Steven Kight, age 10 of Charleston, W~ for his question:

Was there a real Johnny Appleseed?

Not all the heroes of the frontier days were pistol‑packing sheriffs. Not all the pioneers traveled by covered wagon. And not all the settlers hated Indians. There was among them a Johnny Appleseed, or that is what they called him. He carried no gun and he traveled by foot, more often than not without shoes. Indians loved and revered him.

Yes, there was a Johnny L'1ppleseed, though that was not his name. He was born John Chapman in Massachussetts in 1774. During his 70‑odd years he lived to become a hero of American folklore. In actual fact, Johnny was a good and rather simple‑minded man. His good and simple deeds were told and retold until they became a legend larger than life,

The tales about him may all have been based on fact. For they all fit the character of a good and simple man. They say he played with bear cubs while their mother watched trustfully. They say he walked barefooted without harm through snake infested grass ‑ a trick no sensible person would try. They say he made friends with the hungry wolf and the wild bearcat as well as with the gentle deer.

Wild animals, it seems, trusted him as did the Indians. He alone was allowed to pass safely through hostile territory. For the Indians respected his gentle ways and his strange, harmless gifts.

 John Chapman heard tales of the frontier when he was a young man in the east. And he wanted to help those brave  pioneering settlers. But he was poor, so what could he do? John was one  of those naturally happy souls who know that no matter how poor you are  there is always something you can give, something you can do to help. When he saw the cider mills of Pennsylvania, he knew dust what he could  do.

He gathered up the appleseeds and packed them in deerskin bags. Then off he went, walking, to plant orchard's for the settlers. He walked for 40 years. His  40 years. His clothes were ragged, his feet were bare and for a hat he wore an old tin can. Wherever he went, he looked for places to plant orchards. He planted his seeds by the rivers of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Next year and the next he returned to tend them.

Johnny Appleseed lived to see his big apply trees burst with blossoms and bear fruit. Wherever he went, he was welcomed. Sometimes he was paid for his labor. Johnny card little for. money, so he was usually paid with corn meal or old clothes. In return, the settlers got orchards of fine apples. Apples for apple pie and apply sauce and crisp, crunchy apples to chew. And, since apples can be stored, there were apples to cheer up the diet through the winter. No wonder the settlers called this strange and friendly man Johnny Appleseed. And no wonder he became a hero of folklore, larger than life.