My
Pal Johnny Appleseed 
source
source
When I was a young man, I was out looking for work, like I
usually was. I met up with an interesting fellow that told me I
could travel with him. I wouldn't get paid for my labors with
money, but I would be doing the whole country a service. I
figured he got along just fine, so I said I'd go along with him.
I had no idea what I was in for. I stayed a while with that man
going around the country. But, like many of the jobs I had, I
couldn't stay long. You see boys, I always had an itch to move
along and see the country. I just couldn't stay in one place
doing one thing for too long. Johnny he was also a bit inclined
to travel alone. Why, I was the only one that he ever let travel
with him. How about them apples. Well, I'll never forget
the time I spent with one of the very best men I've ever known, Mr.
John Chapman. Oh you boys may have heard of him. I think
y'all might call him Johnny Appleseed.
When I met old Johnny he was about forty years old and looked a little
ragged. Why, he was wearing a coffee sack as clothes with three
holes cut out, one for his head and two for his arms. He had a
tin cookin pot on his head and a cardboard hat over that. Why the
man that traveled all over the country didn't even have any shoes
on. Just imagine that! He had a large leather bag that hung
from his side filled with apple seeds. He was a fine man
too. He was as kind a fellow as I'd ever met. He had a soft
spot for all living things, people, animals, and plants. Why
that's why he carried apple seeds. He thought it was cruel to cut
an apple tree to use for a graft. One day while we were
traveling, we ran across a snake. Well, Johnny he didn't know it
at first. He was clearing away some grass and all of the sudden
he started blubbering like a baby. I went over to him and asked
him what was wrong and he showed me the snake he had accidentally
killed. I didn't say nothing, but I snickered to myself a
bit. A grown man crying over killing a snake. I would also
catch him from time to time talking to birds like they could understand
him. He would talk to them just like he would talk to you or
me. Old Johnny was an odd fellow I'll tell you what!
Johnny was also a spiritual man. He was a bit of a medicine
man. He learned some healing powers and the Indians we came
across considered him a great medicine man. I couldn't believe it
the first time I heard them say that to him. He not only planted
apple seeds he also planted medicinal plants and herbs. He was a
Christian man too. He would often go around preaching to the
people. When Old Johnny managed to get someone to listen he would
always start out by saying "News right fresh from Heaven". How
about that. I had a mighty good time traveling, planting apple
seeds with old Johnny. He taught me a lot and I am honored to be
the only known person to be a companion to Mr. John Chapman.
Intro
Frametale
Me
and Pecos Bill
Me
and that Steel Driving Man
The
North Woods
Me
and Gib Morgan
Pecos Bill and Slue-Foot Sue
e-mail me!
Jennifer Kirkwood
Bibliography:
Polley, Jane, ed.
1978 American Folklore and Legend. New York: The Reader's
Digest Association.
I used the portion of this book that told the story of John
Chapman. I created the character of Slim as a temporary companion
to add to the tall tale aspect of the story. I illustrated a few
of the events that were discussed in the book. I also changed the
point of view the story was told in.
Images: Unshod.org. Drawing of Johnny Appleseed as a
boy. Websource: http://www.unshod.org/pfbc/pfappleseed.htm
Goodies.freeservers.org. Drawing of Johnny Appleseed as an old
man.
Websource: http://www.goodies.freeservers.com/apple.html