These
generally consist of objects of women's workmanship, such as garters,
belts, moccasins, &c.; then follows a meeting of the parents, which
terminates by a speech from the girl's father, who mentions his daughter
as the "dove," or "lily," or "whisper of the breeze," or any other
pretty Indian name which may appertain to her. She has been a good
daughter, she will be a dutiful wife, her blood is that of a warrior's;
she will bear noble children to her husband, and sing to them his great
deeds, &c. The marriage day arrives at last; a meal of roots and fruits
is prepared; all are present except the bridegroom, whose arms, saddles,
and property are placed behind the fair one. The door of the lodge is
open, its threshold lined with flowers; at sunset the young man presents
himself, with great gravity of deportment. As soon as he has taken a
seat near the girl, the guests begin eating, but in silence; but soon a
signal is given by the mothers, each guest rises, preparatory to
retiring. At that moment, the two lovers cross their hands, and the
husband speaks for the first time, interrogatively:--"Faithful to the
lodge, faithful to the father, faithful to his children?" She answers
softly: "Faithful, ever faithful, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in
death"--"Penir, penir-asha, sartir nu cohta, lebeck nu tanim.
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