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already an unrecognizable ruin； even the poles were broken into splinters。
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The Indian women； after reaching middle age； are usually heavy and
lack agility； but my grand… mother was in this also an exception。 She was
fully sixty when I was born； and when I was seven years old she swam
across a swift and wide stream； carrying me on her back； because she did
not wish to expose me to accident in one of the clumsy round boats of
bull…hide which were rigged up to cross the rivers which impeded our way；
especially in the springtime。 Her strength and endurance were
remarkable。 Even after she had attained the age of eighty…two； she one
day walked twenty…five miles without appearing much fa… tigued。
I marvel now at the purity and elevated senti… ment possessed by this
woman； when I consider the customs and habits of her people at the time。
When her husband died she was still compara… tively a young womanstill
active； clever and industrious。 She was descended from a haughty
chieftain of the 〃Dwellers among the Leaves。〃 Although women of her age
and position were held to be eligible to re…marriage； and she had several
persistent suitors who were men of her own age and chiefs； yet she
preferred to cherish in solitude the memory of her husband。
I was very small when my uncle brought home two Ojibway young
women。 In the fight in which they were captured； none of the Sioux war
party had been killed； therefore they were sympathized with and tenderly
treated by the Sioux women。 They were apparently happy； although of
course they felt deeply the losses sustained at the time of their capture； and
they did not fail to show their appreciation of the kindnesses received at
our hands。
As I recall now the remarks made by one of them at the time of their
final release； they ap… pear to me quite remarkable。 They lived in my
grandmother's family for two years； and were then returned to their people
at a great peace council of the two nations。 When they were about to
leave my grandmother； the elder of the two sisters first embraced her； and
then spoke somewhat as follows：
〃You are a brave woman and a true mother。 I understand now why
your son so bravely con… quered our band； and took my sister and myself
captive。 I hated him at first； but now I admire him； because he did just
what my father； my brother or my husband would have done had they
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opportunity。 He did even more。 He saved us from the tomahawks of
his fellow…war… riors； and brought us to his home to know a noble and a
brave woman。
〃I shall never forget your many favors shown to us。 But I must go。
I belong to my tribe and I shall return to them。 I will endeavor to be a
true woman also； and to teach my boys to be generous warriors like your
son。〃
Her sister chose to remain among the Sioux all her life； and she
married one of our young men。
〃I shall make the Sioux and the Ojibways；〃 she said； 〃to be as
brothers。〃
There are many other instances of intermar… riage with captive women。
The mother of the well…known Sioux chieftain； Wabashaw； was an
Ojibway woman。 I once knew a woman who was said to be a white
captive。 She was married to a noted warrior； and had a fine family of
five boys。 She was well accustomed to the Indian ways； and as a child I
should not have suspected that she was white。 The skins of these people
be… came so sunburned and full of paint that it re… quired a keen eye to
distinguish them from the real Indians。
IV： An Indian Sugar Camp
WITH the first March thaw the thoughts of the Indian women of my
childhood days turned promptly to the annual sugar… making。 This
industry was chiefly followed by the old men and women and the children。
The rest of the tribe went out upon the spring fur…hunt at this sea… son；
leaving us at home to make the sugar。
The first and most important of the necessary utensils were the huge
iron and brass kettles for boiling。 Everything else could be made； but
these must be bought； begged or borrowed。 A maple tree was felled and
a log canoe hollowed out； into which the sap was to be gathered。 Little
troughs of basswood and birchen basins were also made to receive the
sweet drops as they trickled from the tree。
As soon as these labors were accomplished； we all proceeded to the
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bark sugar house； which stood in the midst of a fine grove of maples on
the bank of the Minnesota river。 We found this hut partially filled with
the snows of winter and the withered leaves of the preceding autumn； and
it must be cleared for our use。 In the meantime a tent was pitched outside
for a few days' occupancy。 The snow was still deep in the woods； with a
solid crust upon which we could easily walk； for we usually moved to the
sugar house before the sap had act… ually started； the better to complete our
prepara… tions。
My grandmother worked like a beaver in these days （or rather like a
muskrat； as the Indians say； for this industrious little animal sometimes
collects as many as six or eight bushels of edible roots for the winter； only
to be robbed of his store by some of our people）。 If there was prospect of
a good sugaring season； she now made a second and even a third canoe to
contain the sap。 These canoes were afterward utilized by the hunters for
their proper purpose。
During our last sugar…making in Minnesota； be… fore the 〃outbreak；〃
my grandmother was at work upon a canoe with her axe； while a young
aunt of mine stood by。 We boys were congregated with… in the large； oval
sugar house； busily engaged in making arrows for the destruction of the
rabbits and chipmunks which we knew would come in numbers to drink
the sap。 The birds also were beginning to return； and the cold storms of
March would drive them to our door。 I was then too young to do