the soul of the indian-第3部分

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conceived　in　the　virgin　breast　of　primeval　nature；　and　dreamed　out

in　a　hush　that　is　only　broken　by　the　sighing　of　the　pine　tree　or

the　thrilling　orchestra　of　a　distant　waterfall。



And　when　the　day　of　days　in　her　life　dawnsthe　day　in　which

there　is　to　be　a　new　life；　the　miracle　of　whose　making　has　been

intrusted　to　her；　she　seeks　no　human　aid。　　She　has　been　trained　and

prepared　in　body　and　mind　for　this　her　holiest　duty；　ever

since　she　can　remember。　　The　ordeal　is　best　met　alone；　where　no

curious　or　pitying　eyes　embarrass　her；　where　all　nature　says　to　her

spirit：　〃'Tis　love！　'tis　love！　the　fulfilling　of　life！〃　　When　a

sacred　voice　comes　to　her　out　of　the　silence；　and　a　pair　of　eyes

open　upon　her　in　the　wilderness；　she　knows　with　joy　that　she　has

borne　well　her　part　in　the　great　song　of　creation！



Presently　she　returns　to　the　camp；　carrying　the　mysterious；

the　holy；　the　dearest　bundle！　　She　feels　the　endearing　warmth　of　it

and　hears　its　soft　breathing。　　It　is　still　a　part　of　herself；　since

both　are　nourished　by　the　same　mouthful；　and　no　look　of　a　

lover　could　be　sweeter　than　its　deep；　trusting　gaze。



She　continues　her　spiritual　teaching；　at　first　silentlya

mere　pointing　of　the　index　finger　to　nature；　then　in　whispered

songs；　bird…like；　at　morning　and　evening。　　To　her　and　to　the　child

the　birds　are　real　people；　who　live　very　close　to　the　〃Great

Mystery〃；　the　murmuring　trees　breathe　His　presence；　the　falling

waters　chant　His　praise。



If　the　child　should　chance　to　be　fretful；　the　mother　raises

her　hand。　　〃Hush！　hush！〃　she　cautions　it　tenderly；　〃the　spirits　may

be　disturbed！〃　　She　bids　it　be　still　and　listenlisten　to　the

silver　voice　of　the　aspen；　or　the　clashing　cymbals　of　the

birch；　and　at　night　she　points　to　the　heavenly；　blazed　trail；

through　nature's　galaxy　of　splendor　to　nature's　God。　　Silence；

love；　reverence；this　is　the　trinity　of　first　lessons；　and　to

these　she　later　adds　generosity；　courage；　and　chastity。



In　the　old　days；　our　mothers　were　single…eyed　to　the　trust

imposed　upon　them；　and　as　a　noted　chief　of　our　people　was　wont　to

say：　〃Men　may　slay　one　another；　but　they　can　never　overcome　the

woman；　for　in　the　quietude　of　her　lap　lies　the　child！　　You　may

destroy　him　once　and　again；　but　he　issues　as　often　from　that　same

gentle　lapa　gift　of　the　Great　Good　to　the　race；　in　which

man　is　only　an　accomplice！〃



This　wild　mother　has　not　only　the　experience　of　her　mother　and

grandmother；　and　the　accepted　rules　of　her　people　for　a　guide；　but

she　humbly　seeks　to　learn　a　lesson　from　ants；　bees；　spiders；

beavers；　and　badgers。　　She　studies　the　family　life　of　the　birds；　so

exquisite　in　its　emotional　intensity　and　its　patient　devotion；

until　she　seems　to　feel　the　universal　mother…heart　beating　in　her

own　breast。　　In　due　time　the　child　takes　of　his　own　accord　the

attitude　of　prayer；　and　speaks　reverently　of　the　Powers。　　He　thinks

that　he　is　a　blood　brother　to　all　living　creatures；　and　the

storm　wind　is　to　him　a　messenger　of　the　〃Great　Mystery。〃



At　the　age　of　about　eight　years；　if　he　is　a　boy；　she　turns　him

over　to　his　father　for　more　Spartan　training。　　If　a　girl；　she　is

from　this　time　much　under　the　guardianship　of　her　grandmother；　who

is　considered　the　most　dignified　protector　for　the　maiden。　　Indeed；

