THE LIFE OF KIT CARSON

CHAPTER I.


Kit Carson's Youth -- His Visit to New Mexico -- Acts as Interpreter
and in Various Other Employments -- Joins a Party of Trappers and
Engages in a Fight with Indians -- Visits the Sacramento Valley.

"Kit Carson," the most famous hunter, scout and guide ever known in
this country, was a native of Kentucky, the scene of the principal
exploits of Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, the Wetzel brothers and
other heroic pioneers whose names are identified with the history
of the settlement of the West.

Christopher Carson was born in Madison county, December 24, 1809,
and, while he was still an infant, his father removed to Central
Missouri, which at that day was known as Upper Louisiana. It was
an immense wilderness, sparsely settled and abounding with wild
animals and treacherous Indians. The father of Carson, like most of
the early pioneers, divided his time between cultivating the land
and hunting the game in the forests. His house was made strong
and was pierced with loopholes, so as to serve him in his defence
against the red men that were likely to attack him and his family
at any hour of the day or night. In such a school was trained the
wonderful scout, hunter and guide.

No advantages in the way of a common school education were within
reach of the youth situated as was Kit Carson. It is to be believed,
however, that under the tutelage of his father and mother, he
picked up a fair knowledge of the rudimentary branches, for his
attainments in that respect were above the majority of those with
whom he was associated in after life.