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TO OUR DEAR MOTHER MARIE GUYART OF THE INCARNATION, FIRST SUPERIORESS, AND WITH MADAME DE LA PELTRIE, JOINT-FOUNDRESS OF THIS MONASTERY) THIS LITTLE SKETCH OF ITS HISTORY IS MOST HUMBLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. PREFACE. The History of the Ursulines published in French some years ago, (1863-4) has given occasion to the present sketch, which we ofl'er to our Enghsh-reading friends, in the hope that it may be accept- able. At the same time, we are persuaded that a candid exposition of facts, ignored by certain writers, but faithfully detailed in old Books of unquestionable authenti- city, will serve to correct many erroneous statements. These Books are : — I. The Relations of the Jesuits, published during a period of forty years, and widely read in France, irom 1632 to 1672. The Relations, as re- printed by the Canadian government in 1858, form three large octavo volumes. 11. The Letters of Mother Mary of the 6 P II F. FACE. Incarnation, first Superioress of the Ur- suline Monastery in Quebec. These letters, Avritteii during the space of some thirty years, were not intended for publication. They were addressed to persons ol' various rank and condition, to dillerent religious Communities, and to her son, who became a Benedictine monk, and who was, at one time, Superior ol' his Monastery. The o])ject of so wide a correspondence was chielly to forward the enterprise in which she was engaged ; to excite sym- pathy, and to procure the means of sub- sistence for the Indian children, and often for their parents ; to obtain funds for building, and rebuilding her Convent; to guide, by her counsels, her son, and other persons who confided to her their spiritual wants, in the pa^h of perfection. The publication of these letters was un- dertaken by her son, after her death, at the solicitation of his friends. They form a quarto volume of 672 I PRtPACE. the IJ r- iie space iiteiidod cssed to lition, to and to le monk, [or of his on douce 'pvise in ite sym- 5 of sub- ind oiten mds for ivent ; to nd other spiritual i was un- leath, at i of 672 pap^es ; yet they are but a fragment of those she wrQte,which amounted annually to two or three hundred, — perhaps more. The lirst edition was printed, in 1080; two others were called for during the life- time of thf publisher. We have been happy, also, to refer to the venerated Chaplain of the Monastery, at whose suggestion this work was com- menced, and who, by a careful study of all our documents, has been enabled to lend us invaluable aid. By no means do we desire to prepare the reader to expect a story of great and thrilling interest ; but rather to claim in- dulgence for pages so poor, gleaned from so rich a source. For our pupils, who remember the cloister as a little world where all was calm and pure, where piety mingled .^ :> naturally with science, and where no employment excluded the thought and the name of God, these " Glimpses of the Monastery", will doubtless possess a pe- culiar charm, serving to revive and refresh 1 f 8 PREFACE. some of thoir sweetest reminiscences. They will bo happy to meet the oft-re- peated name — Mother Mario de I'lncar- nation— and review those "tales of the Olden Times," which were w^ont to make the social hour so pleasant. 8uch reminiscences have a soothing and hallowed influence, in which the waiter would feel her toil amply repaid ; desiring above all, to contribute, according to her humble capacity, to the glory of God, and the good of souls. UusTLiNE Convent, Qleuec, April lUHli. 1872. CONTENTS. PRCriCE FAQB. 3 •BiPTIB. I. INSTRUCTION NEEDED IN NEW PRANCE 9 11. THE WAYS OF DIVINE PROYIDENCE 16 III. ARRIVAL OF THE NUNS IN CANADA 31 IV. THREE TEARS^ LABORS 41 V. MADAME DE LA PELTRIE AND THE INDIANS... 54 TI. EFFECTS OF INSTRUCTION 61 VII. EIGHT TEARS IN THE NEW MONASTERY... 78 VIII. MOTHER ST. JOSEPH AND THE BURONS.... 98 IX. ONE NIQHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 108 X. COURAGE IN ADVERSITY 128 XI. THE SECOND MONASTERY 146 XII. THE NOVITIATE 169 XIII. THE URSUI.INES AND THE IROQUOIS 170 XIV. THE INMATES OF THE MONASTERY AGAIN.. 193 XV. THE CLOSE OF WELL-SPENT YEARS 226 Appendix, CATALOGUE OF PUPILS FROM 1854 TO 1860. • PAN^GYRTQUE DE LA VEN. M^RE MARIE DE l'IN- CARNATION. REFLEXIONS SUR l'ARCHICONFRERIB DE STE. I ANG&LE* r> :lTAnD '.O !.,... -i-^./mm ~ .a am HO v ' /> ■ * ' '<■.■■'■■ nin '!'/ • ni' t ,:!t . . ..••ji:»J'M 'RHa iV -• ^iiifi ."'! i;J : ♦;{ .-ft'-;- '.« .iJ.-. ■J" *.J :j i i /ttikV .» ..... .. .- ;; 'jj-^/A \o • •, »ir<^ri .:/. ■f ,>"4 . f' 'Tf « i;A. '. ir-ji " 'A"jy .71 .i\ v; :-A''-.!/: ':::♦ J ^ s;n •T/ /r .-D tnr .ii.> ;i.T J isai. i Hi ■' ' i / ;V < i .'f ■; o .IT ■ ♦ • LTl .» ;>*^v:a'1 !<•' 5 .• '^H* ^ '•:-'': TlJ-r^: ..i t> f , GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. CHAPTER I. ( INTRODUCTORY. ) 1030. INSTRUCTION NEEDED IN NEW FRANCE. Thirty years had elapsed since the at- tempt had been made to fix a permanent settlement upon the shores of the St. Lawrence. With no other neighbors for thousands of miles than savage hordes, the little Colony founded in 1608, would have been, for twenty years, merely a central post for the fur-traders, had it not been, above all, a refuge and a rallying point for the missions. The illustrious founder of Quebec had mainly in view, " to plant in this country 10 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. the standard of the Cross ; to teach the knowledge of God and the G-lory of His Name; desiring to increase charity for His creatures." Hence, while providing for the spiritual welfare of his own people, he had not failed to invite mis- sionaries, to come and labor for the con- version of the pagan Indians. The call was accepted by the sons of St. Francis, as early as 1615. Ten years later, came the Jesuit missioners, to share the labors, the perils, and the merits of the KecoUects. In 1629, the little Fort of Quebec was beleaguered, at once, by famine and by a hostile fleet. It was not a Strasbourg, sur- rendering with its army 300,000 strong; — it was simply the captivity of about fifty people;— but it annihilated, at one blow, the fruit of twenty years' labor and hardships, depriving the French monarch of his only foothold on the American continent, and plunging the poor Indian anew into the pagan darkness from which he was beginning to emerge. GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 11 Fortunately, the fleet which three years later brought back the White Flag*, bore a more numerous colony than had been carried away. It restored also the mis- sionary to his glorious toils. The new colonists were not mere trad- ers : they came provided with implements of agriculture ; a few had brought their families to make this distant shore their