Nearly everyone had two occupations, one in the summer, out of doors, the other, in the winter, within the protection of buildings. Father Joseph is also quite an important man in religious affairs, as he takes charge of the meetings every week in the room devoted to worship. He is a venerable looking man with such a placid expression on his face, that one cannot help liking him.

I was given a room, which they made me to understand, was to be mine wherein I was to be at home. I appreciated this very much, because ofttimes I became tired of the strangeness around me, which, before I learned to understand the language, was a continuous strain on me.

Then I became ill. I don't know what caused it, whether it was the continuous darkness, or whether it was a reaction of exposure in the ice. I did not know the nature of my illness either, but I had a high fever and became very weak. I was given the tenderest of care, and what I supposed were learned doctors came to me and prescribed for my illness. I have since learned what a stir the news of my illness made in the land. They could not afford to lose me before I had learned to impart to them my knowledge of the great unknown world - and so all that their skill and care could do was directed to me.

However, I did not remain sick long, though for a time I was weak. And now how to spend the long weary hours of my enforced inactivity was a problem. I turned to my friendly grip, and there was my Bible. I seized it eagerly. Here, then was something - here were a multitude of people that would communicate with me in a language that I could understand. Blessed Book! I opened it and read. The words had the home-appearance to me. I read aloud and the sound was pleasant to my ears.

But most wonderful of all, I found, that the Book was a very interesting one. I had had the notion, so common to young people where I had lived, that any religious or sacred literature must be dry and exceeding prosy; but here I found wonderful events; fascinating stories, and truths most beautiful. I read continually. The family became somewhat solicitious, and wondered at the book which had such interest for me. David spent part of his time at school and part in the work shop where his father was foreman, but he found time to visit with me, also, and I sometimes read aloud to him, much to his amusement. I read much in the Old Testament, the first book being the most interesting. It read like the psalms, though why it might be hard to say; but the story of Christ was the most wonderful and interesting of all.

As soon as I was strong enough, I went out - but that expression is hardly right because I did not go out into the open air for sometime. As I before noted, one can go through the long sheltered halls to any part of the community's gathering places, and so I could safely visit the many interesting scenes. Sometimes I went with Joseph to the work shop and at other times I visited the school where Rachel went. I was always treated with great respect, and was only sorry when I saw the eager faces of the children that I could not tell them of the world which lay outside of their limited country, on the other side of the great white barrier.

Midwinter came, and then there was a great festival. The sun had turned now and was slowly coming back to us. All we needed was patience to do our present duty. Mine was simply to reach my Bible, and learn the language of my new world, and I did my best at both.

Placed as I was, I could not help making progress in the language, and so towards the close of the dark season, I could understand nearly all that was said in common conversation. My progress in speaking was slower, yet I could not make myself understood on many subjects.

I usually went to religious worship along with Joseph. Every seventh day was a Sabbath, when every one rested and attended meetings.

The services were very simple. There was singing and prayer, and then Father Joseph usually called on some person from the congregation to speak. Sometimes there were visitors from other communities who did the preaching. At first I wondered what they were talking about - what kind of religion they had, and what they believed in. All religion that I had ever known anything about was based on the Bible - but these people surely had no Bible - surely they had never even heard of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, about whom I had been reading - and then a thought came to me which thrilled my whole being - I had a Bible. I could teach these people the true religion and make them all Christians!

I had imagined that the winter would be extremely cold; but in this I was mistaken. The snow did not fall very deep, and never was it too cold for well-clad people to be out. The people were not greatly given to pleasure, but at times parties of young people would travel between towns in sleighs drawn by their sturdy ponies. Sometimes the sky was a beautiful sight, lighted by the gorgeous aurora, or northern light.

This display is a wonder to me, as it is to all I know. Silently, great bands of many-colored lights come into the sky, until the whole upper dome is covered with strange figures, and great ribbons of light which wave to and fro as if they were shaken by a mighty, unseen hand. Silently they come, and as silently go - melting away into the depths of the sky. Many a time have I sat by the open window and seen such sights, and a number of times have I seen them in the fulness of their glory when I have joined a company of people in their excursions over the snow to their neighboring town. The laughter of the girls and the sweet beauty of their faces could not altogether draw my attention from the splendid panorama above me. At every new display I gazed aloft, and they laughed at me as much as they dared - the sight was common enough to them.