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OLD INDIAN DAYS
meanwhile； sliding and pulling； the wolves continued to drag over the
slippery ice the body of the buffalo in which his master had taken refuge。
The poor； faithful dog； with no care for his own safety； stood by his
imprisoned master until the hunters came up。 But it was too late； for he
had received more than one mortal wound。
As soon as the scout got out； with a face more anxious for another than
for himself； he ex… claimed：
〃Where is Shunka； the bravest of his tribe？〃
〃Ho； kola； it is so； indeed； and here he lies；〃 replied one sadly。
His master knelt by his side； gently stroking the face of the dog。
〃Ah； my friend； you go where all spirits live！ The Great Mystery has a
home for every living creature。 May he permit our meeting there！〃
At daybreak the scout carried him up to one of the pretty round hills
overlooking the lake； and built up around him walls of loose stone。 Red
paints were scattered over the snow； in ac… cordance with Indian custom；
and the farewell song was sung。
Since that day the place has been known to the Sioux as
Shunkahanakapithe Grave of the Dog。
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
PART TWO THE WOMAN
I WINONA； THE WOMAN…CHILD
Hush； hushaby； little woman！ Be brave and weep not！
The spirits sleep not； 'Tis they who ordain To woman； pain。
Hush； hushaby； little woman！ Now； all things bearing；
A new gift sharing From those above
To woman； love。 Sioux Lullaby。
〃Chinto； weyanna！ Yes； indeed； she is a real little woman；〃 declares
the old grandmother； as she receives and crit… ically examines the tiny bit
of humanity。
There is no remark as to the color of its hair or eyes； both so black as
almost to be blue； but the old woman scans sharply the delicate pro… file of
the baby face。
〃Ah； she has the nose of her ancestors！ Lips thin as a leaf； and eyes
bright as stars in mid… winter！〃 she exclaims； as she passes on the furry
bundle to the other grandmother for her inspec… tion。
〃Tokee！ she is pretty enough to win a twinkle rom the evening star；〃
remarks that smiling personage。
〃And what shall her name be？
〃Winona； the First…born； of course。 That is hers by right of birth。〃
〃Still； it may not fit her。 One must prove herself worthy in order to
retain that honorable name。〃
〃Ugh；〃 retorts the first grandmother； 〃she can at least bear it on
probation！〃
〃Tosh； tosh；〃 the other assents。
Thus the unconscious little Winona has passed the first stage of the
Indian's christen… ing。
Presently she is folded into a soft white doe… skin； well lined with the
loose down of cattails； and snugly laced into an upright oaken cradle； the
front of which is a richly embroidered buck… skin bag； with porcupine
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
quills and deers' hoofs suspended from its profuse fringes。 This gay
cradle is strapped upon the second grand… mother's back； and that dignitary
walks off with the newcomer。
〃You must come with me；〃 she says。 〃We shall go among the father
and mother trees； and hear them speak with their thousand tongues； that
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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OLD INDIAN DAYS
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 b