home. The powerful Company of the Hundred Associates, moreover, were pledged to increase the number of im- migrants to four thousand, before the end often years. Such was the prospect the noble and devoted Champlain was given to con- template, before closing his eyes upon the scenes of his long and arduous labors. His death, on Christmas day, 1635, filled with mourning his own countrymen, wherever they were scattered, throughout the land ; the Indians also, wept the kind hearted Governor, whom they regarded with re- verence and affection. Another year brought, as Governor of 12 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. )i New France, the gallant De Montmagny, who continued the plans of his illustrious predecessor. In his company, besides his officers and soldiers, were two noble families i, com- prising forty-five persons ; with workmen, artisans, and laborers, giving to the infant city a population of nearly two hundred souls. The Fort was now enlarged, and part- ly built of stone ; the streets of the city were traced. The Jesuit Mission House having received reinforcements, a Resi- dence vvas established also at Three Rivers, where, already, the fur-traders had their post, frequented by the Indian hunters. Another Mission House was built in the distant country of the Huron s ^ ; and there, in the midst of persecutors, was a little band of faithful converts. The wandering Algonquin and Mon- ^ Le Gardeur de Repentigny, and Le Neuf. 2 800 miles west of Quebec '' I GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 13 tagnais, ^ more docile than the Hurons, wherever they had met the Missionary, had received with joy the tidings c^ sal- vation. ^ In the followinri; pages, tlie names of tlie Indian tribes recurring frequently, we shall here indicate their locality. North of the St. Lawrence wandered various tribes of tlie Algonquin type; — the Montagnais, along the Saguenay to Hudson's Bay, the Algonquin proper on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa; the Nipissings dwelt on the lake of that name; the Attimegues north of Three Rivers; Maine was occupied by the Abnakis; anil Gaspe and N. Brunswick, by the Micmacs. The south shore of the St. Lawrence, in Canada, had no fixed inhabitants. ^' The Hurons were an agricultural and sedentary tribe, inhabiting the peninsula formed by Lake Huron, the river Severn, and Lake Simcoe. All these tribes were gained to the faith within the lifetime of the first missionaries. The most barbarous, and yet the most advanced nation of the Continent, the Iroquois, occupied (he centre of New- York, from the Hudson to the Gene- see. The five principal cantons of the confederacy were the Mohawk, (AgnieVj) Oneida {Onneyut), Onondaga iOnnontaguc) Cayuga, and Seneca. !li , i I Hi 14 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTEHT. An immense interest in the success of the missions and the wellare of the colo- nists, was awakened in all ranks of society in Erance, by the publication of tht lie- lations, in which the holy missionaries made known the wonderful effects of grace in these new Christians, as well as the ardor of their own longings to shed their blood for the cause of God. Princes and prelates, courtiers and la- dies of rank, as well as pious persons in the humbler walks of life, vied with each other, in raising funds for the missions and other charitable purposes. One of these pious donations provided for the establishment of the converted Algon- quins and Montagnais, on the model of the Eeductions of Paraguay. Thas was commenced, in 1G37 \ the Christian vil- lage of Sillciy. ^ By Noel Brulart do Sillery, prime Minister of Louis XIII. He renounced the world, and embraced the ecclesiastical ijtate, in 1634. The remainder of his life was devoted lo good works. Rdation. Bres- tany. GLI.MrSES OF THE MONASTERY. 15 i I There, at only four miles' distance from Quebec, were little Indian g-irls waiting to ]>e instructed. Other little French maidens were growing up among the settlers, within and around the city. It is easy to imagine with what anxiety pious fathers and mothers looked upon their daughters, for whom it was impos- sible to procure the advantages of edu- cation and instruction. For their sons, these precious advantages were prepared in the college of the Jesuits, opened in IG80. Had Divine Providence, while provid- ing for the bird unfledged, rocking in its little nest, forgotten the birdlings of a Christian home ? If left without intel- lectual and moral culture, would not the dt^scendants of European civilization, sink to the level oi the degraded beings around them, and become perhaps, more savage than the natives themselves ? But Providence had not foru'otten the little ones in New France, as we shall soon see. m m ■'ri i 15 Ui N CHAPTER II. THE WAYS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. Far from these vast regions where the fearless missionaries labored, away in central Frimc3, the old city of Tours lay quivering in the sunlight of an April morning. It is not to the bright iields, the vii.eclad hills, the pleasant thickets of mulberry trees, that we shall direct our gaze ; but to the cloistered garden-walks of the Ursuline Monastery, along which one of the sisterhood glides, with joyous step, and kneels before the rustic shrine, "the Hermitage" of St. Joseph. If the sacred sj^ot were less shaded we mi^ij'ht have recognized the features, now so fa- miliar to thousands on both sides of the Atlantic. It was Mother Mary of the Incarnation, hastening to thank St. Joseph for an immense favor. The long years of 11 QLIMPSES OE THE MONASTERY. 17 waiting were over ; the '* amiable crosses of Canada " which promise her " the de- hg'hts of Paradise," because there she will find an opportunity of " wmning souls to God," are before her. To many of our readers, the name of Mary of the Incarnation, is, already, r. household word ; perhaps there are none who have not heard something of the history of this remarkable woman,— the first teacher of female youth in Canada ; the first, also, whose name, from this Northern America, has been carried to Itome, to be inscribed as a candidate for the highest honors upon earth. Born, in 1599, of a family, not wealthy, but honorable, and distinguished for probity and virtue, Mary Guyart had the advantage of a solid and pious education, which, in itself a grace, disposes the faith- ful soul to be the recipient of other graces. Tlie ])iety and innocence of her youth ; the trials that attended her during the two years of her married life ; the admir- able virtues she practised during her I ■ 1 ! 