The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-05-29
Anecdotes Of parr Crockett.

Rrecently a ST. Louis Globe Demo
erat correspondent called on Mr.. Asa
JarmAn, an aged resident Of Houston
and one Of the early pioneers OF Texas.
In his boyhood he was acquainted with
the celebrated Dayy Crockett, both na-
tiyes Of Tennessee, in the mountains of
which Crockett first saw the light. Mr..
Jarman eyinced great pleasure in speak
ing of n frontiersman whose name is
prominently associated with the early
history of the Southwest.
Up to the age of eighteen, said Mr..
Jarman, Crockett was unable to read or
write, and his boyhood was passed in the
solitudes of the wilderness, hunting
bears and raccoons, which was his sole
occupation and delight Removing into
West Tennessee at a time when it was a
bowling wilderness, untenanted save by
Bruin and the wild beast, the young
David found an ample field for the pur-
suit of a Nimrod-like life. Locating on
a small river, the forests along whose
banks had never known an axe, he built
a log cabin and carpeted his floor with
bear skins. He was now happy. With
none to modest him, as with gun-the
old-fashioned flint lock-and dogs
Daniel Boone hke-he sailed forth to
catch or kill his favorite coon or savage
bear.
The youthful pioneer was not long to
remain undisturbed, for the country soon
settled up, the wilderness was taken
possession of by the emigrant and the
adventurer, the country was laid off into
counties, and Davy Crockett's occupa-
ton was partially gone. In.course of
time Crockett was elected by his fellow
citizens to the Legislature at Nashville.
To such man as he, who had spent his
life among the wild scenes of the border,
beyond the pale of civilization, getting
into the Legislature was considerable
event, and many anecdotes are related
by Mr.. Jarman of Crockett during his
first entrance on public life.
It was during his first session as a
Legislator" that Davy met with James
X. Polk, afterwards President of the
United States, but then only an unnoticed
young lawyer. Both happened one day
to be standing in crowd of members.
Polk remarked that bill would be i'm
mediately introduced to alter the iudici-
airy. Crockett, who did not know what
the deuce the word judiciary meant,
briefly replied, 81 s'pose So" and to
cover up his ignorance hastily slipped
away from the crowd. Soon after he got
to Nashville, never having been in a
town before.
1t was during the same Period that
Crockett..was invited to splendid sup
per and banquet at the fine and 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 table cloth spread
all over the floor, never having before
seen carpet, except the one of bear
skin 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 except by crossing
what he believed to be the table cloth,
Colonel Crockett, in full view of the
other guests, cautiously looked this way
andthat to see il there was any chence
except by crossing. At last he muttered
to himself, "Who's afraid2" He crept
around the carpet till the fireplace 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 at banquet
before, and after the guests were seated
at the table, waiting boy came up to
the back of his chair and asked if he
would have tea or coffee. Crockett re-
piled, "Coffee, though 1 have plenty of
sasparilla at home" Up stepped the
boy with the coffee on waiter. Crockett
insisted not only on taking the coffee,
but the waiter also, and so he and the
boy had it lively for awhile.
While a member of Congress from
Tennessee, and to his daughter, who
wrote asking his advice about accepting
the hand ola young man in marriage, he
addressed the famous expression
"First, be sure you're right; then go
ahead" And she did, to her satisfac
ton. Years rolled on, and Crockett,
singularly enough, came to Texas, as
General Houston did, in time to take
part in the great struggle of 1886 against
Santa Anna and the Mexican power.
While Houston was appointed to com
mand the Texan army, Crockett went tc
San Antonio and offered his services
to Colonel Travis, commanding the i'll
fated garrison of the celebrated Alamo
fortress. He persisted with its defenders
all Of whom were put to the sword b.
the Mexioans. Crockett's body wa
found in corner of the fortress, sur
rounded by number Of the slain of th,
enemy. His name is efnbalmed in Texa
history as one of Travis's immorta
band.