rank without betray-
ing any face in their glooms. The Ohio
and Indiana forests had a nameless quail
ity. They might have been called home
forests, such invitations issued from them
to man seeking a spot Of his own. - Nor
can make clear what this invitation was
1t produced thoughts different from those
that men were conscious of in the rugged
northwest. .-.,.s ...--.>:.'
II think myself" said Skenedonk, as we
moved farther from. the invisible voice
that he is under vow. But nobody tolC
me that" -
"Why do you think so?''
HE plants orchards in every fine open
spot; or clears the land for planting Where
he thinks the soil is right
Don't other men plant orchards?''
mo. They have no time or seed. They
plant bread. He does nothing but plant
orchards ..'" - IT, '',5.r
'He must have a great many. -. r'l..
"They are not for himself. The apples
are for any one who may pass by wher
they ripe. He wants to give apples
to everybody. Animals. often nibbles the
bark or break down his young trees Z. Il
takes long for them to grow. But he
keeps on planting. - q :. s2a-
r"L..If other nen~have no seeds to plant
how does he get them"'
ptHe makes Journeys ito the old settle.
ments, where many orchards have grown
and brings the seeds from cider presses
He carries them from Pennsylvania on his
back, in leather bags, a bag for each kline
Of seed" "&. =. ="
doesn't he ever sell them?" = .'1@:-
"Not often. Johnny Appleseed s cares
nothing for money. I believe he is under
VOW of poverty. No one laughs a
him. The tribes on these ground
would not hurt hair Of his head, not only
because God has touched him, but because
he plants apples I have eaten his apple:
myself"
Johnny Appleseed!" I repeated, ant
Skenedonk hastened to tell me-: .
He has another name, but forget 1t
He is called Johnny Appleseed:" ,
The slim and scarcely perceptible tun
nel among trees, piled with fallen log!
and newly sprung growths, let us into
wide clearing as suddenly as a stream
finds it's lake. We could not see even the
usual cow tracks. A cabin shedding llgh
from it's hearth surprised us in tn
midst Of stumps.
The door stood wide. A woman walked
back and forth over puncheon floor, tend
ing supper. Dogs rushed to meet us, ant
the playing of children could be heard.
man, gun in hand, stepped to his door, {
sentinel He lowered it's muzzle, ant
| made us welcome and helped us put ou
| horses under shelter with his own.
1t was not often we had a woman
| handiwork in corn bread and game t.
feed ourselves upon or bed covered witt
homespun sheets. ''< - -
| I slept as the children slept, until ;
voice rang in the clearing: ,n,.,' s..s-s.--
| 1.-The spirit of the Lord is upon me, ant
He hath anointed}m }metto blow the trunfpe
| in the wilderness, and sound an alarm II
| the forest; for behold the tribes Of tn
heather are round about your doors, an
devouring flame followeth after them!
Every sleeper in the cabin sat uprigh
or stirred. 2 We said in whispered chorus
Johnny Appleseed!" ~ - -
A tapping, light and regular, on the win
dow, followed. The man was on the foo
in breath. I heard the mother gropin.
among the children, and whispering:.
| Don't wake the sbaby!'' ~.
The fire had died upon the hearth, an
they lighted no candle. When Johnny Ap
Epleseed gave his warning cry in the clear
ing, and his cautious tap on the window
and was instantly gone to other clearing
and other windows, it meant; that the In
dians were near. - 81 81 tK ~
Skenedonk and +, used to the nigh
alarm and boots and saddle in a. hurry
put ourselves in readiness to help the fam
lily. I groped for clothing and. shove
small legs and arms into it. The littl
creatures, obedient and silent, made n
whimper at being reused out of dreams
but keenly lent themselves to the march,
| We brought the horses, and put tn
woman and children upon them. The Yer
dogs understood, and skunk around ou
legs without giving mouth. The cabi
door was shut after us without noise. clos
| ing in what that family called home;
few pots and pans; patchwork quilts,