David Crockett: His Life and AdventuresAbbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
History
David Crockett: His Life and Adventures
Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
Crockett, Davy, 1786-1836
The deerskins were easily tanned into soft and pliant leather. They all
knew how to cut these skins, and with tough sinews to sew them into
hunting-shirts, moccasins, and other needed garments. Sitting
Indian-fashion on mattresses or cushions of bearskin, with just enough
to do gently to interest the mind, with no anxiety or thought even
about the future, they would loiter listlessly through the long hours
of the summer days.
Occasionally two or three Indians, on a hunting excursion, would visit
the cabin. These Indians were invariably friendly. Crockett had no more
apprehension that they would trouble him than he had that the elk or
the deer would make a midnight attack upon his cabin. Not unfrequently
they would have a visit from Mr. Owen's household; or they would all go
up to his hut for a carouse. Two or three times, during the summer,
small parties exploring the country came along, and would rest a day or
two under Crockett's hospitable roof. Thus with these men, with their
peculiar habits and tastes, the summer probably passed away as
pleasantly as with most people in this world of care and trouble.
Early in the autumn, Crockett returned to Central Tennessee to fetch
his family to the new home. Upon reaching his cabin in Giles County, he
was met by a summons to attend a special session of the Legislature. He
attended, and served out his time, though he took but little interest
in legislative affairs. His thoughts were elsewhere, and he was
impatient for removal, before cold weather should set in, to his
far-distant home.
Late in October he set out with his little family on foot, for their
long journey of one hundred and fifty miles through almost a pathless
forest. His poverty was extreme. But the peculiar character of the man
was such that he did net seem to regard that at all. Two pack-horses
conveyed all their household goods. Crockett led the party, with a
child on one arm and his rifle on the other. He walked gayly along,
singing as merrily as the birds. Half a dozen dogs followed him. Then
came the horses in single file. His wife and older children, following
one after the other in single file along the narrow trail, closed up
the rear. It was a very singular procession, thus winding its way,
through forest and moor, over hills and prairies, to the silent shores
of the Mississippi. The eventful journey was safely accomplished, and
he found all things as he had left them. A rich harvest of golden ears
was waving in his corn-field; and his comfortable cabin, in all
respects as comfortable as the one he had left, was ready to receive
its inmates.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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