274 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



church, and later on, when we can get the house in 

 which we are now living enlarged and properly 

 fitted up, we shall be able (D.V.) to go to our more 

 comfortable and capacious quarters. Certainly I 

 cannot say that I look forward (speaking of one's 

 own bodily comfort) with any feelings of pleasure 

 to spending another season in a bedroom (for two) 

 not ten feet square. There is neither room for 

 privacy nor common decency in such a place. 

 But these facts must not weigh against the spiritual 

 good and comfort of the Eskimos. And Mr. 

 Sampson and I will, through God's grace, be able 

 to live at least for one winter in our limited quarters." 



When we read an extract of this kind in any 

 man's diary, perhaps we understand why the house 

 occupies so prominent a position in the prohibition 

 of the Tenth Commandment. 



The opening services in this building thus freely 

 given up were most encouraging. Mr. Noble's 

 agent and the crew of the Alert were invited. In 

 the morning more than a hundred Eskimos were 

 present. In the evening about the same number 

 gathered together and all the white men as well. 

 " It was indeed a happy time, made so by the pre- 

 sence and blessing of God, and by the fact that severa 1 

 of the Eskimos held in their hands and read with me 

 a portion of our Saviour's precious words from the 

 gospels which had been printed by the Bible Society." 



And so in settling down to their winter work 



