Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-08-12

life he saw a ship.
As he stood on the dock gazing at the
ship with open eyes and mouth, bewilder-
ed at the sight one of the sailors accosted
him and asked him if he Wo'd not like to
go to Liverpool. Forgetting bis engage
ment with the wagner, he joyfully con-
sented, and rushed off to the wagon to
get his clothes, altho' ten minutes before
he did not know that there was such
thing as a ship in the world. The wag-
oner positively refused to let him go.
Watching his chance, however, he bund-
led up his clothes, and started to the
wharf, but it so chanced that in turning
the corner of crowded street, he came
full upon his master, who collared him
and brought him back.
Leaving his WAGNER soon after, he
started penniless, to work his way home.
First be worked awhile as 'laborer, and
with the money thus earned, he travelled
few miles towards Tennessee. When
his money was gone, he would stop and
work again for the first fai mer that want
ed him Once he bound himself as an
apprentice to a halter, for four years, and
worked for him a few months, until the
halter failed, and he was homeless once
more. At length, after two years of ab-
sense, he entered his fathers tavern
with his bundle, and asked permission to
sit down and rest. No one knew him.
lis father a somewhat infirm old man,
was waiting upon his guests; his moth
er was cooking supper; and his sister
was also working about the house. He
remained silent for an hour, when supper
being ready, he was asked to come to the
table, where the light falling upon his
face, his sister recognized him. The
ruant had joyful welcome, and he kept
the family late relating his adventures.
He now set to work in earnest to assist
his old father, to whom be had not given
much help or comfort hitherto. BY six
months hard work he paid one of his faith
er's debts, which had caused the old man
much anxiety. Then he work ID
months more to ncel note Of thirty
dollars which his father had given, and
brought it to his father as a present
Next he went to work for sundry other
months, until he had provided himself
with supply of decent clothes. He was
now nearly 20 years Of age, and being
much mortified with his inability to read
aud write, he made a bargain with
Quaker school-master, agreeing to work
two days for the Quaker for every three
that he attended his school He picked
up knowledge rapidly, and after six months
of this arrangement he could read, write
and cipher sufficiently well for the ordi
nary purposes of life on the frontier.
He now began to be extremely suscep-
tible to the charms of the female sex.
Manageable girls were as scarce on the
frontiers then as they are now in some
parts Of California and Oregon. Accord
ingly, young fellow had to be prompt
both at popping the question and in full
filing his engagement. The first girl
with whom he was smitten was young
relative Of his school-master, but, while
he was courting her with the vigor and
warmth of a backwoodsman, and fatter-
ing himself that his passion was returned,
a wealthy suitor came along, and snapped
her up before his eyes. He soon fell in
love again, at ball, and before the even
ing was finished, he was engaged to be
married, and day was appointed for him
to announce the fact to the girls parents.
On the day appointed, he started for
the young lady's abode, but falling in on
the way with gay party, he spent the
whole night in a frolic; and when,
the next morning, he approached
the house of his lady love, he learned that
she was to be married that evening to an
other man. His riding whip slipped
from his hand; his jaw fell, and he sat
on his horse staring wildly at his inform
ant. He recovered his spir its,
however, went to the wedding, and dan
ced all night, the merriest of the merry.
He was soon in love again, over head
and ears, and in due time was happily
married He lived at first with his wife s
mother, working a little and hunting a
great deal, for his subsistence. After
two years, he set up his own cabin on the
Elk river, where be cultivated few acres
for his bread, and ranged the forest for
his meat.
The Creek War, in 1913, summon ed
the yeomen Of Tennessee to arms under
General Jackson. No young man Of
them all was prompter to take the field
than David Crockett. He was in most OF
the principal engagements under General
Jackson, and if ever he obtained leave Of
absence, he soon tired Of the monotony
of home, and was off again for the army
He was the life of the camp. His merri-
ment his Dutch anecdotes. hLs bear stor.