58 AGEICULTURE AND RURAL-LIFE DAY. 



man. Perhaps the best is Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis's " The Quest 

 of John Chapman." 



It is said that he spent his winters in the settlements near the 

 Atlantic coast teaching the children and doing odd jobs about the 

 farm. In those days the teachers " boarded around " in the neigh- 

 borhood. Therefore John Chapman had no board to pay, and he 

 needed little money. But he did not ask for money. He was content 

 to receive his pay in the seeds of apples, peaches, pears, plums, and 

 grapes. This is why he was called "Appleseed John." The farmers 

 and the children saved their seed for him, and when spring came 

 he filled his boat with seeds and started down the Ohio River. At 

 every suitable landing he took his bag of seeds on his back and 

 trudged through the forest until he found a good open place, and 

 there he planted his seed, built a fence of boughs about them, and 

 started out again. 



Thus he traveled on and on through many springs and summers, 

 Dlantinof his seeds in the unsettled western countries for those who 



J. ^ 



would later come and make their home in the new country. When 

 the first settlers crossed the mountains and began to clear the forests 

 for homes and farms they found orchards and vineyards awaiting 

 them. Although xVppleseed John lived many generations ago, a few 

 trees are still standing which are said to have been planted by him. 

 The storv of this man, who in his humble wav devoted his life to 

 others, is one that may well be told and retold, for while none of us 

 can repeat the work he did, it may inspire us to make some spot on 

 earth better by planting a few seeds or trees for the enjoyment of 

 the next generation. 



FOREST SONG.' 



A song for the beautiful trees ! 



A song for the forest grand. 



The Garden of God's own hand, 

 The pride of His centuries. 

 Hurrah ! for tlie Ivingly oalv. 



For the maple, the sylvan queen, 

 For the lords of the emerald cloak. 



For the ladies in golden green. 



For the beautiful trees a song ! 



The peers of a glorious realm. 



The linden, the ash. and the elm, 

 The poplar stately and strong — 

 For the birch and the hemlock trim, 



For the hickory staunch at core, 

 For the locust, thorny and griiu, 



For the silvery sycamore. 



1 Read at the first meeting of the American Forestry Congress, in Music Hall, Cincin- 

 nati, Apr. 19, 18S2. 



