Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-02-21
SAM HOUSTONS BOYHOOD

turn, loving the free. spacious life Of
the fields and forests. and did not
relish inordinately school tasks. II
is probably a legend that he early
fell in love with Pope's translation
Of Homer'S Had as nearly TO Learn
II by heart
The Cherokees lived not mere then
ten miles away from his home His
brothers had put him IN trader 5
store. lie did not enjoy the drude-
cry and confinement and had An easy
escape by losing himself in the
depths Of the Cherokee nation. Not
considering the consequences. ne
plunged into the dark forests and
sought the dwelling OF friendly
chief This was John Jolly, whose
best known Indian name was Aiu-
lucky lolly's island. at the mouth
Of the Hiwassec river. today perpat.
yates his name and home.
Who does not. at times. feel the
call OF the Wild Here for three
years Sam lived the wild Indian life.
lie learned 10 speak with readiness
their language lie donned their
garb OF blanket. buckskin shirt. leg
gins, moccasins, with head adorn-
ment Of eagle ard turkey fathers
he entered ioyously into their hab-
iis and adopted their customs. De-
casionally he returned C. the white
mans habitation. but with the pr
pose of buying ammunition and trlnk-
cts The bow he welded with a rare
skill. sending the arrow straight tc
the mark. With gun or rifle De
brought down the fleetcst deer
A life full Of charm it was for ;ho
tree-hearted boy. The attachments,
wide-eyed. impulsive. impressionable
that sprans up we're feryont and ten.
der as the subsequent years proved.
The period was not without the fra
GRANGE and buoyancy of romantic
life Near the foster father lived a
niece. Talihina Rogers. beautiful
and, for her opportunity accomplish
ed. whom later in the western wild-
he took 10 wife. At length, no doubt
firing OF his semi-sayage life. Sam
at the age OF is, returned TO live
among those of his own blood. he
had incurred debt. The hest way oat
seemed to teach a frontier school
lie took a bold step at the outset
The customary rate OF tuition had
been So per year This he raised "a
IS. lie required the payment OF
one-third cash. one-third corn de
liyered at the mill at 33 cents d
bushel, and the remaining third ir
ydrlegated cotton cloth Il was
thought that such eXtravagant d.
mands would bar success; but ir
time he had more pupils than n,
wished. With the payment In a few
months OF his debts, he closed IN,
school Again he tried the expert.
ment of going back to the master
who had taught him. but soon found
that he did not so much wish IL
learn books as to get into life's broad
school Human nature has been
pretty much the same In all axes
The budding lad OF today is impa.
tent to leave the school room 70,
business, or else.
Life among the Indians had moi
been without its advantages Younl
Sam went into a store on the border
near Kingston. His fluent Cherokee,
speech and his friendliness soor
made him a valued clerk. BY the
time he reached 20 years the Creek
war broke forth. The youth, Of ar
dent temperament. loving stirring ad
venture, could not resist the tempta
ton to enlist. When the heater
drum with its dollar on top was pass
Ing by he stepped forth to take tn,
bounty from the drums head. That
meant that he was ready for the war
At the battle OF Horseshoe Bend
Just as he attained manhood's state
he was ushered into the ranks Of
the immortals by reason of the brav
cry displayed and the wounds re
celved. To have caught the eye. e
have won the economiums, to have
gained the friendship OF Andrew
Jackson was a sure PASSPORT into H.
ture favor and success.