The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-10-31
Dayy CrOckett--SOme Anecdotes Of
that Historical Parsonage.

IuUI VI bVHuBus
Mr. Asa Jarman, Of Houston, Texas
has been interviewed respecting Davy
Crockett, with whom he was acquainted
in boyhood, having known him in
Tennessee, Of which State both were
natives.
Up TO the age Of eighteen (said Mr..
Jarman), Crockett was unable 10 read
or write, and his boyhood was passed in
the solitude of the wilderness, hunting
bears and raccoons, which was his sole
occupation and delight, Removing into
West Tennessee at n time when it was II
wilderness, untcnanted save by Bruin
and the wild beast, the young David
found an ample field for the pursuit Of
Nimrod like life,
Locating on small river, the forest
along whose banks had never known an
AK, he built logcabin, and carpeted
his floor with bcar.sBin- He was now
happy, with none 10 modest him, AZ
with gun--the old-lashiOned flint lock
and dogs-Daniel Boon likc-he sailed
forth 10 catch or kill his iavOritc coon
or savage bear.
The youthful pioneer was not long to
remain undisturbcd, for the country
soon settled up, the wilderness was
taken possession Of by the cmigrant and
the adycnturcr, the country WAS laid of
into counties, and Davy Crocketts
occupation was partly gone.
In course Of time Crockett was elected
by his fcllow.ctzens to the Legislature
at Nashville, To such man rs he, who
had spent his life among the wild scenes
Of the border beyond the pale Of
civilization, getting into the Legislature
anecdotes are related by Mr. Jarman Of
Crockett during his first entrance on
public life,
1t was during his iirt session rs n
legislator that Davy met with James
X. Polk, aiterward President of the
United States but then only an un-
noticed young lawyer, Both happened
one day to be standing in Il crowd Of
members. Polk remarked that bill
would be Immediately introduced toalter
the Judiciary. Crockett, who did not
know what the deuce the word judiciary
meant, briefly replied, :" s'pose SO,
and to cover up his ignorance hastily
slipped away from the crowd.
Some time after he got to Nashville,
never having been in a town before,
Colonel Crockett became the hero Of
another experience, which, aftcrward,
when a member Of Congress- he was
fond Of relating to his friends. lie was
invited opay viSi to Il billiard salo N
the best in Nashville. He had never
heard much Of billiards, and had never
seen them played. Arriving at the
saloon, his curiosity was greatly excited
Mt seeing some men with long sticks
showing and punching at pr Lty red and
white balls. The backwOOdsmnn kccnly
watched the men AZ they pokcd and hit
the balls, which would roll off into their
proper rcccptacles He left highly
pleased.
1t was during the same period that
Crockett was invited TO II splendid sup
per and banquet ut the fine aud aristO-
cratic mansion Of Mr. Irwin, in Nash
vile. Colonel Crockett, arriving at the
house, strobe across the gallery or piazza
to the door.
Looking in, he was surprised TO see
the tablccIoth spread all over the floor
never having before seen Il carpet, cX-
ccpt the one OF bearskn which he had
used ON his cabin floor in the woods
Not knowing what the carpet was and
seeing no way to get TO the fireplace cx-
Ccpt by crossing what he believed to be
the lablecIoth, Colonel Crockett, in full
view OF the other guests, cautiously
looked this way and that to see if there
was any chance except by crossing.
At last, he muttcrcd TO himself,
Who in the deuce il afraidY He
crcpt around the carpet till the fire
place was reached.
Before supper was announced, Colonel
Irwin and the "boys" had high old
time listening to Davy's bar stories.
Now, he had never been ut banquet be.
fore, and after the guests were seated ut
the table, Il negro waiting boy came up
TO the back Of his chair, and asked if he
would have tea or coffee. Crockett re-
piled, "loiiec, though | have plenty of
-aspalIla at nome Up stepped the
boy with the coffee ona waiter. Crockett
insisted not only ON taking the coffee but
the waiter also and 40 he and the boy
had it lively for while.
Crockett was an old line Wing, and in
his first race for Congress from Ten
nessce, licked " Colonel Hunt, II Demo.
crat nwiully, beating him by ire
mendous majority.
While u member of that body, and to
his daughter, who wrote, asking his al
vice about accepting the hand of II
young man in marriage, ho addressed
the famous expression: First be sure
you're right, then 90 ahead" And she
did, to her satisfact ON.
Years rolled on, and Crockett, singu-
larry enough, came to Texas, ~ General
Houston did, in time to take part in the
great struggle Of 1896 against Santa
Anna and the Mexican power.
While Houston was appointed to com
mand the Texan army, Crockett went to
Antonio, and offered his services TO
Colonel Travis, commanding the i'll
fated garrison of the celebrated Alamo
fortress. lie persisted with its defenders,
all of whom were put to the sword by
the Mexlcans. Crocketts body was found
in corner of the fortress surrounded
by Il number Of the enemy. His name
is EN- balmed in Texas history as one of
Travis's immortal band