the　distinctive　work　of　both　grandparents　is　that　of　acquainting

the　youth　with　the　national　traditions　and　beliefs。　　It　is　reserved

for　them　to　repeat　the　time…hallowed　tales　with　dignity　and

authority；　so　as　to　lead　him　into　his　inheritance　in　the　stored…up

wisdom　and　experience　of　the　race。　　The　old　are　dedicated　to

the　service　of　the　young；　as　their　teachers　and　advisers；　and　the

young　in　turn　regard　them　with　love　and　reverence。



Our　old　age　was　in　some　respects　the　happiest　period　of　life。　

Advancing　years　brought　with　them　much　freedom；　not　only　from　the

burden　of　laborious　and　dangerous　tasks；　but　from　those

restrictions　of　custom　and　etiquette　which　were　religiously

observed　by　all　others。　　No　one　who　is　at　all　acquainted　with　the

Indian　in　his　home　can　deny　that　we　are　a　polite　people。　　As　a

rule；　the　warrior　who　inspired　the　greatest　terror　in　the　hearts　of

his　enemies　was　a　man　of　the　most　exemplary　gentleness；　and　

almost　feminine　refinement；　among　his　family　and　friends。　　A　soft；

low　voice　was　considered　an　excellent　thing　in　man；　as　well　as　in

woman！　　Indeed；　the　enforced　intimacy　of　tent　life　would　soon

become　intolerable；　were　it　not　for　these　instinctive　reserves　and

delicacies；　this　unfailing　respect　for　the　established　place　and

possessions　of　every　other　member　of　the　family　circle；　this

habitual　quiet；　order；　and　decorum。



Our　people；　though　capable　of　strong　and　durable　feeling；　were

not　demonstrative　in　their　affection　at　any　time；　least　of　all　in

the　presence　of　guests　or　strangers。　　Only　to　the　aged；　who　have

journeyed　far；　and　are　in　a　manner　exempt　from　ordinary

rules；　are　permitted　some　playful　familiarities　with　children　and

grandchildren；　some　plain　speaking；　even　to　harshness　and

objurgation；　from　which　the　others　must　rigidly　refrain。　　In　short；

the　old　men　and　women　are　privileged　to　say　what　they　please　and

how　they　please；　without　contradiction；　while　the　hardships　and

bodily　infirmities　that　of　necessity　fall　to　their　lot　are　softened

so　far　as　may　be　by　universal　consideration　and　attention。



There　was　no　religious　ceremony　connected　with　marriage　among

us；　while　on　the　other　hand　the　relation　between　man　and　woman　was

regarded　as　in　itself　mysterious　and　holy。　　It　appears　that

where　marriage　is　solemnized　by　the　church　and　blessed　by　the

priest；　it　may　at　the　same　time　be　surrounded　with　customs　and

ideas　of　a　frivolous；　superficial；　and　even　prurient　character。　　We

believed　that　two　who　love　should　be　united　in　secret；　before　the

public　acknowledgment　of　their　union；　and　should　taste　their

apotheosis　alone　with　nature。　　The　betrothal　might　or　might　not　be

discussed　and　approved　by　the　parents；　but　in　either　case　it　was

customary　for　the　young　pair　to　disappear　into　the　wilderness；

there　to　pass　some　days　or　weeks　in　perfect　seclusion　and

dual　solitude；　afterward　returning　to　the　village　as　man　and　wife。　

An　exchange　of　presents　and　entertainments　between　the　two　families

usually　followed；　but　the　nuptial　blessing　was　given　by　the　High

Priest　of　God；　the　most　reverend　and　holy　Nature。



The　family　was　not　only　the　social　unit；　but　also　the　unit　of

government。　　The　clan　is　nothing　more　than　a　larger　family；　with

its　patriarchal　chief　as　the　natural　head；　and　the　union　of　several

