An Autobiography of Davy Crockett

by Stephen Brennan

  I went with the colonel to see little Thawburn’s seed store and a great place it is, for he has got all kinds of things there and for fear his bird-seed should not be fresh, he keeps a few hundred birds to eat it up in short order. To prove that his flower-seed is prime, he keeps thousands of little pots growing and mostly gits five times as much for the proof as he does for the seed. He is a little, old, weezened-up man, talks broad Scotch and is as active as a terrier dog.

  I now started to Jersey City, where I found a great many gentlemen shooting rifles at the distance of one hundred yards with a rest. One gentleman gave me his gun and asked me to shoot. I raised up, off-hand, and cut within about two inches of the centre. I told him my distance was forty yards, off-hand. He loaded his gun and we walked down to within forty yards, when I fired and was deep in the paper. I shot a second time and did the same. Colonel Mapes then put up a quarter of a dollar in the middle of the black spot and asked me to shoot at it. I told him he had better mark the size of it and put his money in his pocket. He said, “Fire away.” I did so, and made slight-of-hand work with his quarter. It was now time to return and prepare for my trip to Boston.

  AT three o’clock I left the hotel and went over to where the steamboat lay. When I went on board, the captain showed me into a splendid state-room, which I was to occupy for the voyage. So, when I had made toilet, (as great folks say); that is, combed my hair, and taken a glass of brandy and water, I went on deck. There I saw almost as many people as were when I landed and they kept gathering until the whole ground was covered and when we started, they cheered me for some time and all I could do was to stand and bow to them. This brought me into new trouble; for the passengers found I was on board and came round me so that I missed seeing the city until we got past it.

  Soon, however, we came to the place called Hell’s Gate; so called, I suppose, because the water boils and foams and bounces about as if it was in a pot. I don’t think, however, that this is a good name for it, because we are told in the good book that hell’s gate is a mighty slick place and easy to get into. Here I first saw a large square-sailed British merchant ship, under full sail. She was coming in through the channel and I was glad to see that for when we were voting for an appropriation for a fort to defend this place, I heard it said that no foreign ship ever attempted coming in that way. But these are the kind of arguments used most generally by those who oppose internal improvements, harbors, and they fancy things and speak them for truth.

  We went on very pleasantly till night and the captain told me if I would rise at daylight, we would be out of sight of land. So I went to bed and rose as soon as I could see. I walked out on deck, and sure enough, there was no land to be seen. We were coming near Fort Juda, a place where the captain informed me people on board was often very sea-sick. So I set myself down for a case but was disappointed; it was quite calm and a clear fine morning and when the sun rose it came up like a ball of fire out of the water and looked, for all the world, as if it had been made for the first time. We went around Point Juda and kept in sight of land on our left hand. There was very little timber to be seen; the whole country appeared to be laid off in fields, divided by stone fences. These were a great curiosity to me and I could not help thinking that their cattle must be well schooled here; for one of my cows would pitch over a dozen such fences without flirting her tail.

  We went by the great fort at the Naraganset bay and landed at Newport for a short time. From thence we took our way again to Providence. There I met a large number of the citizens. They cheered me on my arrival and wanted me to stay and partake of a dinner with them. I declined and took my seat in the fast stage. The driver was ordered to go ahead and sure enough he did. It was forty miles to Boston and we run it down in four hours.

  What mighty hard land it is on this road and seems as if the whole face of the earth had been covered over with stones as thick as Kentuck land titles but they have got them strung up into fences, as many as they can, by picking of them off but they won’t stay picked, for every time they plough, a new crop comes up.

  It was somewhere away long here that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth and begun to people this part of the world; and a hard time they must have had of it in this barren country. It seems odd that they should come all the way across the sea and not look out for good land. However, I suppose it was all right, or God would have given them better pilots. If they had had fine land, they would not have ventured so much on the ocean and would have had less necessity to work hard and bring up their children to industry and give them such cute teaching as makes them know how to make ducks and drakes of us out yonder when they come among us.

