Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-01-01
A SEMINOLE TRADITION.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

A SEMINOLE TRADITION.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
When the Floridas were erected into
territory ofthe United States, one of the
earliest cares of the Governor, William p.
Daval, was directed to the instruction and
civilization of the natives. For this purpose
he called meeting of the chiefs, in which he
informed them of the wish of their Great
Father at Washington, that they should have
schools and teachers among them, and that
their children should be instructed like the
children of the white men. The chiefs lis
tened with their customary silence and deco
rum to long speech, setting forth advanta-
ges that would accrue to them from this mea-
sure, and when he had concluded, begged
the interval of day to deliberate on it.
On the following day, solemn convoca-
ton was held, at which one of the chiefs adj
dressed the Governor in the name of all the
rest. "My brother" SAID he tive have been
thinking over the proposition of our Great
Father at Washington to send teachers and
set up schools among us. we are very
thankful for the interest he takes in our well
fare but after much deliberations, we have
concluded to decline this offer. What will
do very well for white men, will not do for
rcd men. | know you white men say we
all come from the same father and mother,
but you are mistaken. We have tradition
handed down from our forefatllers, and we
belive it, that the Great Spirit, when he un-
undertook to make men, made the black man.
it was his first attempt, and pretty well for a
beginning; but lesoon saw that he bungled !;
so he determined to try his hand again. He
did so, and he made the red man. He liked
him much better'tIlan 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, there
fore, that you were made last, and that is the
reason | call you my youngest brother.
When the Great Spirit had made three
men he called them together and showed
them three boxes. The first was filled with
books, maps, and papers: the second with
bows and arrows, knives and tomahawks:
the third with spades, axes, hoes, and ham
mers. "Thcse my sons" said he, "are the
means by which you are to live; choose
among them according to your fancy"
The white man being the favortc, had the
frs, choice. lie passed by the box of work.
to the weapons for war and hunting, he stop
ped and looked hard at them. The red
man trembled, for he had set his hear,
upon that box. The white man, however,
after looking upon it for a moment, passed
on, and chose the box of books and papers.
The red mans turn came next, and you
may be sure he siezed with joy upon the
bows and arrows and tomahawks. As to
the black man, he had no choice left, but to
put up with the box of tools.
From this it is clear that the Great Spirit
intended the white man should learn to read
and write; to understand all about the moon
and stars and TO make every thing, even
rum and whiskcy. That the red man should
be first rate hunter, and a mighty warrior,
but was not to learn any thing from books,
as the Great Spirit had not given him any,
nor was he to make rum and whiskoy, lest
he should kill himself with drinking. As to
the black man, as he had nothing but work.
ing tools, it was clear he was to work for the
white and red man, which he has continued
to do.
We must 90 according to the wishes of the
Great Spirit, or we shall get into trouble.
Toknow how to read and write is very good
for white men, but very bad for red men.
ltmakes white men better, but redmen worse.
Some Of the Greeks and Cherokees learnt to
read and write, and they are the greatest
rascals among all the Indians. They went
on to Washington and said they were "a going
to see thicr Great Father, to talk about the
good the nation. And whenthey got there,
they all wrote upon little piece of paper,
without the nation at home knowing any
thing about it. And the first thing the
nation knew at home ofthc matter, they were
called together by the Indian agent, who
showed them little piece of paper, which
he told them was treaty, whichtheir broth
ers had made in thier name, with their great
father at Washington. And as they knew
not, what treaty was, he held up little
piece ofpaper, and they looked under it,
and 10 it covered great extent of country,
and they found that their brother, by know
ing how to read and write had sold their
houses, and their lands, and the graves Of
their fathers ; and that the white man, by
Knowing how TO read and write, had gained
them. Tell our Great Father at Washington
therefore, that we are very sorry that we
cannot receive teachers among us :(or read
ing and writing, though very good for white
men, is very bad for Indians.
MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.