10 November, 10 December and 18 December 1875 Summary

The Cheyennes' sweat lodge, which is used for religious reasons, does not allow women. In the old country, Gretchen's people used a sweat lodge throughout the winter, and her family had brought the custom to Illinois. May and Gretchen, pregnant and wrapped in towels, burst into the men's sweat lodge. The men are not amused, and the medicine man shakes his rattle telling them to go away, but May and Gretchen sit down for a sweat. Gretchen's tells her husband if he doesn't like it he can go home himself. The other men laugh that No Brains is henpecked.

May and Gretchen decide to build a sweat lodge just for women. This project will help them pass the time in the winter, in addition to "all of the other dreary projects of wifedom." The white women value...