Whig Republican. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1840-18??, 1840-12-17
A SEMINOLE TRADITION.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
Fron. The Knicker6ocker of October 1916


Territory of the United States, one of the
Duval, was directed to the instruction and
civilization of the natives. For this pur-
pose, he called meeting of the chiefs, in
which he informed them of the wish of
their great father al Washington, that they
should have schools and teachers among
them, and that their children should be
instructed like the children of white men.
The chiefs listened with their customary
silence and decorum to long speech,
setting forth the advantages that would
accrue to them from this measure; and
when he had concluded, begged the inter-
val of day to deliberate on it.
On the following day, a solemn convo-
cation was held, at which one of their
chiefs addressed the Governor in the name
of all the rest "My BROTHER" said he
ave have been thinking over theproposi-
ton of our Great Father at Washington
to send teachers and setup schools among
us. We are very thankful for the interest
he takes IN our welfare; but, after much
deliberatlOn have concluded to decline his
offer. What will do very we'll for white
men, will not do for red men. i know
you white men say we all came from the
same father and mother, but you are mis-
taken. We have a tradition handed
down from our forefathers, and we believe
it. that the Great Spirit, when he under
took to make man, made the black man;
it was his first attempt. and pretty we'll for
a beginning; but he soon saw that he bun
ged, so he determined to try his hand a
gain. He did so and made the red man.
He liked him much better than the black
man but still he was not exactly what he
wanted. So he tried once more, and made
the white man-and then he was satisfied
You see, therefore that you were made
last, and that is the reason | call you my
| youngest brother.
"When the Great Spirit had made the
| three men, he called them, together and
showed them three boxes The first was
! filled with books, and maps and papers
the sece1d with bows and arrows, knives
and tomahawks; the third with spades
/ axes, hoes and hammers. "'These, my
sons: said he fare the means by which you
are to live; choose among them according
to your fancy
't'The white man being the favorite, had
the first choice. He passed by the box OF
working tools without notice; but when
he came to the weapons of war and hunt
ing, he stopped and looked hard at them
The red man uembled for he had set his
heart upon that box. The white man
! however, after looking upon it for q mo.
ment, passed on and chose the box o.
books and papers. The red mans turn
came next, and you may be sure he seized
with JOY upon the arrows and tomahaWks
= s to the black man, he had no choice
left but to putup with the box of tools.
"t'rom this 1t is clear that the Grea
4 Spirit intended that the white man should
learn to read and write to understand al
about the moon and stars, and to max,
every thing, even rum and whlskey Tha
the red man should be first rate hunter
and mighty warrior, but he was not Il
learn any thing from books, as the Grea
Spirit had not given him any; nor was h,
to make rum and whiskey, lest he should
kill himself drinking. As to the blacl
man, as he had nothing but working tool
it was clear he was to work for the whit,
and the red man, which he has continued
to do.
ave must 90 according TO the wishe
; of the Great Spirit, or we shall get int
) trouble. To know how to read and writ
} is very good for the white man, but yer,
/ bad for the red man. 1t makes white mel
: better, butt makes red men worse. Som
ofthe Creeks and Cherokees learned t
| read and write, and they are the creates
rascals among the Indians. They wentso
/ to Washington, and said they were.goIss
/ to see their great Father az 80
the good of the nationsr "a talk a .S
got there they.all - And -1: .ll5d ,' ,ne,
of paper, VI wrote urn 9 lllliq pleo
lSnowinsaaa ,iiout The nation al iio ~
Z t. anv tb;ag about it.. And tn
!. s me nation at home knew OF tn
81 tn nun tbey were called together by tn
) inla1lia an AGENT, who showed .thema It'll
li nee Of paper, which he told them was.
) II,nlaeatv which their brothers had made i
, her names with their Great Father
+ Washington. And as they knew nc
what a treaty was, he held up the llttl
J niece of paper, and they looked under |
I and lol.it covered a great extent OF cour
try. and they found that their brethren
: by knowing how to read and write: ia
. sold their houses, and their lands, and tn
J: graves of their fathers, and that the Whit
: man, by knowing how to read and WI WI