Dahcotah - Life and Legends of the Sioux Around Fort Snelling by Mary H. (Mary Henderson) Eastman
page 48 of 272 (17%)
page 48 of 272 (17%)
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borne the winter's storm.
"My sons have fallen by the tomahawk of their enemies; my daughter sleeps under the foaming waters of the Falls. "Twenty winters were added to my life on that day. We had encamped at some distance above the Falls, and our hunters had killed many deer. Before we left our village to go on the hunt, we sacrificed to the Spirit of the woods, and we prayed to the Great Spirit. We lifted up our hands and said, 'Father, Great Spirit, help us to kill deer.' The arrows of our hunters never missed, and as we made ready for our return we were happy, for we knew we should not want for food. My daughter's heart was light, for Haparm was with her, and she never was sad but when he was away. "Just before we arrived at the Falls, she became sick; her hands were burning hot, she refused to eat. As the canoe passed over the Mississippi, she would fill her cup with its waters, to drink and throw over her brow. The medicine men were always at her side, but they said some evil spirit hated her, and prevented their spells from doing her good. "When we reached the Falls, she was worse; the women left their canoes, and prepared to carry them and the rest of the baggage round the Falls. "But what should we do with We-no-nah? the flush of fever was on her cheek; she did not know me when I spoke to her; but she kept her eyes fixed upon her lover. "'We will leave her in the canoe,' said her father; 'and with a line we |
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