18 GLIMPSES or THfi MONASTERY. widowhood, while bringing up her infant son— the only tie that retained her in the world; — these would form the headings of as many chapters, replete with interest and edification. ^ At length, after twelve years have brought her son boyond the helplessness of infancy, she confides him to her sister's care, and enters the cloister. These years of probation had been to her the narrow, thorny path, leading to the mountain heights of sanctity. She had practised the counsels of Evangelical perfection, before pronouncing the solemn vows, as a relis^ious. She had attained that sublime state, which St. Paul describes of himself : " Henceforth I live, yet not I, but Jesus- Christ liveth in me." The interests of G-od had become hers ; the extension of the Kingdom of His Divine Son, her only and ardent desire. 1 See the Life of Mother Marie de V Incarnation by our distinguished writer, Rev. H. R. Casgrain* ■i ':if- r. GLIMPSES OV THE MONASTERY. 19 ler infant ler in the headings h. interest ars have plessness cr sister's .ese years e narrow, mountain practised ferfection, VOWS, as t sublime 'himsell*: ut Jesus- ^me hers ; of His it desire. Incarnation 'Usgrain. The conversion of the heathen, through- out the universe, vv^as the continual object of her supplications. ^ Not long after her admittance into the Community, one Christmas-tide, (it was in 1G31,) a mysterious dream shadowed forth 1 The following passage, out of the many pages Motlier Mary has written in a similar strain, will show how &he regarded the state of the heathen Indians. *' Je vols I'etat deplorable de ceux qui ignorent lea verites divines ; il me semble qu'ils sont dejii, dans les enfors et que le sang de mon Jesius a ete repandu inutilenient a. leur egard. L' incomprehensible bonte de Diei n'est pas connue, ni aimee, ni adoree, ni glorifiee par des creatures dans lesquelles il est f et qui sont neanmoins capables de lui rendu tons ces devoirs. que cette reflexion me blesse le cmur ! Je conjure ce Tout-Puissant a qui toutes choses sont faciles, et qui a cree de rien tout ce que nous voyons, que, s'il veut me condamner a I'enfer jusqu'au jour du jngement, il me fasse cette grande misericorde j pourvu qu'en vertu de cette sentence il convertisse tous ces pauvres abandonnes." Tours, 1G35. lettre IX> * t ;> II! I ■ III; m (1 20 OLIMPSEB OF THE MONASTERY. her rutur(3 course. ^ Through a dark and perilous way, she groped, haud-iu- hand, with a lady whose countenance was unknown to her. A venerable per- sonage directed the travellers by amotion ol' the hand, and they entered a spacious court, Ibrmed by the buildings ot a Mo- nastery. The pavement was of white marble, intersected by lines of vermilion. Over all this place, seemed to brood the spirit of stillness and peace. On one side rose a chapel of purest alabaster, upon the summit of which, as upon a throne, was s»nited the Virgin with the Divine Infant. {She was gazing upon a desolate country, covered with fogs, and beset with mountains and precipices. In the midst of these gloomy wastes, the spires and gable-end of a little church, could be perceived, just visible above the fogs. The Virgin looked with sadness on the ^ Otie is reiDiiuled liere of St. Peter's vision relat' ive to the conversion of the Gentiles: the nivsterious sheet, the voice coniinaudiug un act that appeared contrary to dutv, GLIMPSES (iP THE MONASTEIlY. 21 dismal scono holbro hor, and as Mary ol'tlie Incarnation pri'ssed forward, closo to her seat, the sweet Mother oi* Mercy turned towards her, with a smile of wi^lcome, and gently bending down, kissed her forehead. Then she seemed to Avlusper some mes- sage to the iJivine Infant, that concerned the salvation of souls. Mary of the In- carnation had not heard the words, ]>ut she knew thiMr purport, ai\d her In art burned more than ever for the conversion of pagan nations. A year later, the mystery was removed by an interior call ^ to devote herself to found a Monastery of her Order in Ca- nada. Henceforth, while praying for all the benighted nations of the earth, it is m particular for Canada that her zeal is enkindled. Many times each day. with pressing supplications, she pleads iur souls, through the Sacred Heart of Jesus ; — and still she seems to hear our Lord, t y.l ^ In tlie Old Tt'stamont as well as in tlie New, Gtxl has spoken to man, wlietlier by angels, as to Alira" ham and to Lot; or in dreams, as to St. Joseph. ;(■.: i 22 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 1 1 . I ■ II m bidding her to lend her aid, " to go to Canada, and there, build a house to Jesus an d M; ir^ 5} The Church of Canada was ness indeed just emerging" from the dark that through long ages has covered the land. The "Expiations" which the missionaries in New France began to pubhsh in 1632, found their way to the Monastery, and helped to fan the flame. It is ff r the Almighty to provide the way for the accomplishment of His own desiixns. In what manner this was brought about, we must now relate. In another distant part of France, near the Uttle town of Alen9on, in Normandy, stood the castle of the Seigneur of Vau- bougon, the ancestral home of Madeleine de Chauvigny, better known by the name of Madame de la Peltrie. Like Mother Mary of the Incarnation, Madeleine, en- gaged once in the married state through pure compliance with the will of her parents, constantly refused, when these ties were broken, to contract a second GLIMPSES OF TUE MONASTERY. 23 to go to to Jesus lada was darkness ered the siouaries L ill 1632, ery, and >vide the His own this was late. nee, near rmandy, of Yau- ladeleine the name Mother eine. en- through 111 of her en these la second en gage me nt. The piety of her early years had been remarkable ; as a widow she perfected her love of God by the practice of exterior works of cliarity, — alms deeds, lodging and serving the poor, visiting and comforting the sick, and the unfor- tunate. To her also, the Relations, par- ticularly that of 1G35, were as a ray of hu'ht fashioning? her future course. One of the holy missioners had uttered this moving appeal : " Alas ! were the su- perfluous wealth of some of the ladies of France, employed to further the conver- sion of these poor Indians, what blessings would they not draw down upon their own families ! What a glorious thing it would be in the sight of* Heaven to gather up the precious drops of Jesus' blood and apply it to the souls of these poor heathens!" How many hearts that thrilled on read- ing this vehement appeal, turned as soon to some trivial pursuit, giving no further heed to the voice of grace ! Not so Made- leine. A high and noble purpose filled her ooul, while it overwhelmed her with i ; I ■Hi f !f 24 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. the impression of her own nnworthiness. She resolved to go to that heathen land, to gather up the precious Blood of Jesus! Before she had taken any step towards the accomplishment of her pious proje ^t, she fell dangerously ill, and soon her life was despaired of. In this extremity, she made a solemn vow to go to Canada, and to found, in honor of St. Joseph, a Monas- tery of Ursulines for the instruction of the little Indian and French girls. Suddenly she rose, from the brink of the grave, to perfect health ! Many dif- ficulties remained to be overcome. Fa- mily interests changed them to persecu- tions. Legal proceedings having failed to procure her arrest, those who coveted the wealth she was giving to good works, were fully determined to deprive her of her liberty in order to obtain it. Aware of this, and supported by able casuists, she adopted measures, suited only to ex- ceptional cases; such as hers evidently was\ ^ It was on thia occasion that the zeal of a pious '3 \0 Y. )rthiness. len land, of J esus ! ► towards s project, .11 her life mity, she a ad a, and , a Monas- ion of the brink of Many dif- Dme. Fa- • perseca- ^ failed to )Yeted the )d works, ive her of :. Aware casuists, lily to ex- evidently !al of a pious GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTKRY. 25 A journey to Paris enabled her to con- sult Jicv. Father Gondren, General of the Oratory, and St. Vincent of Paul : — by both these eminent men, her devout project was approved. It remained to obtain nuns for the pro- posed foundation. Madame de la Peltrie sought the advice of He v. Father Poncet, charged with the missions of Canada ; and, to her great joy, learned from him the par- ticulars of the vocation of Mother Mary of the Incarnation. Not many weeks later, the pious widow was at Tours, negotiating the affair with the Archbishop. Admitted into the Mo- nastery, Mother Mary recognizes in the gentleman of Caen, M. de Bernieres, was awakened for the Missions of Canada. After aiding Madame de la Peltrie in a difficult conjuncture, he remained a devoted friend of the Ursulines, taking charge of their afi'airs in France with a benevolence worthy of the }iighest praise. It is a source of regret that Mother Mary of the Incarnation's letters to M. de Bernieres were not recovered : to him, naturally, the state of the Convent, its penury and its resources, mu^t have been stated, from year to year. ' ■ ■ 1 w. if I l\ H in mi "^ iif V ' m m > ii ! 1 :ii Ifiirl^ 26 GLIMI'SES OF Tift: MONASTERY. stranger, the companion with whom, in that mysterious dream, eight years belbrey she had toiled along a dangerous path through an unknown, desert land. It was necessary to choose a companion for Mother Mary ; this was equally over- ruled by Providence. Not one in that fervent community would have shrunk from the proposed sacrifice ; all were anxious, even, to obtain the nomination. One, alone, in her humility, judged herself unworthy to aspire to such a distinction : — yet she was the chosen one. Of gentle mien, and delicate health, the youthful and accomplished Mary de la Troche of St. Bernard, was of the noble blood of the I)e Savonnieres. Her vocation to a reli- gious life at the early age of fourteen, had already cost her parents an immense sacrifice : How Vv^as she to obtain the con- sent either of them or of her community ? "When God wills, "there is away" and thus it proved in the case of Mile, de la Troche. Attributing the unlooked-for success to III i GLIMPSES OF THE MONAsTKRY. 27 success to the protection of St. Joseph, to whom she had coniided all her liopes, Moth«n' M. Bernard exehani>'ed her name for that oi Mother St. Joseph ; as she will be known in the subsequent pages. It remained to regukUe the temporal af- fairs of the projected Foundation, and to receive the Archbishop's benediction with their " obediences " or Episcopal authori- zation. It was their BUI of Sli^iit, their Passport in authentic form, — although not issued from the Forei^'/i Ol/ice. The assembly w^as hekl in the Arch- bishop's palace. The Venerable Prelate, now eighty years of age, was profoundly moved. AVhen the moment of parting came, he arose, and presnitiiig the two Re- ligious to Madame de la Peltrie, addressed her in these remarkable words : " Behold the two foundation stones of the temple you are about to erect iu the New World to glorify the Almighty. I entrust them to you for this end, according to your denumd. May they be two precious stones in the foundation, on the model of i w ^& i :• hi II M f'. ! -■ ■■ -'I I ,:' II [ T(rr^ "111 28 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. the Jerusalem above. May this edifice be a mansion of peace, of grace, and heav- enly blessings, more abundant than those of the Ancient Temple of Solomon. May the efforts of hell never prevail against it, no more than against the Holy Church itself. And since this House is to be built for God, may He fix His dwelling there, as the Father and as the ^Spouse, not only of the nuns I confide to you, but of all who may accompany them, or who will live there, after them, to the end of time. " ^fhose solemn words, the farewell bles- sing, the last will and testament, as it were, of the aged Prelate, are never read without emotion by the daughters of Mother Mary of the Incarnation, w4io w^ould fain believe them a prophecy. A last adieu to their dear Monastery, to their beloved Mothers and ^Sisters,— and thoir loni>' iournev commences. At Paris they Ini m an acquaintance with the ITisulines of the great city, Avho were destined later to lend them efficient aid. is edifice \nd heav- nt than Solomon, r prevail the Holy ouse is to dwell in 2; Sl)ousc, you, but 1, or who 10 end of well bles- ent, as it ever read [^•liters ol' ion, who lecy. onastery, Sisters,— ces. :iiice with vho were iont aid. GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTEaT. 29 The Queen, Anne of Austria ; the Duchess of Aiguillon, and of Brienne ; and other ladies of quality, saw many times the future benefactresses of the poor Indians of Canada ; and not without bestowing pious donations as a pledge of affection and esteenj. Their next pause is at Dieppe, where another Convent of Ursulines has inher- ited the missionary spirit. — A third com- panion was found there, m Mother Cecile Richer de la Croix, who seems, like another Matthew, to have risen at the first sound of the Divine Master's voice, ready to fol- low Him, even to the ends of the earth. The merchant ships, bound for Canada, had taken in their freight, — dry goods, im- plements of labor, live-stock, seed, salt meat, — a miscellaneous assortment — and were only waiting now for a favorable breeze. Among the expected passeno^ers were three nuns ^ from the Hospital in 1 Mothers Marie Guenot de St. Ignacc, Anne le Cointre de St. Bernard, and Marie Forealier de St. "Bonavcnture, ■m I.: m T! I , J l^ji ii; 1 ;iii 'Hi . II 30 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. Dieppe, who under the high patronage of the