In this scene of reverie, Miller offers a glimpse into the domestic practices of Indian women. As a mobile people, efficient and effective modes of transportation were essential to carry out their way of life. For the most helpless of the tribe, cradleboards became infants’ main means of transport. Often elaborately decorated, “the creation of a cradle was a spiritual endeavor accompanied by prayers, blessings, and thanks for the newborn.” (Hansen, 89) Pictured wearing a supportive band around her forehead and reaching back to adjust the infant, the cradle “provided comfort, safety, and a clear view of the world for the baby within.” (Hansen, 51)
