AN ESKIMO WEDDING 



maker! If she can dress the sealskins nicely and 

 sew neat, water-tight boots her husband will be a 

 happy man, always dryshod for his hunting, never 

 without nice supple boots to slip on at a moment's 

 notice, and likely to have a few spare pairs to sell 

 to the schooner men, who are glad to pay a couple 

 of dollars a pair for really good ones. So Peter 

 makes up his mind on the all-important question. 

 He goes to the missionary and states his case; or, 

 if he is very bashful, his parents go with him or 

 even instead of him. The missionary gravely nods 

 his head, and sends for Klara's father and mother. 

 Are they inclined to let their daughter marry young 

 Peter ? Perhaps it is " Yes " : they know Peter to be 

 a handy lad and a smart hunter, and likely to make 

 a good husband. 



If they say " No," there is no need for Peter to 

 pine. He has other names on the list : Ruth or 

 Rebekah, or whoever it may be, will do just as 

 well : and if there is no just impediment to hinder 

 the match, a wedding is arranged, and the missionary 

 announces it for the first convenient day. 



So on that winter morning I hurried on with 

 my work, and managed to get across to church 

 when the bell clanged at eleven o'clock. I found 

 the place nearly full : certainly all the women were 

 there, and most of the men had snatched an hour 

 from their wood-cutting or had stayed at home from 

 their hunting so as to be in at the ceremony. 



Punctually to the minute the missionary came 

 in from the vestry, followed by the young man 

 and his chosen lady. The couple perched them- 

 selves side by side on two stools set ready in the 



centre aisle, in full view of the people. They did 



77 



