An aged Indian, who for many years had spent much of his time among
the white people both in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, one day, about
the year 1770, observed, that the Indians had not only a much easier
way of getting a wife than the whites, but were also more certain of
getting a _good_ one; ‘for’ (said he in his broken English) ‘white man
court—court—may be one whole year!—may be two before he marry!—well!—may
be then get _very good_ wife—but, may be _not_—may be _very_ cross! Well
now, suppose cross! Scold so soon at get awake in the morning! Scold
all day! Scold until sleep!—all one; he must keep _him_! White people
have law forbidding throwing away wife, be _he_ ever so cross! must keep
_him_ always! Well? how does Indian do? Indian when he see industrious
squaw, which he like, he go to _him_, place his two fore-fingers close
aside each other, make two look like one—look squaw in the face—see _him_
smile—which is all one _he_ say, yes! so he take _him_ home—no danger
_he_ be cross! no! no! Squaw know too well what Indian do if _he_ be
cross!—throw _him_ away and take another! Squaw love to eat meat! no
husband! no meat! Squaw do every thing to please husband; he do the same
to please squaw! live happy!’
[Illustration]