old indian days(古印第时期)-第24节
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you may know their language forever。 I will hang the cradle of the
woman…child upon Utuhu； the oak； and she shall hear the love…sighs of the
pine maiden！〃
In this fashion Winona is introduced to nature and becomes at once
〃nature…born；〃 in accord with the beliefs and practices of the wild red man。
〃Here she is！ Take her；〃 says the old woman on her return from the
woods。 She pre… sents the child to its mother； who is sitting in the shade
of an elm…tree as quietly as if she had not just passed through woman's
severest or… deal in giving a daughter to the brave Cheton… ska！
〃She has a winsome face； as meek and in… nocent as the face of an
ermine；〃 graciously adds the grandmother。
The mother does not speak。 Silently and al… most reverently she
takes her new and first…born daughter into her arms。 She gazes into its
vel… vety little face of a dusky red tint； and uncon… sciously presses the
closely swaddled form to her breast。 She feels the mother…instinct seize
upon her strongly for the first time。 Here is a new life； a new hope； a
possible link between herself and a new race！
Ah； a smile plays upon her lips； as she realizes that she has kissed her
child！ In its eyes and mouth she discerns clearly the features she has
loved in the strong countenance of another； though in the little woman's
face they are soft… ened and retouched by the hand of the 〃Great Mystery。〃
The baby girl is called Winona for some months； when the medicine…
man is summoned and requested to name publicly the first…born daughter
of Chetonska； the White Hawk； but not until he has received a present of a
good pony with a finely painted buffalo…robe。 It is usual to confer
another name besides that of the 〃First…born；〃 which may be resumed later
if the maiden proves worthy。 The name Wi… nona implies much of honor。
It means char… itable； kind； helpful； all that an eldest sister should be！
The herald goes around the ring of lodges announcing in singsong
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fashion the christening； and inviting everybody to a feast in honor of the
event。 A real American christening is al… ways a gala occasion； when
much savage wealth is distributed among the poor and old people。
Winona has only just walked； and this fact is also announced with
additional gifts。 A well… born child is ever before the tribal eye and in the
tribal ear； as every little step in its progress toward manhood or
womanhoodthe first time of walking or swimming； first shot with bow
and arrow （if a boy）； first pair of moccasins made （if a girl）is announced
publicly with feasting and the giving of presents。
So Winona receives her individual name of Tatiyopa； or Her Door。 It
is symbolic； like most Indian names； and implies that the door of the
bearer is hospitable and her home attrac… tive。
The two grandmothers； who have carried the little maiden upon their
backs； now tell and sing to her by turns all the legends of their most noted
female ancestors； from the twin sisters of the old story； the maidens who
married among the star people of the sky； down to their own mothers。
All her lullabies are feminine； and designed to impress upon her tender
mind the life and duties of her sex。
As soon as she is old enough to play with dolls she plays mother in all
seriousness and gravity。 She is dressed like a miniature woman （and her
dolls are clad likewise）； in garments of doeskin to her ankles； adorned with
long fringes； embroidered with porcupine quills； and dyed with root dyes
in various colors。 Her lit… tle blanket or robe； with which she shyly
drapes or screens her head and shoulders； is the skin of a buffalo calf or a
deer； soft； white； embroi… dered on the smooth side； and often with the
head and hoofs left on。
〃You must never forget； my little daughter； that you are a woman like
myself。 Do always those things that you see me do；〃 her mother often
admonishes her。
Even the language of the Sioux has its fem… inine dialect； and the tiny
girl would be greatly abashed were it ever needful to correct her for using
a masculine termination。
This mother makes for her little daughter a miniature copy of every
rude tool that she uses in her taily tasks。 There is a little scraper of elk…
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horn to scrape rawhides preparatory to tan… ning them； another scraper of a
different shape for tanning； bone knives； and stone mallets for pounding
choke…cherries and jerked meat。
While her mother is bending over a large buffalo…hide stretched and
pinned upon the ground； standing upon it and scraping off the fleshy
portion as nimbly as a carpenter shaves a board with his plane； Winona； at
five years of age； stands upon a corner of the great hide and industriously
scrapes away with her tiny instru… ment！ When the mother stops to
sharpen her tool； the little woman always sharpens hers also。 Perhaps
there is water to be fetched in bags made from the dried pericardium of an
animal； the girl brings some in a smaller water…bag。 When her mother
goes for wood she carries one or two sticks on her back。 She pitches her
play teepee to form an exact copy of her mother's。 Her little belongings
are nearly all practical； and her very play is real！
Thus； before she is ten years old； Winona be… gins to see life honestly
and in earnest； to con… sider herself a factor in the life of her peoplea link
in the genealogy of her race。 Yet her effort is not forced； her work not
done from necessity； it is normal and a development of the play…in… stinct
of the young creature。 This sort of train… ing leads very early to a
genuine desire to serve and to do for others。 The little Winona loves to
give and to please； to be generous and gra… cious。 There is no thought of
trafficking or economizing in labor and in love。
〃Mother； I want to be like the beavers； the ants； and the spiders；
because my grandmother says those are the people most worthy of imita…
tion for their industry。 She also tells me that I should watch the bee； the
one that has so many daughters； and allows no young men to come around
her daughters while they are at work making sweets；〃 exclaims the little
maiden。
〃Truly their industry helps us much； for we often take from their
hoard；〃 remarks the mother。
〃That is not right； is it mother； if they do not wish to share with us？〃
asks Winona。 〃But I think the bee is stingy if she has so much and will
not share with any one else！ When I grow up； I shall help the poor！ I
shall have a big teepee and invite old people often； for when people get
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old they seem to be always hungry； and I think we ought to feed them。〃
〃My little daughter will please me and her father if she proves to be
industrious and skillful with her needle and in all woman's work。 Then
she can have a fine teepee and make it all cheer… ful within。 The indolent
woman has a small teepee； and it is very smoky。 All her children will
have sore eyes； and her husband will soon become ill…tempered；〃 declares
the mother； in all seriousness。
〃And； daughter； there is something more than this needed to make a
cheerful home。 You must have a good heart； be patient； and speak but
little。 Every creature that talks too much is sure to make trouble；〃 she
concludes； wisely。
One day this careful mother has completed a beautiful little teepee of
the skin of a buffalo calf； worked with red porcupine quills in a row of
rings just below the smoke…flaps and on each side
