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A long fire was now made in the sugar house； and a row of brass
kettles suspended over the blaze。 The sap was collected by the women in
tin or birchen buckets and poured into the canoes； from which the kettles
were kept filled。 The hearts of the boys beat high with pleasant antici…
pations when they heard the welcome hissing sound of the boiling sap！
Each boy claimed one kettle for his especial charge。 It was his duty to see
that the fire was kept up under it； to watch lest it boil over； and finally；
when the sap became sirup； to test it upon the snow； dipping it out with a
wooden paddle。 So frequent were these tests that for the first day or two
we consumed nearly all that could be made； and it was not until the
sweetness began to pall that my grandmother set herself in earnest to store
up sugar for future use。 She made it into cakes of various forms； in
birch… en molds； and sometimes in hollow canes or reeds； and the bills of
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ducks and geese。 Some of it was pulverized and packed in rawhide cases。
Being a prudent woman； she did not give it to us after the first month or so；
except upon special occa… sions； and it was thus made to last almost the
year around。 The smaller candies were reserved as an occasional treat for
the little fellows； and the sugar was eaten at feasts with wild rice or
parched corn； and also with pounded dried meat。 Coffee and tea； with
their substitutes； were all unknown to us in those days。
Every pursuit has its trials and anxieties。 My grandmother's special
tribulations； during the sugaring season； were the upsetting and gnawing
of holes in her birch…bark pans。 The transgres… sors were the rabbit and
squirrel tribes； and we little boys for once became useful； in shooting them
with our bows and arrows。 We hunted all over the sugar camp； until the
little creatures were fairly driven out of the neighborhood。 Oc…
casionally one of my older brothers brought home a rabbit or two； and
then we had a feast。
The sugaring season extended well into April； and the returning birds
made the precincts of our camp joyful with their songs。 I often followed
my older brothers into the woods； although I was then but four or five
years old。 Upon one of these excursions they went so far that I ventured
back alone。 When within sight of our hut； I saw a chipmunk sitting upon
a log； and uttering the sound he makes when he calls to his mate。 How
glorious it would be； I thought； if I could shoot him with my tiny bow and
arrows！ Stealthily and cautiously I approached； keeping my eyes upon the
pretty little animal； and just as I was about to let fly my shaft； I heard a
hissing noise at my feet。 There lay a horrid snake； coiled and ready to
spring！ Forgetful that I was a warrior； I gave a loud scream and started
backward； but soon recollecting myself； looked down with shame；
although no one was near。 However； I retreated to the inclined trunk of a
fallen tree； and there； as I have often been told； was overheard soliloquiz…
ing in the following words： 〃I wonder if a snake can climb a tree！〃
I remember on this occasion of our last sugar bush in Minnesota； that I
stood one day outside of our hut and watched the approach of a visitor a
bent old man； his hair almost white； and carrying on his back a large
bundle of red willow； or kinnikinick； which the Indians use for smoking。
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He threw down his load at the door and thus saluted us： 〃You have indeed
perfect weather for sugar…making。〃
It was my great…grandfather； Cloud Man； whose original village was
on the shores of Lakes Calhoun and Harriet； now in the suburbs of the city
of Minneapolis。 He was the first Sioux chief to welcome the Protestant
missionaries among his people； and a well…known character in those pio…
neer days。 He brought us word that some of the peaceful sugar…makers
near us on the river had been attacked and murdered by roving Ojib… ways。
This news disturbed us not a little； for we realized that we too might
become the victims of an Ojibway war party。 Therefore we all felt some
uneasiness from this time until we returned heavy laden to our village。
V： A Midsummer Feast IT was midsummer。 Everything that the Santee
Sioux had under… taken during the year had been un… usually successful。
The spring fur…hunters had been fortunate； and the heavy winter had
proved productive of much maple sugar。 The women's patches of maize
and potatoes were already suffic… iently advanced to use。 The
Wahpetonwan band of Sioux； the 〃Dwellers among the Leaves；〃 were
fully awakened to the fact that it was almost time for the midsummer
festivities of the old； wild days。
The invitations were bundles of tobacco； and acceptances were sent
back from the various bands the 〃Light Lodges〃； 〃Dwellers back from
the River；〃 and many others； in similar fashion。 Blue Earth； chief of the
〃Dwellers among the Leaves；〃 was the host。
There were to be many different kinds of ath… letic games； indeed； the
festival was something like a State fair； in that there were many side shows
and competitive events。 For instance； sup… posing that （Miss） White
Rabbit should desire to give a 〃maidens' feast；〃 she would employ a crier
to go among the different bands announcing the fact in a sing…song
manner：
〃Miss White Rabbit will receive her maiden friends to…day at noon；
inside of the circular en… campment of the Kaposia band。〃
Again； should （Mr。） Sleepy Eye wish to have his child's ears pierced
publicly； he would have to give away a great deal of savage wealth
namely； otter； bear and beaver skins and poniesor the child would not be
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considered as belonging to a family in good standing。
But the one all…important event of the occasion was the lacrosse game；
for which it had been cus… tomary to select those two bands which could
boast the greater number of fast runners。
The Wahpetonwan village on the banks of the Minnesota river was
alive with the newly…arrived guests and the preparations for the coming
event。 Meat of wild game had been put away with much care during the
previous fall in anticipation of this feast。 There was wild rice and the
choicest of dried venison that had been kept all winter； as well as freshly
dug turnips； ripe berries and an abundance of fresh meat。
Along the edge of the woods the teepees were pitched in groups or
semi…circles； each band dis… tinct from the others。 The teepee of Mankato
or Blue Earth was pitched in a conspicuous spot。 Just over the entrance
was painted in red and yel… low a picture of a pipe； and directly opposite
this the rising sun。 The painting was symbolic of welcome and good will
to men under the bright sun。
A meeting was held to appoint some 〃medi… cine man〃 to make the
balls that were to be used in the lacrosse contest； and presently the herald
announced that this honor had been conferred upon old Chankpee…yuhah；
or 〃Keeps the Club；〃 while every other man of his profession was dis…
appointed。 He was a powerful man physically； who had apparently won
the confidence of the people by his fine personal appearance and by
working upon superstitious minds。
Towards evening he appeared in the circle； leading by the hand a boy
about four years old。 Closely the little fellow observed every motion of
the man； nothing escaped his vigilant black eyes； which seemed constantly
to grow brighter and larger； while his exuberant glossy black hair was
plaited and wound around his head like that of a Celestial。 He wore a