128 AN ESKIMO VILLAGE 



of service the old harmonium is still in good order ; 

 it is black with oil and smoke, but Ernestina gets 

 music out of it, and although it has seen rough usage 

 it bids fair to see a riper old age yet. 



I wish you could look in some day and see Ernes- 

 tina ; you might find her at that old harmonium. Of 

 course she stops playing and bashfully comes down 

 from her stool ; she is very much awed by your visit, 

 and needs a lot of coaxing before she will go back 

 to her music. If you sit down on the stool and try 

 over a tune for her she is in a transport of delight. 

 She stands shyly by your side, breathless and beam- 

 ing with pleasure, drinking in the music. No matter 

 that you are not an accomplished player ; Bach's 

 fugues would be lost on Ernestina. She would rather 

 hear a simple Sankey hymn-tune ; her poor, voice- 

 less lips would follow the melody. She would be 

 singing and making music in her heart to the Lord 

 sweeter music, far, to Him than much fine singing 

 that comes not from the heart. 



I once found Ernestina in a very proud frame of 

 mind. Some good friend had lent her a sewing 

 machine, and she was making a dress ! Her own 

 fingers would not serve to cut out the pattern, so the 

 same kind friend had done the cutting for her ; but 

 Ernestina could fit the pieces together and stitch 

 them with the sewing machine. I found her with the 

 pieces all spread out upon the fioor, and she was 

 full of eagerness to show me how well she could 

 manage this new accomplishment. Quivering with 

 pride, she turned the handle, looking up now and 

 again with the smile of a conqueror and finally dis- 



