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 



