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Him baby； him like cracker； him cry for cracker。 Him say； 'NEE…AL；
NEE…AL；' all time him say； 'NEE…AL。' Then I say that um name。 So
um name all time Nee…al。〃
Never did sound more blessed fall upon Neil Bonner's ear than that lie
from Jees Uck's lips。 It was the cue； and he knew there was reason for
Kitty's untroubled brow。
〃And his father？〃 Kitty asked。 〃He must be a fine man。〃
〃Oo…a； yes；〃 was the reply。 〃Um father fine man。 Sure！〃
〃Did you know him； Neil？〃 queried Kitty。
〃Know him？ Most intimately；〃 Neil answered； and harked back to
dreary Twenty Mile and the man alone in the silence with his thoughts。
And here might well end the story of Jees Uck but for the crown she
put upon her renunciation。 When she returned to the North to dwell in
her grand log…house； John Thompson found that the P。 C。 Company could
make a shift somehow to carry on its business without his aid。 Also； the
new agent and the succeeding agents received instructions that the woman
Jees Uck should be given whatsoever goods and grub she desired； in
whatsoever quantities she ordered； and that no charge should be placed
upon the books。 Further； the Company paid yearly to the woman Jees
Uck a pension of five thousand dollars。
When he had attained suitable age； Father Champreau laid hands upon
the boy； and the time was not long when Jees Uck received letters
regularly from the Jesuit college in Maryland。 Later on these letters
came from Italy； and still later from France。 And in the end there
returned to Alaska one Father Neil； a man mighty for good in the land；
who loved his mother and who ultimately went into a wider field and rose
to high authority in the order。
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… Page 128…
The Faith of Men
Jees Uck was a young woman when she went back into the North； and
men still looked upon her and yearned。 But she lived straight； and no
breath was ever raised save in commendation。 She stayed for a while
with the good sisters at Holy Cross； where she learned to read and write
and became versed in practical medicine and surgery。 After that she
returned to her grand log…house and gathered about her the young girls of
the Toyaat village； to show them the way of their feet in the world。 It is
neither Protestant nor Catholic； this school in the house built by Neil
Bonner for Jees Uck； his wife； but the missionaries of all the sects look
upon it with equal favour。 The latchstring is always out； and tired
prospectors and trail…weary men turn aside from the flowing river or
frozen trail to rest there for a space and be warm by her fire。 And； down
in the States； Kitty Bonner is pleased at the interest her husband takes in
Alaskan education and the large sums he devotes to that purpose； and；
though she often smiles and chaffs； deep down and secretly she is but the
prouder of him。
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