old indian days(古印第时期)-第25节
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rings just below the smoke…flaps and on each side of the front opening。
In the center of each ring is a tassel of red and white horse…hair。 The tip
of each smoke…flap is decorated with the same material； and the doorflap
also。
Within there are neatly arranged raw…hide boxes for housekeeping； and
square bags of soft buckskin adorned with blue and white beads。 On
either side of the fireplace are spread the tanned skins of a buffalo calf and
a deer； but there is no bear； wolf； or wildcat skin； for on these the foot of a
woman must never tread！ They are for men； and symbolical of manly vir…
tues。 There are dolls of all sizes； and a play travois leans against the
white wall of the minia… ture lodge。 Even the pet pup is called in to
complete the fanciful home of the little woman。
〃Now； my daughter；〃 says the mother； 〃you must keep your lodge in
order！〃
Here the little woman is allowed to invite other little women； her
playmates。 This is where the grandmothers hold sway； chaperoning their
young charges； who must never be long out of their sight。 The little
visitors bring their work…bags of various skins； artistically made and
trimmed。 These contain moccasins and other garments for their dolls； on
which they love to occupy themselves。
The brightly…painted rawhide boxes are re… served for food； and in
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these the girls bring va… rious prepared meats and other delicacies。 This
is perhaps the most agreeable part of the play to the chaperon； who is
treated as an honored guest at the feast！
Winona seldom plays with boys； even her own brothers and cousins；
and after she reaches twelve or fourteen years of age she scarcely speaks
to them。 Modesty is a virtue which is deeply impressed upon her from
early childhood； and the bashfully drooping head； the averted look； the
voice low and seldom heard； these are graces much esteemed in a maiden。
She is taught to pay great attention to the care of her long； glossy locks；
combing； plaiting； and perfuming them with sweet…scented leaves steeped
in oil。 Her personal appearance is well understood to be a matter of real
moment； and rich dress and ornaments are highly prized。 Fortunately
they never go out of fashion； and once owned are permanent possessions；
unless parted with as ceremonial gifts on some great occasion of mourning
or festivity。
When she reaches a marriageable age her father allows her to give a
feast to all the other girls of her immediate clan； and this 〃Feast of
Virgins〃 may only be attended by those of spot… less reputation。 To have
given or attended a number of them is regarded as a choice honor。
Tatiyopa； by the time she is fifteen； has al… ready a name for skill in
needlework； and gen… erosity in distributing the articles of her own making。
She is now generally called Winona the charitable and kind！ She
believes that it is woman's work to make and keep a home that will be
worthy of the bravest； and hospitable to all； and in this simple faith she
enters upon the realities of her womanhood。
II WINONA； THE CHILD…WOMAN
Braver than the bravest； You sought honors at death's
door； Could you not remember One who weeps at home
Could you not remember me？
Braver than the bravest； You sought honors more than
love； Dear； I weep； yet I am not a coward； My heart weeps
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
for thee My heart weeps when I remember thee！
Sioux Love Song。
The sky is blue overhead； peeping through window…like openings in a
roof of green leaves。 Right between a great pine and a birch tree their
soft doeskin shawls are spread； and there sit two Sioux maid… ens amid
their fineriesvariously colored por… cupine quills for embroidery laid
upon sheets of thin birch…bark； and moccasin tops worked in colors like
autumn leaves。 It is Winona and her friend Miniyata。
They have arrived at the period during which the young girl is
carefully secluded from her brothers and cousins and future lovers； and re…
tires； as it were； into the nunnery of the woods； behind a veil of thick
foliage。 Thus she is expected to develop fully her womanly qualities。
In meditation and solitude； entirely alone or with a chosen companion of
her own sex and age； she gains a secret strength； as she studies the art of
womanhood from nature herself。
Winona has the robust beauty of the wild lily of the prairie； pure and
strong in her deep colors of yellow and scarlet against the savage plain and
horizon； basking in the open sun like a child； yet soft and woman…like；
with droop… ing head when observed。 Both girls are beau… tifully robed
in loose gowns of soft doeskin； girded about the waist with the usual very
wide leather belt。
〃Come； let us practice our sacred dance；〃 says one to the other。 Each
crowns her glossy head with a wreath of wild flowers； and they dance with
slow steps around the white birch； singing meanwhile the sacred songs。
Now upon the lake that stretches blue to the eastward there appears a
distant canoe； a mere speck； no bigger than a bird far off against the
shining sky。
〃See the lifting of the paddles！〃 exclaims Winona。
〃 Like the leaping of a trout upon the water！〃 suggests Miniyata。
〃I hope they will not discover us； yet I would like to know who they
are；〃 remarks the other； innocently。
The birch canoe approaches swiftly； with two young men plying the
light cedar paddles。
The girls now settle down to their needle… work； quite as if they had
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never laughed or danced or woven garlands； bending over their
embroidery in perfect silence。 Surely they would not wish to attract
attention； for the two sturdy young warriors have already landed。
They pick up the canoe and lay it well up on the bank； out of sight。
Then one procures a strong pole。 They lift a buck deer from the canoe
not a mark upon it； save for the bullet wound； the deer looks as if it were
sleeping！ They tie the hind legs together and the fore legs also and carry it
between them on the pole。
Quickly and cleverly they do all this； and now they start forward and
come unexpectedly upon the maidens' retreat！ They pause for an instant
in mute apology； but the girls smile their forgiveness； and the youths hurry
on toward the village。
Winona has now attended her first maidens' feast and is considered
eligible to marriage。 She may receive young men； but not in public or in
a social way； for such was not the custom of the Sioux。 When he speaks；
she need not answer him unless she chooses。
The Indian woman in her quiet way preserves the dignity of the home。
From our standpoint the white man is a law…breaker！ The 〃Great
Mystery；〃 we say； does not adorn the woman above the man。 His law is
spreading horns； or flowing mane； or gorgeous plumage for the male； the
female he made plain； but comely； modest and gentle。 She is the
foundation of man's dignity and honor。 Upon her rests the life of the
home and of the family。 I have often thought that there is much in this
philos… ophy of an untutored people。 Had her husband remained long
enough in one place； the Indian woman； I believe； would have developed
no mean civilization and culture of her own。
It was no disgrace to the chief's daughter in the old days to work with
her hands。 Indeed； their standard of worth was the willingness to work；
but not for the sake of accumulation； only in order to give。 Winona has
