he
arrived in this country, little Andrew being born about the time of his
death. One would hardly be justified in supposing young Jackson would
one day be ruler of a great nation, rising as he did from such a
beginning, yet such are the possibilities in our glorious republic.

His mother wished to make a preacher of him, but his boyhood is
represented as mischievous; to say the least, his belligerent nature
breaking out in childhood, and his mother's fond hope was signally
defeated. He was passionately fond of athletic sports, and was excelled
by none of his years. The determination he evinced in every undertaking
guided by his maxim of "Ask nothing but what is right--submit to nothing
wrong," seemed to be the key-note of his success, for he was not
addicted to books, and his education was limited.

Being an eye-witness of the horrible massacre perpetrated by the bloody
Tarlton at the Waxsaw settlement his patriotic zeal was terribly
awakened, and at the tender age of thirteen we find him among the
American forces, and his military career begins at Hanging Rock, where
he witnesses the defeat of Sumter, and he is soon a prisoner of the
enemy. The English officer ordered him to black his boots; at this all
the lion in young Jackson is aroused, and he indignantly refuses,
whereupon the officer strikes him twice with his sword, inflicting two
ugly wounds, one on his arm, the other on his head. He had the small-pox
while a prisoner, but his mother effected his exchange, and after a long
illness he recovered, but his brother died of the same disease.

Soon after his mother was taken from him--his other brother was killed
at Stono; thus left alone in the world he began a reckless course, which
must have been his ruin but for a sudden change for the better, when he
began the study of law at Salisbury, North Carolina, and before he was
twenty was licensed to practice.

Being appointed solicitor for the western district of North
Carolina--now Tennessee--he removed to Nashville, 1788. His practice
soon became large which, in those days, meant a great deal of travel on
horseback. He made twenty-two trips between Nashville and Jonesborough
during his first seven years, and dangerous trips they were, too, for
the Indians were numerous and hostile. When he came to Nashville he
entered, as a boarder, the family of Mrs. Donelson, a widow.

A Mr. and Mrs. Robards were boarders at the same home. Mr. Robards
becoming foolishly jealou