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 as 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]