Duchess of A ignillon, were going to Quebec to found a House of their Order : there were also the Rev. Fathers Vimont, Pinet, and Chaumonot, for the Missions ; and now, at the latest hour — an unex- pected recruit— appeared Madame de la Teltrie and the three Ursulines. On the 4th of May, all being in read- iness and the wind favorable, our voyagers embarked. Three lonir months with no other horizon but the mingling sea and sky ; no other landscape but the placid waters or the tossing billows ! — such is their prospect, at best. Ueibre they quit the Channel, they are rocked till all are sea-sick; they barely escape being ship- wrecked ; but that is nothing : — " Their hearts are in peace, because they are fuliy abandoned to God." — AVho would not wish them God-speed on their long voyage ? RY. tronage of going to 3ir Order : rs Vimont, Missions ; -an nnex- ame cle la CUAPTER III. 1030. AFiRIVAL OF THE URSULINES IN CANADA. g: in read- ir voyagers IS with no ig sea and the placid ! — such is 3 they quit till all are 3eing ship- : — " Their I they are ho would their long 1 It was mid-summer, when the Httle ileet which had lost sight ol'the coasts of France in May, anchored, at last, in the harbor of Tadoussac, at the conlluence of the Sa2:ue- nay with the St. Lawrence. Our travel- lers, no doubt, were struck with the stern and ravage grandeur of the scenery ; the black impending clills, rising perpendicu- larly, and forming a gigantic gate-way, throu^'h which the dark waters of the vSaguenay issue, — a fathomless Hood, — sublimely reminding the spectator of long ages past, and terrible convulsions of nature since her birth. The dense, lonely forests,were unbroken, save by the curling smoke of the wigwam lire, or the rude sheds of the tradingv^ta- II;. r -■ I \' m I !;1 II 32 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. tion. Strange, too, and wild, were these swarthy hunters,— the Algonquins and Montagnais, who had come, bringing their furs, — the skin of the beaver, the seal, and marten, to exchange for blankets, kettles, knives, and other European commodities. The poor Indian looked with amazement on these " daughters of Sachems" who, he was told, had left their homes beyond the Great Sea, to teach the wiv es and daughters of the Redman how to avoid the Uames of another world. Impatient to reach their destination, the passengeio leave ^he Admiral to its traffic, and in a smaller vessel press onwards towards Quebec. The natives, swift of foot, follow along the solitary shores, un- willing to lose sight of a spectacle so new and wonderful. The last day of July is near its close, when, turning the eastern point of the Isle of Orleans, the semicircle of the northern shore, opens before them in all the loveliness of a summer's sunset ; varying its beauties from the abrupt mountain head, the term of their voyage, 4 ''I I f it. M ii rjMMPSKs OF Tin: monastery. 33 lere these uins and ging their 3 seal, and :s, kettles, imodities. nazement i" who, he 3yond the laughters le flames lation, ihe its traffic, onwards swil't of lores, un- le so new of July is e eastern omicircle ore them 's sunset ; abrupt r voyage, 4 to the low wave where the 8t Charles brings in its tribute; the j)l(»asant btMich, adorned wi
  • ¥ THE MONASTERY. 37 tho undertaking, and the sympathy it ex- cites in congt'iiial souls. The rites of hospitality reunited the elfle of the company, witli the strangers at the castle. We have no further details of this iirst day. All the French families had a right to an iiiiroduction. The nuns must have noticed the Ileberts, the Couil- lards, the De Puiseaux ; perhaps also, the Seigneur of Boauport, ^ GrifFard. The next scene recorded in the old volumes which have guidei us thus far, is a visit, on the day following, to the Indian hamlet of Sillery. The Ursulines and the Hospitallers, conducted by Rev. Father LeJeune, proceed first through the " G-rande Alice," (now St. Louis Eoad,) bordered in nearly all its length, with fine old forest trees. Birds of new song ^ M. GifFard obtint de la conipagnie des Cent-As- socies la Seigneurie de Beauport, et dans I'ete de l(')'M, sept families noinbreuses y arriverent en qua- lite de censitairc8. Le Sieur Gitfard etait aussi accon.pao^ne d ^ r^.^ fomnie et ses enfants. Hist, du Can., Ferland. f. 1 ^ :i! ilTil lili'll 'f ' 38 GLIMPSE? OF THE MONASTERY. and plumage, flowers of unknown forirs, — but chieiJy conversation on the pros- pects of the mission, — diversified the way. The hamlet was enclosed by a palisade, as a sort of fortilication. The gateway thrown open, discloses the life and man- ners of barbarism, just softened by a touch of civilization and purified by Christianity. The Ileduction consists of some fifteen families, their habitations varying from the primitive rudeness of the Algonquin wigwam, to the substantial stone hut. ^ A chapel, a mission-house for the priest, and an Infirmary, or hospital, occupy the centre of the village. At sight of the nuns clad in their pe- culiar costume, the poor squaws gather up their little papooses and seem ready to flee to the woods with them ; the older red-skinned urchins, stop their wild play, and huddle together ;■ — but at a motion from the good priest, whom they know. at ^ lu 1642, there were yet but four stone cottages. Rel. I Btone cottages. GLIMPSES OF THE M<)NA^TP:RY. 39 all o^ithor roniid, and soon forget their tVitzht. When told that these " daughters of Captains'' had lel't their happy homes,, in I'raiice, to come and teach them more ahoat the Blessed Jesus, or to serve them in their sickness, their wonder and ad- miration may be imagined ;— but not the joy, the atlection with w^iich the holy nuns looked upon these chihlren of the for(»st. Not a little Indian girl appeared, but Madame de la Peltrie pressed her to her bosom, and kissed her with a mother's Ibndiie.ss, unmindCul of much that might have creattMl disgust. The nuns were not less moved ; and gathered round them, by the aid of their good conductor, several of the little half clothed children, to be their future pupils. They next visit the chapel, and hear the voices of the good Indians singing : " 1 believe in Gro«l, the Almiuhty Creator " ; — •* I bf^Iieve in Jesus Christ our Lord." — Hymns too, in a language that scHUTis like the chattering, and twit- tering of birds ;— but the nuns knew they > In ' ■mli >'h «• i Urn 'a !' t i I, :|;l i>M m ! i ! Ill I'li !i|!i|!i ii !! I^il 40 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. of Jesus, — that was enough were smging to move them to tears of devotion. Father Le Jeune announces that there is a neophyte to be baptized. Must not Ma- dame de la Peltrie be the (xod-mother ? The vis't over, the good Hospital Sisters and the Ursuhnes embraced each other for a final adieu. The two Orders had formed one Com- munity for the last three months, while the ship was their monastery and the Ocean their cloister. Now, their respec- tive avocations require them to separate ; still living and laboring lor the same end, the glory of God and the salvation of souls. The Hospital Sisters find a comfortable dwelling-house in the Upper Town, near the Fort, to shelter them until their Mon- astery, already commenced, will be ready to receive them. As to the Ursulines, they havo the loan. of a small ^ building on the wharf, pre- 1 On the market place, faoini; the Lower Tuwn- Churcli ofN. 1). des Victuires. 