their huntings for flour, tea,
sugar, and raisins at the trading posts.

Everybody was expected to promise something, and then he was to do his
best to get it.

This method of getting up a feast was a unique one. The idea of
subscribing bears that were in their dens a hundred miles away, or
moose, or reindeer, or other wild animals that were roaming in the
forests or on the barren plains many scores of miles distant, was, to
say the least, very different from civilised methods. When the council
breaks up, every man is interested in securing what he has promised, or
something better. It often happens that the man who has promised a
couple of wild cats succeeds in finding a good, full beaver house. A
couple of these are worth more than the cats. The man who promised a
reindeer may be lucky enough to kill a moose, and thus it is. However,
they all try to do the very best they can. As these various supplies
are brought in they are stowed away in the large fish house of the
missionary, where they speedily freeze solid, and are thus kept sweet
and good until required for use. About four days before the feast the
wife of the missionary calls to her help a number of clever, industrious
Indian women, and from morning until night the cooking goes on. Early
in the morning of the feast day the seats are all removed from the
church, and long tables are improvised that stretch from nearly end to
end of the building. One long table is prepared at the upper end of the
church for all the whites, who are specially invited by letter to
attend. As they have all contributed largely to the feast, of course,
they are welcomed.

It is an interesting sight to see that happy, expectant throng.
Everybody, Christian and pagan, is welcome. No questions are asked.
See the piles of provisions. Surely there is enough and to spare.
Well, they will need a great quantity, for Indians have great appetites,
and then there are many sick and feeble who could not come to-day, and
they must be remembered. There are over a thousand out to-day, and
while some scores are busy preparing the feast the others skate, play
football, toboggan, and in other ways amuse themselves. Of course the
inmates of the mission house are busy. To the missionary and his wife
the Indians all look for direction and guidance. This is necessary,
that everything may go off without friction. In addition, they have to
be on hand to receive such white people as may com