  You would be as much struck as I was with the hand some houses and nice farms; but when I came to find all out, I didn’t wonder so much. This was Captain A and that B’s house; and they made money on sea and spent it on land; that’s the truth; for Adam himself could not have made it out of the land. So I found out that the most of them owned a little plantation on shore and the run of the sea to work on besides.

  One of the passengers, who came from beyond Boston while we were talking over these things, asked me if I knew Captain Silsbee. I told him no. “I guess you do,” says he, “he’s our senator in Congress; but to home, we old folks call him captain.” I told him, certainly I did, but never knew him by that title. “Well, we know that none on ‘em boxed a compass longer nor better, and he made a power of money, and during the last war planked up more gold and silver to lend the government than Benton ever counted.”

  But I must quit philosophy and tell you where I stopped in Boston—and that was just where any one that has plenty of cash, and plenty of good-will for pleasure, would like—in a clean street, with a tavern on one side and the theatre on the other and both called Tremont. Mr. Boyden did not know me, nor me him; but when I told him my name, where they put it on the bar-book, he treated me like an old friend and continued to do so all the time I was there. He gave me a good room and nice bed; and did not, like many landlords, let a stranger take care of himself, but attended to me the kindest in the world. I had seen a great many fine taverns but take this out and out and Tremont House is a smart chance ahead. It is lately built and has every new arrangement and for a house with a couple of hundred people about it, is the quietest I ever was in. His head man of the gap, in the bar, has eyes all round him and Will Scarlet, as he is called by a friend of mine, has the sound of every bell in the house by heart. When I arrived, I knew no one, but in a short time I made many acquaintances and, in deed, was very kindly treated by every person I met. There is a great deal of friendly feeling with the eastern people and folks need not go out of Boston to find rale hospitality.

  Next morning I was invited by Mr. Harding to visit his gallery of paintings, where he had a great many speci mens of the fine arts and finally he asked me to sit for him until he could get my likeness, which I did, during my stay, and he has it now, hung up among the rest of the fine arts. From there I went to Faneuil Hall, where General Davis showed me all the accoutrements of war for several companies of infantry and riflemen that was deposited in it. These are in snug rooms on each side of the second story and in the middle is the parade-room, where, summer and winter, the companies meet to drill. This is doing things in true style, that is all for use, and no show about it. So instead of hearing a great fuss with volunteers and drilling and all that wheeling and marching, handle cartridge, eyes right; you see a squad of fine soldiers coming out of this same place and squared up as if they were the rale breed.

  General Davis informed me this was the house that was called the “cradle of liberty.” I reckon old king George thought they were thundering fine children that was rocked in it, and a good many of them, and that no won der his red-coats were licked when the children came out with soldier clothes on and muskets in their hands. God grant that the liberty-tree bough on which this cradle rocks may never break.

  From here I went to the market, which is a small cir cumstance ahead of any
thing I ever saw and just where it should be. Now, in Philadelphia, it looks like a long feeding-trough, stuck up in the middle of the city. And how d’ye think it was done? Why, they put a man of head in, as mayor, who laid all his plans, counted the cost, cyphered out the profits and so forth, and then made one pitch right “ahead” and before the ninnies and scarey folks had half done telling their long stories about the dreadful expense, Mayor Quincy’s hammers were keeping time on the big granite stones and the beautiful pillars were rising up as if he had just ordered them. In this market-house everything looks like so many different shops or stores, and you are quite indoors, instead of sellers and buyers both being exposed to wet, heat, and cold. The market appeared to be abundantly supplied but, as I thought, rather dear.

  After returning home, I was invited over to Roxborough, where they make the Indian-rubber clothing, and shoes. This is done by dissolving the rubber and putting it on silk and other cloth, which entirely turns the rain and still is pliable and not heavy. The proprietor made me a present of a hunting coat, which I have tried, and would risk my powder under it for forty days and nights. It was a great curiosity to see the young ladies cutting out the clothes and sticking them together without sewing them. I went also through the shoe factory where they make shoes in the same way without stitching them. I could not help thinking of the Philadelphia girls, thought they ought to have them, to keep their feet dry.

