than in the unpolished diction of this
illiterate boy. If one would understand this extraordinary character,
it is necessary thus to catch such glimpses as we can of his inner
life. Let this necessity atone for the unpleasant rudeness of speech.
Be it remembered that this reminiscence was written after David
Crockett was a member of Congress.

"I soon found myself head over heels in love with this girl. I thought
that if all the hills about there were pure chink, and all belonged to
me, I would give them if I could just talk to her as I wanted to. But I
was afraid to begin; for when I would think of saying anything to her,
my heart would begin to flutter like a duck in a puddle. And if I tried
to outdo it and speak, it would get right smack up in my throat, and
choke me like a cold potato. It bore on my mind in this way, till at
last I concluded I must die if I didn't broach the subject. So I
determined to begin and hang on a-trying to speak, till my heart would
get out of my throat one way or t'other.

"And so one day at it I went, and after several trials I could say a
little. I told her how I loved her; that she was the darling object of
my soul and body, and I must have her, or else I should pine down to
nothing, and just die away with consumption.

"I found my talk was not disagreeable to her. But she was an honest
girl, and didn't want to deceive nobody. She told me she was engaged to
her cousin, a son of the old Quaker. This news was worse to me than
war, pestilence, or famine. But still I know'd I could not help myself.
I saw quick enough my cake was dough; and I tried to cool off as fast
as possible. But I had hardly safety pipes enough, as my love was so
hot as mighty nigh to burst my boilers. But I didn't press my claims
any more, seeing there was no chance to do anything."

David's grief was very sincere, and continued as long as is usually the
case with disappointed lovers.

David soon began to cherish some slight idea of the deficiency in his
education. He had never been to school but four days; and in that time
he had learned absolutely nothing. A young man, a Quaker, had opened a
school about a mile and a half from Mr. Kennedy's. David made an
arrangement with his employer by which he was to go to school four days
in the week, and work the other two days for his board. He continued in
this way for six months. But it was very evident that David was not
born for a scholar. At the end of that time he c