legend let us add the truth of one who has made all this land his
debtor. In 1801 a youth passed through western Pennsylvania. He was
collecting apple seeds with which to found orchards in the then
unbroken states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. When he came
to an open, sunny spot in the forest he would plant his seeds and
protect them with a brush fence. Years afterward new settlers found
hundreds of these embryo orchards in the forests. Thrice he floated
his canoe laden with seeds down the Ohio to the settlers in Kentucky.
To this brave man, called by our Congressional Record "Johnny
Appleseed," whole states owe their wealth and treasure of vineyards and
orchards. This intrepid man is a beautiful type of all those who,
passing through life's wastes, sow the land with God's eternal truths,
whose leaves and fruits heal nations. If God remembers the roots in
dark forests he will not forget his truths in human hearts. Therefore,
sow thy seed. Ye are saved by hope.

The ground and basis of all hope whatsoever is God. It is his good
providence and redemptive love in Jesus Christ that make us optimists.
Hope is not within the scope of our wisdom or culture or skill; and
hope is not in our health or tool or treasure. We journey into an
unknown future. It is not given to us to know what a day or an hour of
the new year may bring forth. How impotent are the wisest and
strongest in the hour when we hear the sound of the ocean and in
darkness ford the deep and dangerous river, beyond which is high and
eternal noon. What can the child on some great ocean steamer caught in
a winter's storm do to overcome the tempest? Can it drive the fierce
blasts back to their northern haunts? Can its little hand hold the
wheel and guide the great ship? Can its voice still the billows that
can crush the steamer like an egg-shell? Can its breath destroy the
icy coat of mail that covers all the decks? What the child can do is
trust the Captain who has brought this same ship through a hundred hard
storms. It can rest and trust and hope. And all we upon this great
earth-ship have been caught, not in a storm, but in the gulf stream of
God's providence. The warm tropic currents sweep us on to the heavenly
harbor. The trade winds above aid the forward flight. More than all
else is the larger planetary movement that sweeps gulf stream, winds
and ship onward towards the infinite. Soon shall we enter into quiet
waters and