296 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



he tells us that he has been drawn to think much 



of his little daughter. But it is not very difficult 



to interpret one passage from his diary and to 



understand something of what this separation 



meant to him. On one of his journeys in March 



1899 he writes : " Four hours' travel brought us 



to a band of Arctic wanderers whose snow houses 



were situated near a barren and rugged island. 



Some of the little children who had noticed our 



sledges coming in the distance came out to meet 



me. These little ones we had taught from time to 



time of the Saviour's love, and it is one of the 



brightest spots in our life here to know that we are 



planting the seed of immortal truth in their hearts 



and that many of them seem to be drawn to the 



loving Saviour. Perhaps I have a tender place in 



my heart for these little Eskimos, seeing that the 



bright faces of my own treasures are ever standing 



out as a living picture before my mind's eye." 



There is something pathetic in thinking of the 



demonstration of love which would be lavished 



upon his own children, and which the barrier of 



distance diverts to the heathen children. It 



is a lesson for us all. God's intention in 



permitting trial of any kind to come upon us is 



not that we should dry up and shrivel and become 



unfruitful, but rather expand in softened sympathy 



to all around. 



But sometimes there is no need to read be- 

 tween the lines of what is written. After leaving 