1 it Y. IS enough !i. Father lere is a ,t not Ma- rio! her ? ital Sisters ach other GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 41 ferable, certainly, to an Indian wigwam ; in which, however, Mother Mary of the Incarnation declares, for her part, she was prepared to lodge. a one Com- ths, while r and the eir respec- se par ate ; same end, )n of sonls. :^m For table own, near heir Mon- 11 be ready re the loan ivharl", pre- Lower Town- .'it 1 CHxVPTER IV. THREE YEARS' LABORS. The departure of the French fleet from the harbor of Quebec, early in autumn, left the colonists to their seclusion, sever- ing their last link with the mother country, for the next six or eight months. The Huron traders, also, had rolled up their bark houses, and launched their li^•ht flotilla, leaving the strand to its wonted tranquillity Our Ursuhnes are already laboring i .-. li m m ' :> r 'ill h-. i ill 42 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. " aocordinir to thoir Inslituto, " for the French pupils, at the same time that they are taskini^ their energies to the utmost to acquire the Indian Uxnguages. They have an able and \villin- the sickness to be the eilects of I ! •<;« ■U 4G nLlMPSKS OF TIIK MONASTERY. I I !■■!; ■ , lit!: 'i; ;'i: ■:' i:l' baptism, should reru>e to send them their children. In this they were hnppily dis- appointed. With the civssatioti of the malady, the nuns found more coniienial occupation instructino' Indian women nnd prirls : the men also frecjueiitly appeared at their iterate, and listened to their teach- ino's with as much docility as the chil- dren. Their seminarists increased to eighteen or twenty. Two French pupils were even then, hoardins^ in the little Convent. The number of day scholars is not stated, but it included " all who were of an au^e to be instructed." When the warm season returned, the bark cabin needed no lire ; and, from the surround- ing shrubbery, came fresh air, and svvi.Hit sont>"^, mimrlinix with the cadence of the waters, plashing upon the beach. In Julv, the annual lleet brouoht them Mothers ^^t. At hanasius and St. Claire, from the Ursuline ]\Ioiiastery of Paris, to aid them in their arduous labours The lat- ter, writinfr to her community soon after her arrival, describes her new home, il 0LIMPSK8 OF THE M()NA>TKKY. 47 where they ''livt* in iKhnirable peace and union." Mother Mary of the Incarnation, she says, " treats me with loo much honor; the sweet odor oi' sanctity seems to surround her, and to embahn all who approach her. Mother St. Joseph is a charming person, most accompHshed iu every way : during recreation she oi'ten makes us laugh till we cry : it is impos- sible to be melancholy in her company. She loves the little Indian girls like a mo- ther. Al'ter catechism, she teaches them to sing hymns and to touch the viol. Sometimes she gives them leave to per- form one of their own pantomime dances, and the little scholars make no ceremony of mviting Mad. de la Peltrie to dance with them, which she does with the best grace in the world. " The two l*arisians commence studying the Indian language with courage, re- marking that the other nuns are "well advanced ". They have to learn " the grammars aud write themes, like students in Latin." Two languages, at least, are re- n r ill! 'Ir^HB ■MH ri ■ 48 CiLI.MPSKS OF TI!K MONASTKRY. (|uir(Ml : lli»-» Aluonquin, lUid I lie Huron. ^ All arc busy, niul 'ill arc* li;i])py in that link' Convent, Avlier(j the lovo ol" (Jod reigns .su))renn\ ■^ T]\(' tliU'riTiice iK'twi'cn llic Huron uimI A/^otuiuin will iippcar Irom the iiispL-cliuii ol'tiic (Jiir Falhor in 11k' two laii.muigt'.^. Till'. Lnrd'i^ Pnnjcr in the Abnnki, a diilect of the Algonf^uin. ICt'initaiikscna spoinkik uyan \vai\vaiselino;:;niucli ayiliwisiati aniantai paitriwai witawaikai ket( pL'lt;i moliau,!i;aiu'(ik aylikitaiikouak kt'tt'lailtaniolianii^an ypoiukik tali yo iiampikik paituhi kik tankouatailclie iiiainilinai yo paiini gliisgak(laitaski.>-kuuai aipouinciia yoi)a hatchi anaihail tama wiiiaikai hai.-sikakaii wiliiolaikaipan alinioiui kisi aiiailiailtamakukaik kaikaiuvia kaitaipanik nio.«ak kaita litclii kitawikaik tainpatnuhoiitchi saghihounetiiiiiainai on lahaiiiistakai 8agliilu)usuuaniinai iiiainaitchikill, Nialet-t. Note in Shea's Am. Cath. Alias, p. 137. 77ie Lord's Prayer in Huron, {as translated by Brebaiuf.) Onaistan de aronhiae istare. Sasen tchoinlachi- endatere sachieiKlao^lan. Ont aiuton sa cbeouan- diosta endinde. Out aioton sencluen sarasta, oliouent eoone ache toti ioti Aroiihiaoiie. Ataiiidataia sen noiienda tara cha ecantate aouantehau. Outa ni.lMPSKS OF TITK MONAS" F.RY. 40 The TTrsulinos had indood come to the Colony, at an opportune moment. The held in which th<^ ,ii:ood missionarios la- bor- ^aisea qui vont pour eire iiustruites : sans compter aussi les filles et les I'cmmep sauvages q,ui entrent a toute heure en la chambre ou on enseigne Itups pe- tites compauiotes, et q.ii assez souvent y passent la nuit. Relation, 1640. Outre les seminaristes arretees, lea Ursulines en ont d'autref* paasageres, vetues a la sauvage qui demeurenr quelque temps pour etre instruites. Re- Uii^'ony 1641 r BLIMPS F.S OF THi: MONASTERY. 51 to the Indian laws of hospitality the food oi* the body was iiidispens;vble. Among- them, it is considered an affront to send away a ^iiest without otFering him to eat. The " pot of S(7,Lf^//?i/7J" must be con- stantly on the fire. From time to time, a more " splendid ininquet " was prepared for sixty or eighty persons Then it requir- ed "a bushel of black plums, twenty-four pourds of bread, a due quantity of Indian- meal or ground-peas , a dozen of tallow candles melted ; two or three poi'.nds oi' fat pork " all well boiled together. " It would be a pity, says our judicious Mother, to deprive these poor people of such a feast, since rt requires no more to content even their sachems and war-chiefs, that is to say, their princes." Bat if the revenue of the foundation was insufficient, charity, in those times, was not an idle word. Pious friends in France, moved bv the letters of the nuns, sent them presents, — clothing for their seminarists, tools for their workmen, a chalice for their altar. The iz'ood Ursulines Jill I M .