“I concluded that I would wait until he returned. I set in to work for
a man by the name of John Gray, at twenty-five cents per day. My labour,
however, was light, such as ploughing in some small grain, in which I succeeded
in pleasing the old man very well. I continued working for him until the
waggoner got back, and for a good long time afterwards, as he continued to run
his team back and forward, hauling to and from Baltimore.
In the next spring, from the proceeds of my daily labour, small as it
was, I was able to get me some decent clothes, and concluded I would make a
trip with the waggoner to Baltimore, and see what sort of a place that was, and
what sort of folks lived there. I gave him the balance of what money I had for
safe keeping, which, as well as I recollect, was about seven dollars.
We got on well enough until we came near Ellicott's Mills. Our load
consisted of flour, in barrels. Here I got into the waggon for the purpose of
changing my clothing, not thinking that I was in any danger; but while I was in
there we were met by some wheel-barrow men, who were working on the road, and
the horses took a scare and away they went, like they had seen a ghost. They
made a sudden wheel around, and broke the waggon tongue slap, short off, as a
pipe-stem; and snap went both of the axletrees at the same time, and of all
devlish flouncing about of flour barrels that ever was seen, I reckon this took
the beat. Even a rat would have stood a bad chance in a straight race among
them, and not much better in a crooked one; for he would have been in a good
way to be ground up as fine as ginger by their rolling over him.
But this proved to me, that if a fellow is born to be hung, he will
never be drowned ; and, further, that if he is born for a seat in Congress,
even flour barrels can't make a mash of him. All these dangers I escaped unhurt,
though, like most of the office-holders of these times, for a while I was
afraid to say my soul was my own ; for I didn't know how soon I should be
knocked into a cocked hat, and get my walking papers for another country.
We put our load into another waggon, and hauled ours to a workman's
shop in Baltimore, having delivered the flour, and there we intended to remain
two or three days, which time was necessary to repair the runaway waggon. While
I was there, I went, one day, down to the wharf, and was much delighted to see
the big ships, and their sails all flying; for I had never seen any such things
before, and, indeed, I didn't believe there were any such things in all nature.
After a short time my curiosity induced me to step aboard of one, where I was
met by the captain, who asked me if I didn't wish to take a voyage to London I
told him I did, for by this time I had become pretty well weaned from home, and
I cared but little where I was, or where I went, or what become of me. He said
he wanted just such a boy as I was, which I was glad to hear. I told him I
would go and get my clothes, and go with him. He enquired about my parents,
where they lived, and all about them. I let him know that they lived in
Tennessee, many hundred miles off. We soon agreed about my intended voyage, and
I went back to my friend, the waggoner, and informed him that I was going to
London, and wanted my money and my clothes. He refused to let me have either,
and swore that he would confine me, and take me back to Tennessee."
Crockett, Davy. A Narrative of
the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee, written by himself. Phila: 1834
©2018 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD
No comments:
Post a Comment