n6 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



porter of the Mission : " Your kind letter of May 6 

 did not reach me until the 6th of December." 

 Nearly eight months for a letter to reach its destina- 

 tion ! In these days of the rapid movement of 

 events dynasties might be overturned, his friends 

 might be dead and buried, and the sojourner in 

 Arctic regions be in the most profound ignorance of 

 all. And when the letter does at last reach its 

 destination, then two months more have to go by 

 wearily before there is any opportunity of sending 

 an answer. No wonder, then, that the ambassador 

 for Christ feels a hunger for the prayers of the faith- 

 ful at home, knowing that these will help him to say 

 with Christ, " I am not alone because the Father is 

 with me." Speaking from the depth of the Arctic 

 winter, Mr. Peck exclaims : " It is indeed a lonely 

 and barren spot where God has called me to labour 

 and live. But I must not fear nor be discouraged. 

 God will, no doubt, give me grace to toil on, if I 

 make Him my refuge and strength." 



The lady who received this letter interested herself 

 in sending out for distribution among the people 

 many warm woollen garments and other useful 

 things. The necessary delay in the delivery of these 

 things well illustrates the isolation of the Little 

 Whale River trading station. It is not until 

 December 20, 1880, that the goods sent off in the 

 early summer of 1879 are acknowledged as received. 

 Then Mr. Peck writes, under this date, concerning 



