180 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [bth. ann. 37 



come to a crisis of some kind, all these people will turn their hearts 

 toward you. 



My daughter, all that I am trying to tell you relates to your 

 behavior (when you grow up). In your own home the women all 

 understand the work belonging to the household and that relating to 

 camping and hunting. If you understand these and afterwards visit 

 your husband's relatives, you will know what to do and not find 

 yourself in a dilemma from which you can not extricate yourself. 

 When you visit your husband's people do not go around with a 

 haughty air or act as if you considered yourself far above them. Try 

 to get them to like you. If they like you, they will place you in 

 charge of the camp you happen to be visiting. If you are good- 

 natured, you will be placed in charge of the home at which you 

 happen to be visiting. Then your parents-in-law will tell your 

 husband that their daughter-in-law is acting nicely to them. 



SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION TO CHILDREN 



Informant, member of the Thunderbird clan: I still keep up the 

 old system of teaching my children at the camp fire. In the morning 

 I wake them up early and start to teach them as follows: 



My children, as you travel along life's road never harm anyone, 

 nor cause anyone to feel sad. On the contrary, if at any time you 

 can make a person happy, do so. If at any time you meet a woman 

 in the wilderness (i. e., away from your village), and if you are alone 

 and no one can see you, do not scare her or harm her, but turn off 

 to the right and let her pass. Then you will be less tempted to 

 molest her. 



My children, if you meet anyone on the road, even though it is 

 only a child, speak a cheering word before you pass on. Fast as 

 much as you can, so that when you grow up you can benefit your 

 fellowmen. If you ever get married you must not sit around your 

 lodge near your wife, but try and get game for your wife's people. 

 So fast that you may be prepared for your life. 



My daughters, if at any time you get married, never let your 

 husband ask for a thing twice. Do it as soon as he asks you. If 

 your husband's folks ever ask their children for something when 

 you are present, assume that they had asked it of you. If there is 

 anything to be done, do not wait till you are asked to do it, but do 

 it immediately. If you act in this way, then they will say that your 

 parents taught you well. 



My son, if you find nothing else to do, take an ax and chop down a 

 tree. It will become useful some day. Then take a gun and go out 

 hunting and try to get game for your family. 



As soon as I see that the children are showing signs of restlessness 

 then I stop immediately. 



