Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-01

Mrs. Crockett set some corn pone on the table
ehe shifted at the stew which dubbed in the big pot
over the fire. She picked up the baby who was
crawling on the hard dirt floor Then she stepped
"supper's ready" she called loudly. Come on,
al you Crocketts and get your supper"
Little Becky and tiny Jane were making corn
cob house near the cabin door. They scrambled to
Joey the youngest Crockett boy, climbed down
from the maple tree at the edge of the clearing Ten
year old Wilson came running from the river beyond
Bill, who was nearly -, dropped his hoe where
he had been working in the corn patch. Jim and
John, the oldest boys finished milking the two
and turned them loose to roam in the Woods.
Mr.. Crockett stopped sharpening his axe and
put 1t in the shed. And everyone crowded into the
cabin laughing and talking at once
Mi. Crockett lifted Becky and little Jane to one
OF the benches at the puncheon table.
The rest OF you sit down, now, he commanded
Of Wildcats"
I'm hungry enough to eat a wildcat" Wilson
declared, sliding into his place beside Joey.
His mother smiled "Possum stew will taste
heap better" she said She set wooden trencher
full OF stew before him. Then she glanced around.
where's Davy?" she asked.
II don't know, Wilson replied
Neither do l." Bill added reaching for piece
OF corn pone. "He didn't help me in the corn patch
81 have" Joey piped up. "He took that play
rifle that he made yesterday, Ma and he went along
the river into the woods"
Ma Crockett looked uneasy "He promised he
wouldn't go out OF hollering distance" she said ut
seems strange he don't come. Do you reckon any
things happened to him. PAP"
Pa Crockett shook his head. Like as not he's
turkey" he replied "He'I come afore long"
He picked up his horn spoon and took big
helping OF stew. Then he began to talk about the
new mill he was building on the creek, short dis
lance from the cabin.
He and man named Tom Galbreath had been
working hard on the mill for long time. They had
put the big paddle wheel in place. But they had not
yet set up the wooden through which would carry
the water to turn the wheel.
THE creeks still too high after that big rain we
had yesterday" Pa Crockett said "Soon as it goes
down, we'll get the trough up Then wei, start the
mill a-working"
And folks will come from all around to bring
you their corn to grind" joey added happily. 1T
will be nice to have folks coming to the cabin all
the time won't it, Map.
Ma Crockett nodded and sat down at the table
Now and then, as she ate her supper, she glanced
anXlouSly at the cabin door.
Days 50 tall, Pa, that you forget he's not
years old yet she said at last HE shouldn't be out
Pa sighed "Anybodyd think the Indians
roaming around here still unfriendly!" he ex-
claimed
But he was beginning to worry, too So he
pushed his stool back from the table and stood up.
I'll holler at him this time" he said. And he
crossed the cabin and opened the door.
The April sun had set. The Tennessee hills on
the opposite side of the river were black against the
sky TWAS already dark in the little clearing around
the cabin.
Pa did not see the figure which was stealing
through the underbrush at the edge of the clearing
He did not hear sound that figure crept on its
hands and knees toward the cabin. Making trumpet
OF his hands, he shouted loudly.
"Davy! David Crockett D-a-a-vy!"
I'm here Pa" voice said. And the figure
suddenly stood up so close to Pa Crockett that he
jumped back in surprise.
"Drat you Davy!" he exclaimed angrilv "What
did you do that for?"
Davy grinned and tossed lock of shaggy dark
hair back from his face
Il didn't aim to scare you" he declared with
little chuckle but got all the way home like that
Pa, quiet as fox sneaking UP on a chicken I
tracked big coon from the creek right I'D to his tree
too. I'd had real rifle could have shot him easy
When can I learn to shoot?
His father made no answer to this question. He
was cross because Davy had startled him. And be-
cause Davy had worried his mother And for other
reasons
Didn't you hear your ma boiler a while back?"
he asked sternly.
eyes," Davy replied quickly. "I heard her. And
came right away Only it took long time, coming
"Then next time don't come like fox. his
father broke In.
eyes, Pa" Davy said soberly.
He started into the cabin But his father
blocked his way.
what did you do with those squirrel skins
gave you this morning." he asked "Did Won scrane
them and stretch them to dry like I told you?"
Davy shook his head.