Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, had a tragic childhood. Jackson's parents were a poor Scotch Irish family, and his parents came to America in 1765 with their sons, Hugh and Robert. The Jacksons settled near the North and South Carolina boundary.

Jackson's father built a log cabin and began farming, but he died two months before Andrew was born. Mrs. Jackson and her two sons moved into a nearby log cabin belonging to the Crawfords. Mrs. Crawford was the sister of Mrs. Jackson.

In 1775, the Revolutionary War began and Hugh, the oldest Jackson son, volunteered for the American militia. Hugh was killed in a battle, and soon Robert and Andrew volunteered for the militia. Robert and Andrew were captured and became prisoners-of-war. Robert caught smallpox, and Mrs. Jackson went to the camp to nurse Robert. However, Mrs. Jackson also caught smallpox, and she and Robert died. Nevetheless, Mrs. Jackson gave sage advice to Andrew before she died. She said, "Never tell a lie, nor take what is not your own."

Andrew became an orphan at the age of 14. Later, he said, "I felt alone."

Roy Wetherington

Tifton

P.S. — Truthfulness should be required of the President and presidential candidates.