king and carousing, and that David had been so good
a boy that he should be very sorry to have him get a bad name.

The curiosity of the impetuous young man was, however, by this time,
too much aroused for any persuasions to hold him back. Shouldering his
rifle, he hastened to the reaping at the appointed day. Upon his
arrival at the place he found a large company already assembled. He
looked around for the pretty girl, but she was nowhere to be seen. She
chanced to be in a shed frolicking with some others of the young people.

But as David, with his rifle on his shoulder, sauntered around, an aged
Irish woman, full of nerve and volubility, caught sight of him. She was
the mother of the girl, and had been told of the object of David's
visit. He must have appeared very boyish, for he had not yet entered
his eighteenth year, and though very wiry and athletic, he was of
slender frame, and rather small in stature.

The Irish woman hastened to David; lavished upon him compliments
respecting his rosy cheeks, and assured him that she had exactly such a
sweet heart for him as he needed. She did not allow, David to have any
doubt that she would gladly welcome him as the husband of her daughter.

Pretty soon the young, fresh, blooming, mirthful girl came along; and
David fell in love with her at first sight. Not much formality of
introduction was necessary: each was looking for the other. Both of the
previous loves of the young man were forgotten in an instant. He
devoted himself with the utmost assiduity, to the little Irish girl. He
was soon dancing with her. After a very vigorous "double shuffle," as
they were seated side by side on a bench intensely talking, for David
Crockett was never at a loss for words, the mother came up, and, in her
wonderfully frank mode of match-making, jocosely addressed him as her
son-in-law.

Even David's imperturbable self-possession was disturbed by this
assailment. Still he was much pleased to find both mother and daughter
so favorably disposed toward him. The rustic frolicking continued
nearly all night. In the morning, David, in a very happy frame of mind,
returned to the Quaker's, and in anticipation of soon setting up
farming for himself, engaged to work for him for six months for a
low-priced horse.

CHAPTER III.

Marriage and Settlement.

Rustic Courtship.--The Rival Lover.--Romantic Incident.--The Purchase
of a Horse.--The Wedding.--Singular Ceremonies.--The Termagant.--Bri