^, ^ ij '.i If; :i m (■ #rp wmmmmm III, 52 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 11' 4' ^1 of Paris and of Tours, are always first on the list of benefactresses. In the Rehxtions, also, the Kev. Fathers set forth the poverty of the little Convent, and the g'ood the nuns were doing*. Rev. Father Yimont laments that they have not the means to biiild, and invites in his amiable manner, two courageous young ladies, armed with a good dowry, to come to the assistance of the little Convent, " which contains more joy within its nar- row limits than ever was found in the palace of the Cesars ! " In the spring of 1641, Madame de la Peltrie laid the foundation stone of the Monastery, on the advantageous site granted by the Governor, in the name of the Hundred Associates. The deed spe- cified that the donation ^ of " six arpents of land within the limits of the city of Que- bec, was to enable the said Rev. Ursuline Mothers to build a Convent where they may live according to the rules of their ^ To tliis day a Mass is said in the Chapel of the Monaster}' for the " Messiei'.rs de la Conipagnie." GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 53 Institute, and devote themselves to the education of young girls, French ^ and Indian." While the building was going on, the number of their seminarists amounted to forty-eight or fifty ; the parlor visits ex- ceeded eight hundred in the course of one year. Mother Mary of the Incarnation,with all her zeal, confesses that the nuns, live in number, have had labor beyond their strength, and that the visits at the parlor were continual. " But, she adds, the Pro- vidence of our Heavenly Father provides for all things. The pot of mgamite was never empty." ^ De 1639 a 1642 il y avait environ 40 faniilles etablies sur dee terres, depuis le Cap Rouge juequ'a la cote Ste. Genevieve et N. D. des Anges ; et de Beauport jusqu'a la riviere aux Chiens du Chateau Hither, et dans le voisinage du Cap Tounnente. 1 s; r t "7 1 1 ^Iti 1 ' 1 t 1 j i 1 vk i; ' iM ^H 1 '') ) Ijj 1 i i i:i i^( 1 r 1 ? : !1 1 " * i ^ 'i r;|j ■ (■ n ii ffl I, .il \i I ;o, that our kini^ may believe us. -I have spoken." Th(i lirst orator takes his seat: an Ab- naki rises and ur^es the same sui'. \vith much pathos. He concludes : '' Certain- ly thou speakest good, promising to h-^lp us to live like liien. Do not d-^ceive us. I go to my home, there, where the sar stands in the middle of the sky [the south]. AVheu 1 come back, the snov/ will yet l)e on the mountains. I will come to see if thou say est the truth, if thou hast men to help us. that we may no more live in the woods like the beasts." This spirited appeal, translated by Fa- ther Le.Teune, movv-d the assembly to comoassion. De Montmagny promised to do all in his power for them. Father Yimont was nigh losing patience, seeing that for the want of a little monev those poor people were debarred from receiving religious instruction. >^-'-r^. • -, Xa GLIAJPSES ( F TIIK MUNAbTEUY. 59 Madame de la PoUrie exclaims : " Alas [ must it be said that we cannot aid these ;:^ood people to save their souls. The ex- })euse of one ball in J'aris, one soiree, would procure the means of opening heaven to these unfortunates. Eev. Fa- ther, continues she, addressing LeJeune, teil them that if I could aid them with my own hands, I would do so. I w^ill try, at least, to plant something for them." Iler speech, translated, made the In- dian braves smile. "Tell the Lady, said one, that corn planted by hands as delicate as hers, v/ould take a long time to ripen." The conclusion of the assembly was, that a great eflbrt should be made to help the Indians the next spring, according to their request. Now for another scene. — Let us follow Madame de la Peltrie, on one of her fre- quent excursions to Sillery. All the sem?narists accompany her, on holiday occasions. ( I t f^ W ■■ it \l ii |H III fl 81 'J ' 'II 60 (ILIMPSES OF TIIK MONASTERY. There she sometimes iiiids the squaws gathering corn, which they suspend from the sloping sides oi" their bark habitations, till they look gay as if decked for some festal ceremony ; or, they are roasting it before the fire, previous to pounding it in their wooden mortars. Sometimes a family, just come to live in the hamlet and not yet provided with any other utensils but those of their own manufacture, cook a dinner in her presence, kindling a lire by striking two white stones together ; then, filling a large baik tray or bowl, with water, they heat other stones red-hot, and throw them in, till they have boiled a piece of meat. Perhaps they prefer it roasted ; — then they show her a cord made of tender bark or of hemp, with which they suspend their steak, turning it as adroitly as the kitchen-maid manages a spit. If it is a pleasant day when Madame is there, the little Indian boys are at play with the bow and arrow, — not as noisy as a similar group of little French boys, but GLIMPSES OF TIIK M jNASTKHY. 01 silent as the braves who li«teu to a har- ani^ue iu council, unless some unskilful throw, or some unlooked-tbr success, pro- voke a laugh or a good-natured joke. A v/ell-known author has said, that simplicity of soul is an inexhaustible source of happiness. ^ This simplicity was possessed by the Indians of our America, They only needed to be enlightened by religion, to be delivered of their gloomy superstitions, cruel practices, revengeful passions, and absurd pride, to be happy. That liberty of life, which was theirs ; that freedom from the shackles of custom and the cares of business which civilized man seeks from time to time, and enjoys with infinite zest, w^as not incompatible with the duties of a Christian. But turning from this digression, we are again with Madame de la Peltrie, at Sil- lery. Tho second year that the Ursulines ^ Chateaubriand. I M t \ \M !•: m 1 I Is i ! I 11!