From Apples to Arlington

Gertrude Simmons, or Zikala Sa, was a Native American activist and writer. When she started school, she was not allowed to speak her native language or wear the clothes of her people. She went to a white missionary school on Indiana, where she was acclimated to the white man's ways. "Kill the Indian and save the man!"
She then went to Earlham College where she began to showcase talents inwriting an music. She picked up the piano and violin.
She started working at Carlisle Indian Institute, and got engeged to Thomas Marshall. He was a converted Christian Indian.
Simmons began publishing literary works including her autobiography. She then married Raymond Bonnin who fought in WW1. He retired as Captain. Marshall was burried in Arlington National Cemetary. when he passed away from an undiagnosed illness.
 She talks about her childhood with her mother and the rawness of nature. She was raised to hate and distrust the white man, because that's how her mother felt. Simmons's mother felt that the only real man was a bronze Dakota.
Her mother spoke of her brother (uncle) ans how he was one of the nation's greatest warriors, and everyone loved him. Simmons was told stories of legend by her mother and grandmother.
She spoke a a man, Wiyaka-Napbina (wearer of a feather necklace), who was a lone man in the village. Her mother told her he was harmless. He was a handsome brave man who went into the hills after his ponies, and was taken over by the hill spirits. After that, he could not stay away from the hills. He wonders around wearing nothing but half of a basket around his waist. His hair is matted by wind and faded from black to red by the Summer sun. He always carried wild sunflowers and only entered a wigwam if he was desperately hungry. Even though her mother told her to pity him, Simmons was strangely afraid of the wonderer.
One day, her grandfather came into the wigwam, and Simmons decided to make him some coffee. She got the coffeepot and put water in on top of the coffee grounds, and she placed it on some dead cold ashes. Her grandfather drank it down. She was proud of herself for making coffee without ever doing it. Her mother came in and made fresh HOT coffee.
Then the pale faces came into their village. They wanted to take Indian children to school in the East where there were tons of big red apples. Her mother did not want her to go, so she tried to convince her not to. She then begged the great spirit to allow her to go. Simmons's aunt talked to her mother about allowing her to go, and she agreed.