  We often wonder how things are made so cheap among the Yankees. Come here, and you will see women doing men’s work and happy and cheerful as the day is long and why not? Is it not much better for themselves and families, instead of sitting up all day busy about nothing? It ain’t hard work, neither, and looked as queer to me as it would to one of my countrywomen to see a man milking the cows, as they do here.

  After I had seen all that was to be seen here, I was taken to Colonel Perkins’ carpet factory. There I saw the widest web I ever saw and they were glossing and stamping it in handsome style. I was quite friendly re ceived by the colonel. He is said to be a very rich man; is quite old, but firm and healthy in appearance and uses his riches in the best possible way: by keeping a great many people busy. And he is not one of those foolish peo ple, neither, that strive all their days to see how rich they can die: for he gives with his hands open. I saw one house in Boston which he gave to keep the blind in and was told it was worth fifty thousand dollars. What a comfort the old gentleman must have when he looks at his great possessions and is calculating not how much he can hoard up but how much he can give away. God never made such men to be envied or I could begrudge him a few of his blessings from the poor and destitute.

  At the invitation of the owners of the Indian-rubber factory, I met a number of the citizens of Roxborough and passed a short time with them very pleasantly.

  When I returned to the Tremont, I received an invita tion from the young Whigs, to sup with them at eight o’clock. I accepted their invitation and then went over to the Navy Yard at Charlestown. I saw many fine ships and among them was the splendid old Constitution. She was lying in dry dock, and had been new timbered in grand style. The likeness of Andrew Jackson was placed on her for a figure-head. I was asked if it was a good like ness. I said I had never seen him misrepresented but that they had fixed him just where he had fixed himself, that was, before the Constitution.

  We then went up to the old battle-ground on Bunker’s hill, where they were erecting a monument to those who fell in that day-break battle of our rising glory. I felt as if I wanted to call them up and ask them to tell me how to help to protect the liberty they bought for us with their blood; but as I could not do so, I resolved on that holy ground, as I had done elsewhere, to go for my country, always and everywhere.

  When I came back from Bunker’s hill, I received about a half a dozen invitations from distinguished citizens of Boston, to dine or sup with them, so that it was impossible to attend to all of them unless I had the digestion of a cassowary. I must here state that the citizens generally of Boston are uncommon kind and civil and if they un derstand the art of making money they know how to spend it. I was entertained like a prince and could have lived there, I suspect, on the same terms for much longer. They appear to me to live generally in New England more snugly and have more kind feelings to one another and live in more peace and harmony than any people I ever was among. And another good thing: they don’t forget one another when they are among strangers; old New England binds them hard together and this gives them, as it ought to do, strength and confidence and influence; and with us in the South Yankee cunning is assuming the true name: Yankee knowledge of business and perseverance in whatever they undertake.

  During the afternoon many gentlemen came to see me and we spent our time pleasantly until the time came for me to attend upon the young Whigs. A coach and four fine horses was sent for me. This I considered as too much honor but as I take all things as they come, and everything for the best, I stepped into it and off they whirled with the backwoods hunter. Which way they drove I did not know nor did I care. I knew they would not eat supper till I got there and that they would not serve me as Lafayette was served at a certain place where he was expected to land and dine. The steamboat went wrong and he did not arrive; so they eat their dinners and took out the frolic. About sundown, the boat came up, the orator of the day was called for; he was as blind as a pup; but the moment the old general touched the ground, he put at him with abundance of welcomes and compliments about his heroism until he got up in the pathetics when he said, “Glorious Lafayette, the blood you have shed, and the treasures you expended in defence of the liberties of this country, call for our gratitude. I want words to convey my ideas; in fact, (striking his hand on his belly instead of his heart), I’m too full to proceed.” The old gentleman seized his hand, gave it a hearty shake, and so the oration ended.

