[Sidenote: =Houston among the Cherokees=] =142. Sam Houston.= Young Houston was born of Scotch-Irish parents, in Virginia (1793). His father had fought under General Morgan in the Revolution. Sam Houston did not have much schooling, and when but thirteen his family moved to east Tennessee. Made angry by his older brother, he left home and went to live with the Cherokee Indians. He liked the wild life of the Indians and took part with the Indian boys in their pastimes of hunting, fishing, and playing at games. [Illustration: THE BATTLE OF HORSESHOE BEND _Here Houston, under Jackson in the victory over the Creeks, won great distinction_] [Sidenote: =Returns home=] [Sidenote: =Wounded in battle=] He was now eighteen. He returned home and went to school a term at Marysville Academy. In the war of 1812 General Jackson called the men of Tennessee to arms. Young Houston responded to the call, and fought against the Indians in the great "Battle of Horseshoe Bend." After doing heroic deeds, he was dangerously wounded. Houston was a long time in getting well. [Illustration: SAM HOUSTON _From a photograph by Matthew B. Brady in the collection of the War Department, Washington, D.C._] [Sidenote: =Elected to Congress=] At twenty-five he began to study law in Nashville and in six months--just a third of the time said to be necessary--he was ready to practice. Houston's rise in the law and in the favor of the people was rapid. He went from one position to another until the people elected him to Congress. [Sidenote: =Governor of Tennessee=] [Sidenote: =Forsakes his home=] He was in Congress four years. He won many friends by his gracious behavior. The people of Tennessee made him their governor. But suddenly, without warning, Houston resigned as governor, and forsook his home and friends. He sailed down the Mississippi River to the Arkansas, and up this river several hundred miles to the land of his early friends, the Cherokees, whom the United States government had sent to that far-away country. [Sidenote: =Returns to the Cherokees=] [Sidenote: =The old chief's welcome=] Here Houston found the old chief--now the head of his tribe--who had adopted him as a son years before on the banks of the Tennessee. The chief threw his arms around him in great affection and said: "My son, eleven winters have passed since we met. My heart has wondered often where you were; and I heard you were a great chief among your people.... I have heard that a dark cloud had fallen on the white path you were walking, and when it fell ... you turned your thoughts to my wigwam. I am glad of it,--it was done by the Great Spirit.... My wigwam is yours, my home is yours, my people are yours,--rest with us." [Sidenote: =Visits Washington=] When Andrew Jackson became President of the United States Houston went, in his Indian dress, on a visit to Washington. He was warmly received by his old friend from Tennessee. [Sidenote: =Visits Tennessee=]