Page:An essay on the origin and relative status of the white and colored races of mankind.djvu/27

 by which you are to live; choose among them according to your fancy.' 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 hunting, he stopped and looked hard at them. The red man trembled, for he had set his heart upon that box. The white man, however, after looking upon it for a moment, passed on, and chose the books and papers. The red man's turn came next; and you may be sure he seized, 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 everything, even Rum and whisky That the red man should be a first rate hunter, and a mighty warrior; but he was not to learn any thing from books, as the Great Spirit had not given him any; nor was he to make Rum and Whisky, lest he should kill himself with drinking. As to the black man, as he had nothing but working tools, it was clear he was to work for the white and red man, which he has continued to do. We must go according to the wishes of the Great Spirit, or we shall get into trouble. To know how to read and write, is very good for white men, but very bad for red men. It makes white men better, but red men worse. Some of the Creeks and Cherokes learned to read and write, and they are the greatest rascals among all the indians. They went to Washington, and said they were going to see their Great Father to talk about the good of the nation. And when they got there, they all wrote upon a little piece of paper, without the nation at home knowing any thing about it. And the first thing the nation at home knew of the