Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-09-29
POMIUK'S RING.
By Ralph Graham Taber.

L Is only slight gold band with
a tiny opal setting, child's ring;
for you or L could not push it below
the joint of the little finger. For the
matter of that, neither can it's small
owner now; but that makes no diff
ference to Pomiuk; it is the dearest
thing on earth to him.
Some of you who visited the worlds
fair at Chicago and strayed into the
Eskimo village, at the northwest cor
ner of Jackson park, my recollect a
little fellow who always wore a smil-
ing face, and whose small, turned-up
nose was sometime in need of hand
kerchief. You must remember his
comical dances, that brought him in
showers of nickels from the specta-
tors; though he did not dance for very
long, for he had fall in the grounds
one day that made of him a cripple.
But this was not Pomiuk's only means
of conjuring the small change out of
the visitors pockets. None there could
better crack one of the long whips,
and with it send small coins spinning,
and he was quite as expert at throw
ing a harpoon; but his greatest source
of income was not through skill or
chance at all. It was the irresistible
way he had of winning all hearts about
him. and by this he held the combina-
lions to a good many well-filled purses.
Do not, however, let Pomiuk's love
for nickels, dimes and quarters lower
him in your estimation. He knew very
little about their real value; in fact,
he knew very little about that until
long after the worlds fair opened;
but they were bright and pretty
things, and Pomiuk loved to play with
them and to hear their merry jingle;
for Pomiuk, spite of his gentle ways
and ever smiling countenance, was
veritable savage, and close study of
him might easily Have led one to en-
terrain a lesser regard for the en-
1ightenments of civilization.
But / started to tell you about his
ring, and 1 must not wander from the
subject.
His first day upon a civilized shore
was marked by an event for Pomiuk
that made it ever memorable. 1t was
the 18th day of October, the year be-
fore the big show was held, that
Pomiuk landed at Boston with Sc
other Eskimos; and it happened that
among those who came down to the
wharf to see the curious cargo
brought by the schooner Evalina
there was a theatrical manager.
Whether it was out of the kindness of
his heart or to advertise his per-
formance is not material; but, no mat
ter what his motive, the fact remains
that he gave these simple visitors to
L
house; and that evening nearly score
of them, under a proper escort, at
tended in a body and occupied the
boxes.
The play was merely big buriesque,
and they could not understand word
of it. They were dazed by the lights
and the crowded house and the or
-chestra and the ballet. The stage,
with its hidden workings, was a
marvel past understanding; but the
songs were pretty, the costumes
bright, and the dancing-ah, the dane
ingl
Pomiuk had thought that he could
dance; but never in all his most fanci-
full dreams had he pictured such won
derful dancing. From the first to the
leader of the ballet. She was mere
child but, nevertheless, the most skill
full dancer that ever graced an Ameri-
can theater, and all Boston was talk
ing of her and loudly voicing her
praises. When her dancing was ended
and she left the stage, Pomiuk's smile
departed, and he sank back again into
the seat from which her destinations
had drawn him.
The interpreter asked him if hetfiked
II, and Pomiuk's little black eyes
lighted up and his little tongue reeled
off long Eskimo words at the rate of
200 a minute. The manager was stand
ing by his chair, and he noted the
child's animation.
what does he say? ?" he asked.
HE says" replied the interpreter,
shat since he has come aboard the |
ship, people have been telling him |
about God and Heaven and angels, |
and that If he were good he would go |
there when he died; but he says they |
must have made q mistake for he
doesn't believe that he is. dead, yet he |
certainly is in Heaven"
"There are very few angels here, ]
fear" remarked the manager, sadly. |
Not that the manager needed an
.'angel," for he was playing to crowded
houses.