Evening star., 1955-05-07
THE STORY OF .nAt< -sAs4~e~-4- CHAPTER SEVEN
Davy Crockett 0'' Wins right
By ENID La MONTE MEADOWCROFT

It was warm in the little log schoolhouse. So
warm that Mr. Kitchen, the new schoolmaster, told
Joey Crockett to open the door.
Davy winked at his brother when Joey came
back and sat down beside him on the puncheon
bench. Then he took quick look over his shoulder
to see what was going on outside
The woods were red and gold in the bright
October sunlight 1t just the kind of weather for
hunting 'coonS and poSSums. Yet here he was,
spending his fourth day in SCHOOL,
Then he remembered how pleased Ma had been
when he had promised to learn his letters. So he
picked up his goose-quill pen and bent over his
broWn-paper copybook.
At the top of the page was his own name which
Mr.. Kitchen had written out for him. Dipping his
pen into his horn inkwe Davy copied it, slowly and
carefully, several times.
Big Matt Brown who sat right behind him,
watched him with slv smile Suddenly Mats hand
shot out Quickly he tipped Davys inkwell spilling
ink all over the carefully written page Davy was on
his feet in an instant
"You big buzzard!" he cried angrily. "I'm going
To-" he drew back his fist.
At the sound of his voice all the other boys
turned around and Mr.. Kitchen jumped up.
"II have no fighting in this SCHOOL," he cried.
"Sit down, David, or I'll thrash you"
But he spoiled my copybook," Davy cried.
sit DOWN. thundered Mr.. Kitchen, reaching
for his long birch rod
Davy sat down hastily, while the other boys
snickered.
"Now get back to your lessons, all of YOU"
ordered the schoolmaster. "And remember that I'll
whip any boy who starts fight"
Davy mopped up the ink on his coypbook with
his shirtsleeve.
"You Just wait till get outside" he muttered
to Matt "I1l fix you"
Matt smiled. He was the biggest boy in the
school,. He bullied the younger boys whenever he
wanted to.
"You little runt-you wouldn't dare touch mel"
he whispered to Davy. And then he promptly forgot
Davys threat.
But Davy didn't forget it. The minute he was
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side road where Matt Brown lived. Joey followed
close at his heels
Joey painted. "What are you going to do?"
Lay for Matt Brown! That's what" Davy ex-
planned rapidly. "All by myself, too Don't you mess
into it, s.,
He dived into the bushes at the roadside, pull
ing Joey in after him. For several minutes the two
boys crouched there, waiting for Matt At last he
Remember what I told you" Davy whispered
to joey who was looking little scared
It was risky to fight such big boy as Matt,
but Davy was SO angry he didn't care
His heart pounded as Matt came closer to the
bushes He drew deep breath. Suddenly he sprang
out, yelling like wildcat.
Like wildcat, he made long leap at big
Matts face and scratched it. Matt shouted in fear
and fell back. Davy came at him with all his
strength, and butted him hard.
Give it to him!" Joey yelled "Knock him into
Davy punched and pounded and kicked Matt
swung out wildly and tried to grab him. But Davy
was too quick. Like most bullies, Matt was no good
in real fight.
"'Nuff,' he whimpered. "I've had enough"
Davy stood back and looked up at him.
"Now, are you ever going to plague me again?"
he demanded.
mo" Matt walled miserably. "No I amt
never!" He turned and ran down the road.
Davy laughed shaky little laugh. He looked at
Wilson and two other boys who had come up just
as the fight ended
IT sure-fixed-hi he painted.
"You sure did," Nick Duncan exclaimed
Davy grinned proudly, but Wilson looked at
him Soberly you're in bad trouble now, Davy" he
said. MATT will tell on you, and old Kitchen will
give you terrible thrashing"
Davy shrugged his shoulders. However, as he
walked home later with Joey and Wilson, he
thought about what Wilson had said.
II reckon I won't 60 back to school for few
days." he announced as they drew near the tavern
I'll just start off when you do in the morning, SOS
Pa won't know about it, and hide out in the woods
all day and"
"And come back with us at night" Joey added
quickly THAT ideas humdinger!'
For several days Davy carried out his plan. But
he didn't have much fun alone in the woods all day.
without rifle
Then one morning, just as he was getting ready
to start out with Wilson and Joey, there knock
at the door Pa answered it, and came back with
note in his hands. He read it through slowly and
turned to Davy.
"This notes from Mr.. Kitchen" he said look
ing puzzled. "He wants to know why you amt in
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