82 AN ESKIMO VILLAGE 



peace with his fellow-men ; he had made provision 

 for his wife ; he was at peace with his Maker ; in 

 fact, he was just waiting, as he himself told me, 

 waiting to be called home to his Father's House. 

 Day by day he grew more feeble. He lay on his 

 bed almost helpless, and as he lay, he could all the 

 time see the nipko. And there came an inspiration 

 to old Kornelius. ' * Maria, ' ' he said, in his deliberate 

 Eskimo way, " Maria " and the old woman turned 

 from her work and hobbled to the bedside 

 " Maria," said old Kornelius, " sit by my side, for 

 I have many words to say to you. When I am gone 

 you are to go and live in Josef's house. He is a 

 clever hunter, and you will always have plenty to 

 eat. Josef has promised to give you a home, and 

 you can help his wife with the work ; you will be 

 happy and comfortable there. I am looking at the 

 nipko over there in the corner. We do not need it. 

 I shall not be here very long now, and my teeth are 

 too weak to bite it. It is very good nipko, and you 

 have dried it well. Let us give it to somebody who 

 needs it. There is that poor boy who broke his leg ; 

 he would be glad to have it ; it would make his bones 

 strong again. And I should like to give it to 

 him, because his name is Kornelius, too. Take 

 it to him, and say that it is a present from his name- 

 sake." 



Maria obediently filled her hood with the dried 

 meat and carried her bulging bundle to the hospital 

 on the sea front, where young Kornelius lay. 



"This," she said, "is a present from old 

 Kornelius, your namesake." 



