d the
entrance. The sailors call them "men-of-war." Our rapid progress soon
brings us in sight of the mission premises, whose red roofs stand out
against the bare rocky background of the steep hillside, tinted a warm
red-brown by the autumn hues of the mosses. There is the church with
its cupola in a line with the long one-storied mission-house. The
store buildings and the boat-house are nearer the landing stage. Some
skilful tacks bring us into the Hebron Bay, and ere long the "Harmony"
lies at her anchorage, here farther from the station than at any other
place on the coast. What a lively scene! Ten or a dozen boats have
already came round us--these Eskimoes are bold sailors--and our anchor
is scarcely down before we are boarded in friendly fashion by numerous
natives. Yonder white boat is the "Harp," and it brings four good
gentlemen in sealskin coats. The patriarch of the band is our
venerable Mr. Kretschmer, who came to Labrador in 1852. This year he
leaves his loved land after thirty-six years of service, during which
he has been home once, twenty-seven years ago. He is followed by the
missionaries Kahle, Wirth, and Hlawatschek, who report their wives and
children all well.

Ere long we visitors, Mr. and Mrs. Dam and myself, are ready to go
ashore with them. Landing from the boat, we climb the hill to the
mission-house, farther from the shore than any other. The sisters and
children welcome us at the door, and for the sixth time I enjoy the
hospitality of a Labrador mission family.

The chapter entitled "A busy week at Nain" would serve as a general
description of the time spent at this or any of the stations.
Conferences with the missionary band, daily services in the Church or
the house, the special meeting for my address to the congregation,
visits to and from the natives, inspection of the mission premises and
their surroundings, pleasant strolls in the intervals of daily duty
and the routine of a mission-house, one or two more extensive walks on
the hills around, profitable evenings in the mission circle, all these
made eight days at Hebron pass very quickly, whilst as ever I was
lovingly cared for by my hosts. Hebron is, to use the expressive term
of the Newfoundland fishermen, a "blusterous" place. It is beyond the
northern limit of trees on this part of the coast, and the wind sweeps
down the bare, rocky slopes with great force. This is the reason for
the exceptional construction of the mission premises.