CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED 153 



went to the Eskimos, and they appeared to enjoy it 

 exceedingly. 



We were to have games, and I rigged up a small 

 piece of ivory with a hole in the center, which was 

 suspended at the end of a string at the middle of the 

 shack. While I busied myself with this the Eskimos 

 made some little spears with shafts two feet long, 

 and points of walrus tusk ivory. The game was to 

 stab the suspended and swinging ivory disk, in the 

 hole in the center, with the tiny spears. It was rol- 

 licking fun to watch the eleven men and women try- 

 ing to excel each other, while all of the children were 

 packed out of the way in one corner like sardines in 

 a box. The contestants entered into the game with 

 heart and soul, laughing and jabbering, and each 

 doing his very best to win. 



After the older ones became wearied, the children 

 were given a turn, and to them prizes were offered, 

 consisting of handf uls of candy, small pieces of soap, 

 old socks, or any old thing of small or no value to 

 me, but which would be cherished by the youngsters 

 as worth putting forth their best efforts to gain. 



From midnight Christmas eve until half -past one 

 on Christmas afternoon we celebrated in this manner. 

 Then all were sent home, and I went to bed, well satis- 

 fied with the day, which was one of real and thorough 

 enjoyment. 



Tired as I was, however, I could not sleep. With 

 the quiet that followed the departure of my Eskimo 

 guests, thoughts of home returned, and for a long 

 while I lay awake in the darkness, wondering how my 



