The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-11-03

| took her but . moment 10 msstsr his
odd steps, and when she Joined In them
she won the last fraction Of Pomiuk's
heart, II she hadn't II all before that.
A. last the mother said they must 60.
as It was long past the little girl's bed
time; and theiP parting brings me to
my story.
The little giri took . ring from her
finger and fitted u to ono Of Pomiuk's.
keep shat," she said. ''so I will know
you when I SEQ you again; perhaps It
will be In Heaven"
Pomiua looked at the little token.
and his eyes suddenly filed with tears.
Alas! he had nothing 70 give In re-
turn.
"Nev.r mind" said the little girl. put
ting her arm round him; II shall never
forget You. I shah not need re-
minder."
All through the hot. weary months
at Chicago Pomiuk treasured the lit
tie keepsake and thought about tho
donor. and wondered when no would
meet her again, and longed for her with
such longing as only tho heart of Q
child can hold.
When the great fair wns over, and
Pomiuk with his people-Kangegatsdk,
his uncle, and Tuklavna, the latter's
wife, and Kamialuit and Sikeepa, his
cousins-returned to their home In the
frozen north. which, from the needs Of
their nomadic life, is from Nachvock
to Ungava. Pomiuk gave his uncle his
hoard of quarters. nickels and dimes.
These, with his uncle's savings. were
promptly converted into fishing nets,
guns. ammunition, clothing, q cook
stove and cooking utensils. tobacco,
flour and molasses, and last, but not
least in their estimation. the clock and
a maltese kitten. But with one thing
Pomiuk would not part for aught this
size Of Heaven-the little gold band
that he had already outgrown. with It's
tiny opal setting.
kangegatsuk fell among thieves by
the way. and when, after many vicis-
situdes, they managed to reach their
northern home, there were but few Of
their purchases left, save tho stove, the
clock and the kitten.
Nor had things gone we'll In Labrador
during their 80 months Of absence.
The fishing had been . failure, the seals
had been scarce, and had II not been
for The deer. that principal source Of
supply in winter. probably none Of
Kangegntsuk's band would have been
left TO welcome them.
IT was a sad home coming. Two OF
the 10 who had gone to the fair had
been buried by the wayside. Kange-
gatsuk's father was dead, and his aged
mother also died few days after their
return. Then, ere tho snow was solid
enough TO build their winter igloos, q
siekness fell among them. Range
gotsuk's father had been the medicine
man; there was no other 10 take his
place. and nearly holf the tribe sue
cumbed TO this dread visitation. ThVse
whosc lfves were spared were Of little
use that winter, and with but two or
three we'll souls TO hunt and trap and
fish and serve the needs OF q score OF
IN ones, IL proved terrible season.
Toward the latter end OF February.
when the cold wns at las greatest, the
powder and meat gave out ct once. It
was not a great way TO tho company's
post, but they had no fur 70 trade there.
Fur to trade must be properly dressed.
What little the half-tended traps had
caught had been hurriediy skinned and
frozen up. There had been no we'll
hands TO dress II.
But you stiii have your ring" said
Kangegatsuk. ''Take that, II has mich
value, and bring us powder and meat
from the post. Don't hang your head.
I would take It from you and 60 myself
were I able l."
''But wait!" interrupted Pumiuk.
"Why should they not give us powder
and mest?. They do so to others fur
ther south. and even to those at the
westward. We can pay them in furs in
tire spring. They have often offered
10 trust u.s."
~And be like the mission Eskimo-
like the poor slaves we know and have
seen 10 the south? Not II" said Range.
gatsuk. Never yet have been In debt.
1t Is the first rule OF our tribe. Would
You have Inc, the chief, the first to
breok II? No. Do as bid you, and 90
1t orce. speak as your chief. not
your uncle"
Refusal was out Of the question.
Pomiuk bit his lip till II bled; but he
linped out Of the igloo, called the team
Of dogs together, and painfully har-
pessed them to the sledge.
II was night but that did not matter.
The Sky was ublaze with northern
lights that famed like candles Of gi-
gantic power: for they clothed all the
snow-elad mountsins with q weird.
ghpstly light that was not like the
suns nor the moons, nor the stars.
but a light that one could SEE by as
we'll as II the sun had risen.
It was cold, too. Our common ther-
moseters would have failed 70 show