old indian days(古印第时期)-第27节
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Matosapa's sisters and his girl cousins are told of the ap… proaching event；
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and they too prepare for it； since it is their duty to dress or adorn the bride
with garments made by their own hands。
With the Sioux of the old days； the great natural crises of human life；
marriage and birth； were considered sacred and hedged about with great
privacy。 Therefore the union is publicly celebrated after and not before
its consum… mation。 Suddenly the young couple disappear。 They go out
into the wilderness together； and spend some days or weeks away from the
camp。 This is their honeymoon； away from all curious or prying eyes。
In due time they quietly return； he to his home and she to hers； and now at
last the marriage is announced and invitations are given to the feast。
The bride is ceremoniously delivered to her husband's people； together
with presents of rich clothing collected from all her clan； which she
afterward distributes among her new relations。 Winona is carried in a
travois handsomely dec… orated； and is received with equal ceremony。 For
several days following she is dressed and painted by the female relatives
of the groom； each in her turn； while in both clans the wedding feast is
celebrated。
To illustrate womanly nobility of nature； let me tell the story of
Dowanhotaninwin； Her… Singing…Heard。 The maiden was deprived of
both father and mother when scarcely ten years old； by an attack of the
Sacs and Foxes while they were on a hunting expedition。 Left alone with
her grandmother； she was carefully reared and trained by this sage of the
wild life。
Nature had given her more than her share of attractiveness； and she
was womanly and win… ning as she was handsome。 Yet she remained
unmarried for nearly thirty yearsa most un… usual thing among us； and
although she had worthy suitors in every branch of the Sioux na… tion； she
quietly refused every offer。
Certain warriors who had distinguished them… selves against the
particular tribe who had made her an orphan； persistently sought her hand
in marriage； but failed utterly。
One summer the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes were brought together
under a flag of truce by the Commissioners of the Great White Father； for
the purpose of making a treaty with them。 During the short period of
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friendly in… tercourse and social dance and feast； a noble warrior of the
enemy's tribe courted Dowan… hotaninwin。
Several of her old lovers were vying with one another to win her at the
same time； that she might have inter…tribal celebration of her wed… ding。
Behold！ the maiden accepted the foe of her childhoodone of those
who had cruelly de… prived her of her parents！
By night she fled to the Sac and Fox camp with her lover。 It seemed
at first an insult to the Sioux； and there was almost an outbreak among the
young men of the tribe； who were barely restrained by their respect for the
Com… missioners of the Great Father。
But her aged grandfather explained the mat… ter publicly in this
fashion：
〃Young men； hear ye！ Your hearts are strong； let them not be troubled
by the act of a young woman of your tribe！ This has been her secret wish
since she became a woman。 She deprecates all tribal warfare。 Her
young heart never forgot its early sorrow； yet she has never blamed the
Sacs and Foxes or held them re… sponsible for the deed。 She blames
rather the customs of war among us。 She believes in the formation of a
blood brotherhood strong enough to prevent all this cruel and useless
enmity。 This was her high purpose； and to this end she re… served her
hand。 Forgive her； forgive her； I pray！〃
In the morning there was a great commotion。 The herald of the Sacs
and Foxes entered the Sioux camp； attired in ceremonial garb and bearing
in one hand an American flag and in the other a peace…pipe。 He made the
rounds singing a peace song； and delivering to all an invitation to attend
the wedding feast of Dowanhotaninwin and their chief's son。 Thus all
was well。 The simplicity； high purpose； and bravery of the girl won the
hearts of the two tribes； and as long as she lived she was able to keep the
peace be… tween them。
III SNANA'S FAWN
The Little Missouri was in her spring fullness； and the hills among
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which she found her way to the Great Muddy were profusely adorned with
colors； much like those worn by the wild red man upon a holiday！ Looking
toward the sunrise； one saw mysteri… ous； deep shadows and bright
prominences； while on the opposite side there was really an extravagant
array of variegated hues。 Between the gorgeous buttes and rainbow…
tinted ridges there were narrow plains； broken here and there by dry creeks
or gulches； and these again were clothed scantily with poplars and sad…
colored bull…berry bushes； while the bare spots were pur… ple with the wild
Dakota crocuses。
Upon the lowest of a series of natural ter… races there stood on this
May morning a young Sioux girl； whose graceful movements were not
unlike those of a doe which chanced to be lurk… ing in a neighboring gulch。
On the upper plains； not far away； were her young companions； all busily
employed with the wewoptay； as it was calledthe sharp…pointed stick
with which the Sioux women dig wild turnips。 They were gayly
gossiping together； or each humming a love…song as she worked； only
Snana stood some… what apart from the rest； in fact； concealed by the crest
of the ridge。
She had paused in her digging and stood fac… ing the sun…kissed buttes。
Above them in the clear blue sky the father sun was traveling up… ward as
in haste； while to her receptive spirit there appealed an awful； unknown
force； the silent speech of the Great Mystery； to which it seemed to her the
whole world must be listen… ing！
〃O Great Mystery！ the father of earthly things is coming to quicken us
into life。 Have pity on me； I pray thee！ May I some day be… come the
mother of a great and brave race of warriors！〃 So the maiden prayed
silently。 It was now full…born day。 The sun shone hot upon the bare
ground； and the drops stood upon Snana's forehead as she plied her long
pole。 There was a cool spring in the dry creek bed near by； well hidden
by a clump of choke… cherry bushes； and she turned thither to cool her
thirsty throat。 In the depths of the ravine her eye caught a familiar
footprintthe track of a doe with the young fawn beside it。 The hunting
instinct arose within。
〃It will be a great feat if I can find and take from her the babe。 The
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little tawny skin shall be beautifully dressed by my mother。 The legs and
the nose shall be embossed with porcupine quills。 It will be my work…
bag；〃 she said to herself。
As she stole forward on the fresh trail she scanned every nook； every
clump of bushes。 There was a sudden rustle from within a grove of wild
plum trees； thickly festooned with grape and clematis； and the doe mother
bounded away as carelessly as if she were never to return。
Ah； a mother's ruse！ Snana entered the thorny enclosure； which was
almost a rude tee… pee； and； tucked away in the furthermost corner； lay
something with a trout…like； speckled； tawny coat。 She bent over it。
The fawn was appar… ently sleeping。 Presently its eyes moved a bit； and
a shiver passed
