174 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



" The greatest strain which Mrs. Peck felt during 

 these years at Fort George, was during my absences 

 when visiting the distant Eskimos. As these people 

 visited Whale River in the months of March, April, 

 and May, I travelled from Fort George early in the 

 month of March, and sometimes in February, to 

 Great Whale River, and did not return until the 

 beginning of May. 



" It was at these times that Mrs. Peck found her 

 missionary life most trying. She was not abso- 

 lutely alone at Fort George, as Mr. Miles Spencer 

 was in charge of the station. Both he and his wife 

 were in many ways real friends and helpers. Still, 

 for all that, the general monotony of life at the 

 station, when alone in our little house, far from her 

 English home, and friends, and associations, needed 

 a brave heart to face brightly the inseparable trials 

 of such a position. 



This chapter cannot have a better finish than a 

 few extracts from diaries and letters which will 

 enable the reader to picture to himself the lives of 

 Mr. and Mrs. Peck during the next year or two, 

 whether they are together or in their enforced 

 separations. 



On January 18, 1887, Mr. Peck writes : " I start 

 (D.V.) for our more northern station, Little Whale 

 River, on Thursday, the 20th. There I hope to 

 see many bands of Eskimos in the three or four 

 months during which I shall probably remain there. 