clans　by　intermarriage　and　voluntary　connection　constitutes　the

tribe。　　The　very　name　of　our　tribe；　Dakota；　means　Allied　People。　

The　remoter　degrees　of　kinship　were　fully　recognized；　and

that　not　as　a　matter　of　form　only：　first　cousins　were　known　as

brothers　and　sisters；　the　name　of　〃cousin〃　constituted　a　binding

claim；　and　our　rigid　morality　forbade　marriage　between　cousins　in

any　known　degree；　or　in　other　words　within　the　clan。



The　household　proper　consisted　of　a　man　with　one　or　more　wives

and　their　children；　all　of　whom　dwelt　amicably　together；　often

under　one　roof；　although　some　men　of　rank　and　position　provided　a

separate　lodge　for　each　wife。　　There　were；　indeed；　few　plural

marriages　except　among　the　older　and　leading　men；　and　plural　wives

were　usually；　though　not　necessarily；　sisters。　　A　marriage

might　honorably　be　dissolved　for　cause；　but　there　was　very　little

infidelity　or　immorality；　either　open　or　secret。



It　has　been　said　that　the　position　of　woman　is　the　test　of

civilization；　and　that　of　our　women　was　secure。　　In　them　was　vested

our　standard　of　morals　and　the　purity　of　our　blood。　　The　wife　did

not　take　the　name　of　her　husband　nor　enter　his　clan；　and　the

children　belonged　to　the　clan　of　the　mother。　　All　of　the　family

property　was　held　by　her；　descent　was　traced　in　the　maternal　line；

and　the　honor　of　the　house　was　in　her　hands。　　Modesty　was　her　chief

adornment；　hence　the　younger　women　were　usually　silent　and

retiring：　but　a　woman　who　had　attained　to　ripeness　of　years　and

wisdom；　or　who　had　displayed　notable　courage　in　some　emergency；　was

sometimes　invited　to　a　seat　in　the　council。



Thus　she　ruled　undisputed　within　her　own　domain；　and　was　to　us

a　tower　of　moral　and　spiritual　strength；　until　the　coming　of　the

border　white　man；　the　soldier　and　trader；　who　with　strong　drink

overthrew　the　honor　of　the　man；　and　through　his　power　over　a

worthless　husband　purchased　the　virtue　of　his　wife　or　his　daughter。　

When　she　fell；　the　whole　race　fell　with　her。　



Before　this　calamity　came　upon　us；　you　could　not　find　anywhere

a　happier　home　than　that　created　by　the　Indian　woman。　　There　was

nothing　of　the　artificial　about　her　person；　and　very　little

disingenuousness　in　her　character。　　Her　early　and　consistent

training；　the　definiteness　of　her　vocation；　and；　above　all；　her

profoundly　religious　attitude　gave　her　a　strength　and　poise　that

could　not　be　overcome　by　any　ordinary　misfortune。



Indian　names　were　either　characteristic　nicknames　given　in　a

playful　spirit；　deed　names；　birth　names；　or　such　as　have　a

religious　and　symbolic　meaning。　　It　has　been　said　that　when　a　child

is　born；　some　accident　or　unusual　appearance　determines　his

name。　　This　is　sometimes　the　case；　but　is　not　the　rule。　　A　man　of

forcible　character；　with　a　fine　war　record；　usually　bears　the　name

of　the　buffalo　or　bear；　lightning　or　some　dread　natural　force。　

Another　of　more　peaceful　nature　may　be　called　Swift　Bird　or　Blue

Sky。　　A　woman's　name　usually　suggested　something　about　the　home；

often　with　the　adjective　〃pretty〃　or　〃good；〃　and　a　feminine

termination。　　Names　of　any　dignity　or　importance　must　be　conferred

by　the　old　men；　and　especially　so　if　they　have　any　spiritual

significance；　as　Sacred　Cloud；　Mysterious　Night；　Spirit　Woman；　and

the　like。　　Such　a　name　was　sometimes　borne　by