Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/25

Rh soon he was missing. Diligent search was made for him for many weeks, and at last his family learned that he was sojourning, more according to his existing taste, with the Cherokee Indians, who lived across the Tennessee River, Questioned by relatives as to his motives for such a wild choice, he replied, that he "preferred measuring deer tracks to measuring tape—that he liked the wild liberty of the red men better than the tyranny of his own brothers, and if he could not study Latin in the Academy, he could, at least, read a translation from the Greek in the woods, and read it in peace. So they could go home as soon as they liked." Nearly six feet high, and standing straight as an Indian, he commanded the respect and the good-will of the red men and their families. He did not make his appearance among his friends again until his clothes were worn out, and he returned for repairs and refitting. His good mother received him kindly, and his brothers cared for him properly. But he was driven to the woods again at the first exhibition of tyranny. Here, again, he passed months in wild chases, with his Indian mates, after the game of the forest, wandering by the streams with Indian maidens, communing in Nature's language in the period of his life which was fashioning the man for his destiny. He was at a school, learning his lessons, expanding those powers which in after-years were to be tested in associations with the various classes of human nature. No other American has ever had just such an education, and no other one has had just such an occasion for the education which he received. Those who prognosticated the future could see no good in these strange adventures and studies. But he was preparing for the career of a soldier, a general, a diplomatist, a governor, and a benefactor of his country and race. His knowledge of Indian character became complete. His sway over the savage mind was powerful. No Indian tribe violated a treaty with the Republic of Texas while he was its President; a fact which may be traced to his early acquaintance with Indian character. But his career among the Indians entailed upon him a small debt for articles of taste, which he purchased for the Indians. To liquidate this debt he returned to his white friends and proposed to open a school. This was a new surprise to those who knew him, and the enterprise advanced tardily. Persevering, however, in his determination, he soon had more scholars than he could teach, and was compelled to send some away. He raised the price of tuition from $6 to $8 per annum, and received it in equal amounts of corn, variegated cotton cloth, and cash. Having made money enough to pay off his debts, he returned to his old school-master and chosen studies. The master gave him Euclid's Elements of Geometry to study; for a few days he carried this unpoetic book back and forth, to and from school,