“’My visit to your city is rather accidental.  I had no expectation of attracting any uncommon attention.  I am travelling for my health, without the least wish of exciting the people in such times of high political feeling.  I do not wish to encourage it.  I am unable at this time to find language suitable to return my gratitude to the citizens of Philadelphia.  However, I am almost induced to believe it flattery—­perhaps a burlesque.  This is new to me, yet I see nothing but friendship in your faces; and if your curiosity is to hear the backwoodsman, I will assure you I am illy prepared to address this most enlightened people.  However, gentlemen, if this is a curiosity to you, if you will meet me to-morrow, at one o’clock, I will endeavor to address you, in my plain manner.’

“So I made my obeisance to them, and retired into the house.”

It is true that there was much of mere curiosity in the desire to see Colonel Crockett.  He was a strange and an incomprehensible man.  His manly, honest course in Congress had secured much respect.  But such developments of character as were shown in his rude and vulgar toast, before a party of gentlemen and ladies, excited astonishment.  His notoriety preceded him, wherever he went; and all were alike curious to see so strange a specimen of a man.

The next morning, several gentlemen called upon him, and took him in a carriage to see the various objects of interest in the city.  The gentlemen made him a present of a rich seal, representing two horses at full speed, with the words, “Go Ahead.”  The young men also made him a present of a truly magnificent rifle.  From Philadelphia he went to New York.  The shipping astonished him.  “They beat me all hollow,” he says, “and looked for all the world like a big clearing in the West, with the dead trees all standing.”

There was a great crowd upon the wharf to greet him.  And when the captain of the boat led him conspicuously forward, and pointed him out to the multitude, the cheering was tremendous.  A committee conducted him to the American Hotel, and treated him with the greatest distinction.  Again he was feted, and loaded with the greatest attentions.  He was invited to a very splendid supper, got up in his honor, at which there were a hundred guests.  The Hon. Judge Clayton, of Georgia, was present, and make a speech which, as Crockett says, fairly made the tumblers hop.

Crockett was then called up, as the “undeviating supporter of the Constitution and the laws.”  In response to this toast, he says,

“I made a short speech, and concluded with the story of the red cow, which was, that as long as General Jackson went straight, I followed him; but when he began to go this way, and that way, and every way, I wouldn’t go after him; like the boy whose master ordered him to plough across the field to the red cow.  Well, he began to plough, and she began to walk; and he ploughed all forenoon after her.  So when the master came, he swore at him for going so crooked.  ’Why, sir,’ said the boy, ’you told me to plough to the red cow, and I kept after her, but she always kept moving.’”