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It was a cool and sunny autumn day in the orchard. With his Basset hound Sniffs by his side, Brother Steven was tending to the apple trees, as he has done everyday since his arrival to the monastery as a novice. The sweet smell of the soil and the sound of geese flying overhead had not been enough to put him at ease. As he pulled his cart from tree to tree collecting the apples, his mind was in turmoil; did he make the right decision leaving it all behind? A young man like himself had infinite possibilities. Could he sacrifice himself to prayer rather than a family of his own? Steven began to wander to the next tree, not paying much attention to his cart. Sniffs had gotten hold of some of the fallen apples and was digging a hole to bury his stash. By the time Brother Steven noticed and made his way to Sniffs, the hole was nearly complete. He took a knee next to him, and his attention was drawn to a small jar that contained a rolled up note deep inside the hole. “What could this be?” he asked himself as his curiosity had gotten the best of him. He drove his arm into the hole welcoming the distraction, pulled out the jar, and read the note inside.
“To the reader of this note; be it known that you have discovered a map to my hidden treasures. My name is John Carter. You will need to hold the reverse side of this note over wood smoke in order to reveal the secret location of the tree hollow it is placed in. You will find that it will be enough to keep you in riches for the rest of eternity! Who says you can’t take it with you?”
Brother Steven had arrived at the Monastery tool shed, sweating and panting to the point of sounding more like Sniffs than himself! He had pulled the apple cart with Sniffs on it, full speed back to the shed; sniffs was entirely to slow. He would skip noon prayer; after all, this was his answer. He was getting out; riches for all eternity! Oh the possibilities!
The Abbot, Father Daniel had noticed Steven was missing from noon prayer and went searching for him. Drawn to the tool shed by the camp fire, he had found Steven rummaging through the shed with a hard hat on, with a large ax in the apple cart. “Why were you not at prayer Steven?” In reply Steven had told of his discovery with great enthusiasm and that if all worked out well he would be leaving the order. He had promised half of the treasure to Father Daniel as well. All Daniel could do was let Steven work this out for himself; after all, the possibility of feeding the poor villagers was nothing to at least consider.
The smoke had worked wonderfully, just as the note said. Steven was following the map precisely as drawn. He had Sniffs take a smell of the note as well, in hopes the scent would take him to the treasure. Before he could get to the final instructions, Sniffs was already barking at the tree furthest north of the orchard. Steven ran with all his might to the tree hollow sticking his arm in, and feeling around until…EUREKA! The lost treasure of John Carter! Opening the small chest that he and Sniffs retrieved, he could not contain himself from the shock of its contents.
Before Dawn the following morning, Daniel entered the chapel. To his surprise he discovered Steven, in his soiled, white wool cassock, and in solemn prayer; at his feet a small sack. He decided Steven must have found his treasure and would now move on. Not wanting to disturb him, he tried to silently exit the chapel, but Steven called out to him anyway. “Father Daniel, I’m overjoyed!”
“You’ll be leaving soon Steven?” said Daniel. “Yes, but only with permission from you to leave as a brother of the order.” Steven saw the confusion on Daniel’s face with that answer. “Father Daniel, I want you to see the treasure.”
Daniel was handed a note, and proceeded to read it.
“To the reader of this note; be it known that you have discovered my lost treasure! The greatest treasure of all, my apples; they are no ordinary apples, but they come from my heart. Apples planted here to feed anyone who may be hungry, and to comfort those who may be lost, and hung from trees that give shelter to those in need. You have discovered generosity and love, the only treasures that will lead you to an eternity of peace with our Lord in heaven. As I had said before, who says you can’t take it with you. Your true treasures are not of this world, but in the next, the treasures that no gold could ever buy. You may also know me by another name, Johnny Appleseed!”
Steven looked to Daniel and asked, “I’d like your permission to go and feed the hungry, shelter the needy, and comfort the lost.” Father Daniel agreed, but wanted to know what was in the sack. The reply came, “Why, apple seeds of course!”
Brother Steven had gotten his answer, he would remain a monk.
Thomas Reynolds Copyright © 2008
Copyright 2008 Thomas Reynolds
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