Johnny Appleseed
Truly one of the Gods of America, his story began as a mortal but over time he became... More. You can even visit his grave in Fort Wayne Indiana situated above the Saint Joseph River, or his birth place in Leominster, Massachusetts. One John Chapman. Once a Man, now an American God!
Portrayals of this god often depict him as ancient, old, a near dotard with a thin neck and spindly arms and baggy clothes, the now familiar pot on his head worn as a cap with a bindle carried nonchalantly over his shoulder. A man with a quick step and a quicker smile. But this wasn't always so. He wasn't born old after all.
Once he was young and strong! A beast of a man! Strong as an ox and sharp as a knife, his hide bronzed from his time outdoors in the sun. His beard long and wild, with eyes that could cut through the grim. In one hand a 'book of sacred knowledge', while in the other he carried a sack of forest medicine. He ran with wolves, fought serpents and was involved in more than one skirmish between settlers and Indians; even the occasional ruckus, with the occasional frontiersman, militias or even regulars should the situation call for it. See he was a man of right not law. In his travels it is said he was promised to more than one Forest Maiden and many other spirits of the Old Wood. But this too wasn't always so.
Though perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself; let's start at the beginning shall we? Born at the birth of our Nation, he grew up crowded on all sides. So crowded in fact!, that when he moved this way or that he would run into his brother or sister, all Americans but still. From a young age he felt the need to stretch his legs, to get away.
Eventually when he was grown 'Or at least mostly so', Pioneers began flowing west. So naturally he followed suit! In his lust for the freedom of the less traveled lands he quickly got ahead of them, into the land of Mountain Men, River Rats and Forest Warfare. And it wasn't long before he walked right out of his shoes, traveling barefoot as he was his feet quickly cobbled themselves into boots of flesh. The skin on the soles of his feet grew so thick he could walk right through fire or cross ice without feeling a thing! And it's been said during his visits to the families he'd met in his journeys back and forth across the land. Families he grew to love, he'd often stop by entertaining both the children and adults alike by jabbing the bottoms of his feet with red hot pokers, needles or even nails which all lacked the strength to pierce them!
Ole Johnny had gone good and truly wild you see. He kept no possessions about him which wasn't provided by nature. Often he'd even forget about clothes or he'd wear them until 'they juss fell right off, but keep right on goin without a care in the world'. One thing was certain however; when he'd show up to settlements or homesteads they'd share what they had with him and loan him some clothes or at least a blanket for the sake of propriety as they welcomed him into their homes.
See, he wasn't an insane man, nor was he after hurting anyone or scaring them either. No, he was a good man, and everyone knew who Johnny was. As Kind and thoughtful as any man should be.
There are a lot of stories about this Wild Man of North America, and many areas like to claim he was there, that he led the way for them... Each with their own stories and customs around this God of the American Spirit of Kindness.
Stories like how he earned the title 'Appleseed'. That time when he heard about how families could stake a claim on the new American territories if... But I'm sure you already know that one, and if you don't... Well it's a story best left for later I think.
Johnny Appleseed wasn't just about people though. He'd make friends wherever he went, even with many of the wild animals he encountered. It's even said that he took on a wolf as a trusted traveling companion for some time. Others tell of that time he met up with Paul and Babe as he crisscrossed the northern forests. But no matter the tradition, everyone agrees he spent his life wandering all across the frontier; exploring, singing happy songs, and helping out where he could. Even if that meant doing battle with Indians, Thieves and British Soldiers alike.
The Forest was wider then... Wilder. Full to the brim with spirits and wonders to behold! Despite some misunderstandings or even provocations Indians, Pioneers and other Wildmen often came to view him as a Holy Man, a Heathen Hermit or some kind of Forest God. His story is that of grand adventure and more than a little divinity sprinkled in. A story which includes Spirits of the Forest coming to him ending up with him finding himself betrothed to some of their maidens. "Though he may have refused them in life, they could have him in death.". Yes there is much much more to Johnny than just his apples.
I suspect Johnny probably forgot more of the forest, of the land, and of people; than most of us will ever know.
In his death he knew his work wasn't over and it's widely agreed upon that "in his dying breath he bent a tree to plant itself, and by that small act, all the apple trees across America too." but that is also probably a story for another time.
Regardless of the truth of how far John Chapman 'the man' really traveled in his life time, Johnny Appleseed ranged from coast to coast helping those in need as he was able and you can rest assured however, that in his death he didn't cease. Johnny went on to other realms... Other realms where he planted a heavenly orchard, a heavenly orchard you can see reflected in the red evening clouds to this very day... if you but look.