Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07
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yum SVhValLsj lIUm LHe lips OF tne lnolan story
tellers themselves.
The Sioux, Mrs. Z. calls Dacotahs, and says
that they should be so designated.
SACRED WIND,
A Sioux TALE.
ssff PSweMFdr 4i aRsss 8aRHHGaAte 2 DcS
tabs; for although chief lives as the meanest
of his band, still there is great difference a
mong the families. The number of family
constitutes its Importance; where family is
small, member of it can be injured with little
fear of retaliation; but in large family there
are sure to be found some who will not let an
insult pass without revenge Sacred Winds IA
Their was living; a stalwart old warrior, slightly
bent with the weight of years. Though his
face was literally scanned with wrinkles, he could
endure fatigue, or face danger, with the young
est and hardest of the band.
Her mother, fearfully ugly old creature,
still mended moccasins and scolded bidding
fair to keep up both trades for years to cSme,-
Then there were tall brothers, Drawing hardships
and danger, as if Dacotah was only born to be
scalped, or to scalp; uncles, cousins, too, there
were, in abundance, so that Sacred Wind did be-
long to powerful family.
Now, among the Dacotahs, cousin is look
ed upon as brother; girl would as soon think
of marrying her grandfather, as cousin.
mean an ordinary girl, but Sacred Wind was not
of that stamp; she was destined to be hero
inc. She had many lovers, who wore them
selves out playing the flute, to as little purpose
as they braided their hair, and painted their ia
ces. Sacred Wind did not love one of them.
Her mother was always trying to induce her
to accept some one of her lovers, urging the adj
vantages of each match but it would not do
The girl was eighteen years old, and not yet
a vile; though most of the Dahcotah women
are mothers long before that.
Her friends could not imagine why she did
not marry. They were wearied with arguing
with her; not one of them ever suspected the
cause of her seeming GOODNESS of heart.
Her grandmother was particularly officious.
She could not do as Sacred Wind wished her
attend to her own affairs, for she had none to at.
tend to and grandmothers, among the Sioux. are
as loving and devoted rs sheY ara among -ybite
people; consequently, the old lady besTs nc.
unfortunate girl, day and uight about her obsll-
macy.
"'Wliy are you not the mother of warriors
she said, 'and besides, who will kill game for
you when you are old? The Bear has been
to the traders he has bought many things,
which he offers your parents for you; marry
him, and then you will make your old grand
mother happy
"I will kill myself she replied, if you ask
me to marry The Bear. Have you forgotten the
Maiden's Rock? There are moro high rocks
than one on the banks of the Mississippi, and
my heart is as strong as Wenonas. If you tor
ment me SO, to marry tho Bear, will do as she
did-in the house of spirits shall have no more
trouble
This threat slenced the grandmother for the
time. But young girl who had been sitting
with them, and listening to the conversation,
rose 10 60 out and as she passed Sacred Wind,
she whispered in her ear, Tell her why you
will not marry the Bear tell her that Sacred
Wind loves her cousin; and last night she prom
ised him she never would marry any one but
him.
Had she been struck to the earth, she could
not have been paler. She thought her secret
was hid in her own heart She had tried to
cease thinking of The Shield; keeping away
from him, dreading to find true what she
only suspected. She did not dare acknowledge
even to herself that she loved cousin.
But when the Shield gave her his handsom-
est trinkets; when he followed her when she
left her laughing and noisy companions to SIT
beside the still waters-when he told her thai
she was the most beautiful girl among the Dab
cotahs- when he whispered her that he loved
her dearly; and would marry her in spite o.
mothers, grandmothers, customs, and religions
too-thcn she found that her cousin was deare
to her than all the world-that she would glad
ly die with him-she could never live withou
him.
But still, she would not premise to marry
him. What would her friends say7 and the
spirits Of the dead would torment her, for nfrin.
ging upon the sacred customs of Der tribe. The
Shield used many arguments, but all in vain.-
She told him she was afraid to marry him, blu
that she would never marry any one else Soon
er should the waves cease to beat against thu
spirit lakes, than she forget to think of him.
But this did not satisfy her cousin. He wal
determined she should be his wife he trustee
to time and his irresistible person to overcomt
her fears
'The Shields's name was given him by bis
fathers friends. Shields were formerly used BY
the Sioux; and tho Eyanktons and Sissetoni
still use them. They are made Of buffalo skin
of circular form and are used as protection
against the arrows Of their enemies.
You need not fear your family, Secre'
Wind aaid her cousin, nor the medicine men
nor the spirits of the dead. We will go 10 one
Of the villages, and when we are married, w
will come back. Let them be angry-I vii
stand between you and them, even as my ia
theirs shield did between him and the fee thai
sought his life
But she was firm, and promised nothing more
than that she would not marry the Bear, or any
one else; and they returned to her fathers tee
} pee, little thinking that any one had overheard
their conversation. But the Swan had heard
every word Of it,