THE EXPLORER'S CHRISTMAS 207 



laughing and jabbering, and each doing his very best 

 to win. 



After the older ones became weaned the children 

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

 consisting of handfuls 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 

 satisfied with the day, which was one of real and 

 thorough enjoyment. 



Tired as I was, ho.wever, 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 friends 

 were spending the day, where they were, and what they 

 were doing, and I wished them over and over again, 

 each in turn, a merry Christmas. 



Eleven hours were spent in bed ; then I arose with 

 a bad headache, donned fur clothing, and walked for 

 a short distance on the ice -foot. The stars were 

 shining, the northern lights were bright, and not a 

 cloud was to be seen. It struck me, as one of the 

 peculiarities of the region, how quickly storms will 

 come and how quickly pass away. Often, when least 

 expected and in an incredibly short time, a clear sky 

 will be obscured, a gale will rise, and a blinding, 

 biting blizzard will be venting its force and fury upon 

 the world ; then as quickly snow will cease, wind will 

 subside, and as if by magic the heavens will be swept 

 clear of every cloud. 



