Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-05-02


it was all my fault that there are
thistles and briars on the earth, and
people have had so much trouble, but
I've kept on giving the world apples
Just the same, no matter what
they've said about me. Some were
sweet, and some were sour, some red
russell, or green, so all kinds of boys
can have the kind of apples they like
best. | pay no attention to the mean
things folks say about me, but just
keep on doing what good | can, and If
boy comes over the fence some night
to steal some of my fruit, | say to
him, Better ask, better ask and |
raise the apple a little higher just to
make him think, because the Sand
Farmer would give it to him, and save
him stealing it."
"The Sand Farmer kept on talking
about the trees until you would have
thought every one of them was his
personal friend, and they really talked
to him.
"Then he turned to the city chap,
and said: DO you know the trees
like that, so they talk to you?'
"No. | don't said the city man,
'and | never knew that there was so
much to a tree before. / wanted to
plant fruit trees, so they would take
care of me when | get too old to work
in the city, and didn't want to plant
them if | wasn't going to get any good
any kind of fruit trees that would bear
enough fruit to pay me for my work
if | should live to say about seventy
five years 2
"'Would you plant those trees said
the Sand Farmer, IF you thought you
were going to die the day after you
got them planted?' He spoke in that
kind of soft, quiet voice, which gen
orally means that he has got you cor
nered, and is going to make you feel
some of the big things in life.
"'Why, of course not replied the
city chap.
"Then the Sand Farmers face
looked sod as he said: I once knew
a man who lived a selfish life, he only
thought of himself, and didn't care for
others. He was only twenty years
old, and strong as bull, but one day
he got caught in a railroad wreck,
end it seemed pretty certain to him
that he must die. He thought of all
the mean, selfish things he had done,
until his life looked like thirty cents
to him, because there was not one
thing he could remember that he could
give as a reason why he could ask
God to let him live any longer. He
had never done anything for the
world, and why should he ask God to
let him live on just to use up the
things that some one else might use to
better advantage? AS he looked at
his life he felt so mean that he just
cried out to God to give him one more
chance. and he promised that if he
could get out from under that car he
would make his life worth living.
"'Just then the wrecking crew
came along, and lifted big girder
that was holding him down, and he
was picked up and taken to hospi-
tai. with both legs broken.
GAS he lay in the hospital he had
time to think of what he would like
to do to make good his promise to
God. There was big elm tree just
outside the window. 1t hung full of
seeds, and when he began to get
around, the seeds were dropping on
the ground, and they gave him an
idea.
He began gathering them, and
storing them away. His friends
thought that his injury had affected
his mind, and some said: "The poor
fellow, he must be crazy, for he's
gathering millions of those seeds, and
no one knows what he's going to do
with them"
"'One day he put the seeds in a
large sack, and it was just all he
could do to carry it, and he started
down the road that led from the vii
lace, far out into the desert, where
only the sage brush and cactus grew
The road was travelled by many, al
though it was hot and dustry. and
many had tainted on the road be-
, cause there was no shade.
"'As he left the village he began
planting the little elm seeds on either
side of the road. Some laughed al
him and called him p crank, others
asked if he ever expected to pet any
good from those little seeds. He paiC
no attention to their ridicule, but
kept on planting day after day, veal
after year. on through the desert hi
went, often tired, and thirsty, bu'
over pressing onward, and never look
/ ing back to see if the seeds wer,
growing. He was satisfied that Coo
had given him the chance to plant tho
seeds. and he was willing to leave tn,
growing and the harvesting to God.
"'Years passed, and he came to tn,
foot of a great mountain, up which
The rood led. His pack was a gooc
deal lighter, and yet its weigh
seemed greater than when he frs
started. for his strength was less. Tn
IN. ever onward he climbed, planting
his little seeds. Tired and thirsty
and often weary, he had to seek a lit
I tie rest. but ever pressed onward. un
ri at last he reached the summit o
the old mountain, and his last see
had been planted. He was old, and hi
strength was spent, but he was han
nv. for he had made good his pledge {,
God, and had done his part.
(Coptiunad naNt waakl