In the igloo of Eiseeyou, little sister was the first to go. Then two of the smaller children followed her. Finally Eiseeyou's favorite, Oumauk, was stricken. He did not die although he was very sick for several days. When he finally got better, there was great rejoicing in the igloo. But this was cut short one night by a terrible discovery.
Oumauk ran crying to his mother, complaining that the stone lamp gave no light. It was all night in the igloo. His mother assured him that it was burning brightly, but he said no, and went groping about for the light. This filled the hearts of his parents with foreboding. On the morrow when the sun finally appeared for two or three hours, Eiseeyou took him out of doors, but he said the same thing of the sun. The sun had gone out. It gave no light.
Then Eiseeyou and his good kooner knew a terrible thing had happened. The measles had struck to Oumauk's eyes and left him blind.
The next day Eiseeyou took his stricken son to the settlement further south, where the missionary examined him carefully.
He shook his head after the examination. Only the great doctor at Quebec could help him, and that would take lots of money and a long journey. At these words Eiseeyou turned his steps sorrowfully homeward and despair reigned all that winter in his igloo.