Once there was a man who was very, very poor. He had been a farmer,
and no one raised such fine crops as he did. By and by, in some way,
he lost his farm, and was left all alone.
He had always wanted to do some grand thing, something that would
make many people happy, but what could he do? He had no money. All he
had was a small boat.
As he trudged along one day, he saw some old sacks lying under a
tree. As he looked at them he had a splendid thought. A thought that
seemed to have wings, and came flying from far away. Oh, it was a
beautiful thought, and seemed to be singing a little song in his
heart, as he picked up the sacks and placed them in his boat, jumped
in himself and floated away.
As he rowed down the stream, the man watched the shore with keen
eyes. When he saw an apple orchard he rowed to land, tied his boat,
hastened to the homes near the orchards and asked for work.
He cut wood, carried water, and did all sorts of odd chores. In
payment for this work he asked for food, and what else do you suppose?
The people were so surprised at what he asked for they could hardly
believe him. He asked that he might have the seeds from the apples on
the ground under the trees--only the seeds.
Of course they gladly gave him such a simple thing, and as he cut the
fruit the neighbour children swarmed about him.
From one place to another he went, always adding to his store of
seeds.
Some generous farmers gave him also cuttings of peach, pear, and plum
trees, and grape vines.
Day after day, day after day, he cut up the fruit, while the children
sat at his feet, and listened to thrilling tales of what he had seen
in his travels. Of the Indians with their gay blankets and feathers,
of their camps where they lived in the forests.
Of their dances and war paint; their many-coloured, beaded necklaces
and jingling, silver chains and bracelets. Of their beady-eyed babies
strapped to boards.
Of the wolves which came out at night to watch him as he sat by his
fire; of the beautiful deer who ran across his patch.
He sang funny songs for the children, and taught them all sorts of
games.
When it came time to go on, they begged him to stay. Never before had
they been so amused, but on he went, and when his bags were full,
and he had a goodly store of food, he started on to carry out the
splendid thought. Oh, it was a grand thing he was going to do.
The little boat went on and on, till houses were no more to be seen.
Splendid forests lined the banks here and there. Then he paused, for
this was what he was seeking--a place where no one lived.
He landed and went about with a bag of seeds, and when he reached
an open place in a forest, he planted seeds and cuttings of the
trees and vines; then wove a brush fence about them to keep the deer
away. He then hastened back to his boat and drifted on.
In many, many places he landed and planted seeds, and all the
orchards of the Ohio and Mississippi Valley we owe to this man.
Years after when settlers came looking for a place to live, they
chose these spots where, to their great surprise, they found all
sorts of trees loaded with fruit.
This man’s name was John Chapman, but he was nicknamed Johnny
Appleseed.