The Mush-Pot Hat of Johnny Appleseed
Legend
Contributed by: T. Scott Smith
Olmec: On a hot summer's day in
1812, a strange-looking man walked into Mansfield, Ohio. He was John
Chapman. He wore a metal cook-pot, or mush-pot, for a hat, a coffee sack
for a shirt, and was barefoot. He introduced himself as Johnny Appleseed.
"Why? 'Cause I just
wander around the country plantin' appleseeds. Here, you want
some?" He reached into his sack, handed everyone some seeds, and
went on his way.
About a week later, Johnny ran into
town, shouting, "Trouble a-brewin' out there!
Head for the hills!" Indians and settlers
were fighting in a nearby town, and Johnny had come back to Mansfield to warn
them of the approaching danger. Some men wanted to stay and fight, but
Johnny convinced them the best thing to do was hide. When the Indians
came into town and found the place deserted, they rode on. Legend has it
that the grateful town gave Johnny a new mush-pot hat, and he threw the old one
away. Your quest is to find the old Mush-Pot Hat of Johnny Appleseed and
bring it back here!
Kirk: All right, than
you Olmec, but tell us, where is the Mush-Pot Hat?
Olmec: The Mush-Pot Hat of Johnny
Appleseed can be found in the Viper's Nest.