I 



HOW WE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS 



EVERY Eskimo in the settlement came, big 

 and little, old and young, and I explained 

 to them that it was Christmas eve, what 

 Christmas signified, why white men observed and cele- 

 brated it, and that I proposed we in the Arctic should 

 not let it go unnoticed. Our little community at An- 

 nootok would have just as fine a time as circumstances 

 would permit. 



At the stroke of twelve, as my watch told it, on 

 Christmas morning, I presented each family with 

 some canned provisions. This was a gift much prized 

 by them, not only because canned goods appeal to 

 them generally as a very great luxury, but particu- 

 larly at this time because their food supplies were 

 getting exceedingly low. 



As for myself, I opened some delicious jam pre- 

 sented me by Mrs. Carnegie, which I had kept for 

 the occasion, and a box of Huyler's candy, a gift 

 from Mrs. Peary, which I had also preserved for 

 Christmas. Later in the day I tried my hand at mak- 

 ing a cake, but it was a flat failure, so soggy and 

 heavy that I was afraid to eat much of it. This, too, 



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