  We came to the appointed place, where I was taken in and introduced to about one hundred young gentlemen, true chips of the old block, ready to be rocked in the old cradle, whether for fight or frolic, war or electioneering. They gave me a hearty welcome and made me feel all as one of themselves. So down we sat to an elegant supper, with the best of wine and the champagne foaming up as if you were supping fog out of speaking-trumpets.

  After the cloth was removed and several toasts drank, they toasted me very warmly. I rose and addressed them.

  Early next morning I got up and my health being much improved, I felt just like I was in peace with myself and all the world. After breakfast, I took a long walk through the city and passed through the Mall. This is a beautiful green of something like forty acres, I should judge, and looks refreshing in the midst of a city. From the top of the Statehouse I had a fine view of the city and was quite amused to see the representation of a large codfish hung up in the House of Assembly, or General Court, as they call it, to remind them either that they depended a good deal on it for food or made money by the fisheries. This is quite natural to me, for at home I have on one end of my house the antlers of a noble buck and the heavy paws of a bear.

  I did not like the statue of General Washington in the Statehouse. They have a Roman gown on him and he was an American; this ain’t right. They did the thing better at Richmond, in Virginia, where they have him in the old blue and buff. He belonged to this country; heart, soul, and body; and I don’t want any other to have any part of him, not even his clothes.

  I return the officers in the Statehouse my thanks for their civility. I can’t remember all their names, and there fore I won’t name any of them.

  When I returned to Tremont house, a gentleman in vited me to walk with him to the old Statehouse. When I reached that I saw a great crowd. General Davis con ducted me into the house and we went up stairs, where there was a platform. I drew off my hat and bowed to the people; they immediately cheered me and called for a speech which I had to make.

  Here now comes a poser. I was invited to dine out; but if I can mind the gentleman’s name I wish I may be shot. He lived near Trem
ont and I hope, if he has curiosity enough to read this here book, that he will write me a letter so that in my second edition I may give his name as large as life, and I beg him to recollect that it ain’t every one that signs a letter that makes himself known. Let him write it plain—none of your hieroglyphics—or I won’t put him in.

  Some would say that they were mortified that they for got this gentleman’s name. I ain’t; I’m sorry; but the truth is, I saw so many folks, and so many new things, that it’s no wander I should not mind everything. He was a clever fellow, and I know he will forgive me.

  When I went home, there I met a young man that was stone blind. “Well,” says you, “that’s no new thing.” Stop, if you please, that puts me in mind of an old parson and a scolding woman that belonged to his church. She told him, in one of her tantrums, that she could preach as well as he could, and he might select the text. “Well,” said the old man, “I’ll give you one, and you can study over it. It is better to dwell on the house-top than in a wide house with a brawling woman.” “You good-for-nothing, impudent, old—what shall I say? Do you go for to call me a brawling woman?” “Dear mistress,” said the good old man, “you’ll have to study a while longer, for you come to the application of the text before you discuss the doc trine.”

  Now it was not that I met a blind boy in Tremont house that was any curiosity, but it was his errand. He inquired of the barkeeper for me, as I was standing by him, and said he was sent by the teacher of the blind to invite me to visit the institution and that he would show me the way.

  I was told by the gentlemen present that he could go all over Boston. A gentleman accompanied me and we went on till we came to a fine house where the institution was kept. We went and were introduced to the teacher. He asked me if I wished to hear some of them read. I said I did and he ordered a little girl, perhaps ten or twelve years old, to get her book, asked her to find a certain chapter in the Old Testament, and read it. She took up the book and felt with her fingers until she found it. He then told her to read, and she did so with a clear, distinct voice. This was truly astonishing; but on examining their books I found that the letters were stamped on the under side of the paper, so as to raise them above the surface of the upper side; and such was the keenness of their touch that, by passing the end of the finger over the word, it served them for sight, and they pronounced the word. There was a little boy learning to cipher in the same way. The teacher put several questions to him aloud and, putting his fingers together and working with them for a short time, he answered all the questions correctly.