The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-07-29

gone, be would stop and work agair
for the first farmer who wanted him
Once he bound himself as an appren
tice to halter, for four years, , anG
worked for him few months until the
halter failed. and he was hom meless once
more. At length, after TWO year:
absence, one winter evening he enter
ed his fathers tavern with his bundle
and asked permission to set down and
rest. No one knew MIN His father
a somewhat infirm old man, was wait
ing upon his guest; his mother was
cooking supper; and his sister was also
working about the house. He remain.
ed silent for an hour, when, supper be.
fng ready, he was asked to come to the
table, where the light falling upon his
face his sister recognized him. The
truant had joyful welcome, and he
kept the family late relating his adven
lures 7 lt .... a..
| He cow set to work in earnest to as
! sist his old father, to whom he had not
/ given much help or comfort hithcreto.
BY six months hard work he paid
one Of his fathers debt, which had
caused the old man much anxiety.
Then he worked six months more to
cancel 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 mouths, until
ha had provided himself with a sufi
cient supply of decent clothes. He
was now nearly twenty years of age,
| 1tb
ability to read or write, he made a
bargain with Quaker. school master,
agreeing to work two days on the Quak
er's farm for every three that he at
tended his school. He picked up
knowledge rapidly; and after six
months of arrangement, he could read,
write and cipher sufficiently well for
the ordinary purposes of life on the the
| frontier.
He now began to be extremely sucep-
tible to charms of the female Sex
Marriageable girls were as scarce on
the frontiers then as they now are in
some parts of California and Oregon.
Accordingly, young fellow had to be
prompt both at popping the question
and in fulfilling his engagement. The
first girl with whom he was smitten
was a young relative of his schoolmast-
er, but, while he was ccurting her with
the vigor and warmth of backwoods- 5
man, and fattering himself that his
passion was returned, wealthy suitor
came along, and snapped her up before
his eycs.-He e soon fcil in love again,
LoP ha
furnished, he was engaged to be mar
ried. and day was appointed for him to
announce the fact to the girls parents.
On the appointed day, he started for
the young lady's abode, but falling in
on the way with a gay party, he spent
the whole night in a irolic; and when,
the next morning, he approached the
house of his lady love, he learned that
she was to be married that evening
to another m n. His riding whip
slipped from his hand; his jaw fell; and
he sat on his horse staring wildly at his
informant =
He recovered his spirits, however,
went to the wedding, and danced all
night, the marriest Of the merry 25
lie was soon in love again, over head
and ears, and in due time was happily
married. He lived, at irst, his wife's
mother, working little, and hunting
great deal, for his subsistence -
After two years, he set up lis own
cabin on the Elk river, where he cult
waited few acres for his, and ranged
the forrest for his meat
The Greek War, in 1918, summoned
the ycomen 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 Che principal engagements under
General Jackson, and if ever he obtain
ed leave of absence, he soon tired OF the
monotony Of home, and was of again
for the army. He was the life OF the
| camp. His merriment, his Dutch ancc-
dotes, his bear stories, his wonderful
shooting, his fortitude and courage,
made him universal iavorite. B
The war over, he removed his little
family one hundred and fifty miles to
the west and settled n.tbe midst of a
wilderoess forty miles distant from the
nearest settlement There he built his
cabin dug his well, cleared his cornheld,
and lived the life of pioneer in its
perfection. His skill and courage in
hunting the deer, the panther and the
bear were wonderful indeed and [ on
ly wish the strongest Of his'bear stories
were not to long to be inserted here.
Years passed on The country filled
m with settlers The fame of David
| Crockett as a hunter, story teller and
general good fellow, spread far and
wide, and at last he found himself elect
ed to the Legislature. So popular was
he 10 the Legislature that, in 1874, he
was set up as an anti-tariff candidate
for Couare aud was only beaten by
two votes in district of seventeen
counties. At the next election, he re-
turned by the extraordinary majority Ut
twenty-seven hundred votes. ~ la .
At washington, he was conspicuous
| persouage, for his fame had proceeded
| him, and he was perhaps the only genu-
inc pioneer and backwoodsmau that eV-
! er sat in Congress He was member
four years, and would, ne doubt, have
been elected again, if he had not differ
ed with his old commander, President
! jackson, on the removal of the Chero-
KEGS. He found, at the next election,
! that Andrew jackson was too strong
for him He was defeated, and soon
after Joined in the movement started by
General Houston, which was designed
to sever Texas from Mexico, and an
mex it to the United States.
IN