ver my persimmon. I had a
pretty well informed constable, however, and he aided me very much in
this business. Indeed, I told him, when he should happen to be out
anywhere, and see that a warrant was necessary, and would have a good
effect, he needn't take the trouble to come all the way to me to get
one, but he could just fill out one; and then, on the trial, I could
correct the whole business if he had committed any error.

"In this way I got on pretty well, till, by care and attention, I
improved my handwriting in such a manner as to be able to prepare my
warrants and keep my record-books without much difficulty. My judgments
were never appealed from; and if they had been, they would have stuck
like wax, as I gave my decisions on the principles of common justice
and honesty between man and man, and relied on natural-born sense, and
not on law-learning, to guide me; for I had never read a page in a
law-book in all my life."

Esquire Crockett was now a rising man. He was by no means diffident.
With strong native sense, imperturbable self-confidence, a memory
almost miraculously stored with rude anecdotes, and an astonishing
command of colloquial and slang language, he was never embarrassed, and
never at a loss as to what to say or to do.

They were about getting up a new regiment of militia there, and a
Captain Mathews, an ambitious, well-to-do settler, with cribs full of
corn, was a candidate for the colonelship. He came to Crockett to
insure his support, and endeavored to animate him to more cordial
cooperation by promising to do what he could to have him elected major
of the regiment. Esquire Crockett at first declined, saying that he was
thoroughly disgusted with all military operations, and that he had no
desire for any such honors. But as Captain Mathews urged the question,
and Crockett reflected that the office would give him some additional
respect and influence with his neighbors, and that Major Crockett was a
very pleasantly sounding title, he finally consented, and, of course,
very soon became deeply interested in the enterprise.

Captain Mathews, as an electioneering measure, invited all his
neighbors, far and near, to a very magnificent corn-husking frolic.
There was to be a great treat on the occasion, and "all the world," as
the French say, were eager to be there. Crockett and his family were of
course among the invited guests. When Crockett got there he found an
immense gathering, all in high glee,