^ 62 GLIMPSES OF TFfE MONAsTEllT. passed in Canada, the Foundress wont to the Indian Chapel for midnight Mass, with a few of the most exemplary of the seminarists. Little Agnes — not yet live years old — was of the number. Keturni'ig to the Convent, she astonished the luin^ by her vivid description of all she had seen and all she had heard. There was a sermon, and she well understood that the Bethlehemites of old, refused a shelter to the Blessed Virgin, and the Infant Jesus. Her indignation against them is great ; and her compassion for the sufferings of the Divine Infant in the Cave of Bethle- hem, is so real, that she moves the nuns to tears while she imitates the tone of voice, the gestures, as well as the words of the preacher. But Madame de laPeltrie as well as Miss Barre were oftener at home than abroad, and we shall hear of both several times yet, as weU as of little Agnes, CHAPTER VI. EFFECTS OF INSTRUCTION. n m From the forest-home of the young Indian girl to the Convent, the distance, in a moral sense, was infinite. P>olicsome and wild as the little animals that roamed with her, she knew as little as they of obedience, or wholesome restraint. The only authority she w^as invited to respect, was that of her mother, or her aged p^rand-parents ; but if she chose to be wilful, on no account was she punished, nor compelled to obey. Her clothing was scanty, and of the roughest material ; only in winter were her feet and limbs protected by a coarse sort of mocassin, and gaiters. She knew of no other cosmetics but soot and bear's grease ; her matted hair had never been visited by a comb, nor by the scissors* Her bed had been the T'round, by the I' ■ • * ".''i f^ I ' ■i 1 I i ^1 ■ M ■j ii f: ':M :!i 1. ^i> n 'i' mmmimmmi'mmmimmmmmMm ' M m 64 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. wif^wam lire, shared equally by the dogs, and by the rest of the family. It is not surprising that some of these " wild birds " caged for the first time, oc- casionally flew off to the forest ; but when by aflection and great patience, they had been tamed, they proved most docile to instructions, and most exemplary in piety. Little Algonquins from Sillery, were ihe first seminarists the Ursulines under- took to form ; and as neither understood the language of the other, the difiiculty must have been extreme. " A great desire i(^ speak, is a great help towards doing so," says Mother Mary. "VVe may readily believe it, since the nuns were able to begin to instruct in Algonquin before the end of two months. Mother St. Joseph learned also the Huro?i and had occasion for it in the following spring. l^it with what success have the Lir- sulines toiled during: these three vears? Of what avail were their instructions ? I i GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 65 " A tree is known by its fruit." Let us examine the letters, written by the nuns to their friends, and we shall find that they were consoled beyond measure, by the miracles of grace they daily witnessed among these same little forest-girls. The Relations concur in the same statements. Mother Mary declares that these new Christians are as meek as lambs, and that after their baptism they preserve an ad- mirable purity of conscience. Among the seminarists of the first year, she mentions little Marie Gramitiens, (godchild of Mile, de Chevreuse) who at the age of five or six years, is no sooner awake in the morning that she begins her prayers ; she says her beads during mass, and sings hymns in her own language. Marie Ma- deleine Abatenau, (godchild of another noble lady) is a model of obedience and address, knowing her catechism and re- citing her prayers,with a devotion capable of inspiring others with the same. — She also is only six years old. But Agnes Chabdikwachich is twelve. i| ii s ■ j i\ I ,1 tf ^ 1 w !il \}m 66 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. I 1 It was she who seeing one of the Rev. Fathers at a little distance from the place where she was making up her bundle of faggots, threw away her hatchet, crying out : " Teach me ; " and this, with such grace, that the good Father pleaded her cause, and brought her to the Convent with one of her little companions. Both were soon prepared for baptism ; and at Easter, with two others, made their first Communion. Agnes is not only well instructed in her Catechism, she is also skilful with her needle ; she handles the " viol," — knows how to read ; and is so gentle and well behaved, that she merits the name of lamb^ which she bears. Little Nicole Assipanse is seven years old : — At the end of live months, Nicole knows the principal mysteries of Ileligion, her catechism, and her prayers, so well, that when her mother comes for her, returning from the winter's chase, the little daughter teaches her poor pagan father and mother to know the true God, With all her talents, she has the true In- GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 67 dian character ; — she must go with her parents, who have no other child ; she coaxes her mother, and gains her point. But here is, Marie Negabamat, so ac- customed to the wild life of the woods that the good chief, her father, to entice her to remain in the Convent, sends with her two of her friends, already bapti/ed. This was not enough ; — she takes to the woods in a few days, tearing her red tunic to shreds. One more trial, and Marie is obedient ; she becomes the model, not only of the seminarists but of the French pupils, although, as our Mother remarks, '' the young girls of Quebec are extremely well brought up." From day to day she advances in piety ; she relishes religious instructions, has a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and so loves prayer that when the pious exercises are over among the seminarists, she goes into the room where the French pupils are, to continue them. Marie Amiskivevan wins the heart of all who see her. She is seventeen years i h i I 1:111 1 ■Ji ii i i..> nn> i y ii 68 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. I ill' ii ■M old, and a model of candor and innocence. She excites her companions to piety, treat- mcr them with all the charity of a mother. Moreover, she speaks a little French, and has aided the nuns greatly in their study of her language. Another young Algonquin from Three Rivers, receives the grace of baptism in such dispositions of fervor and contrition, that Rev. Father Buteux, who had sent her to the Convent, is moved to tears, and tells the nuns that this conquest alone, is well worth all the sacrifices they have made, and all the toils they have undergone in Canada. In reading of such efFocts of Divine grace, we understand better how the nuns could endure with joy the priva- tions and hardships of the mission. Let us cite a few more examples. A little band were prepuring for their first Communion :— the Rev. Father Pi- jart once, and Mother Mary two or three times a day, instructed them how to pre- pare for their Heavoiily G-uest. They GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. G9 were heard exclaiming : — " Oh ! when will Jesus come ! when will He give us the kiss of peace in our souls." Marie Negabamat was in great jubila- tion : — " AYhy are you so joyful, inquired one?" " Oh ! cried she, I shall soon receive Jesus into my heart " They begged permission to last on the eve of their first Communion ; and after- wards made that their practice whenever they prepared foi' the reception of the Gri^at Sacrament. These children were not more than twelve years old. Many of the Indian girls had first to be prepared for the Sacrament of bap- tism. One day, live were baptized in the little chapel of the Convent. At other times the Sacrament was administered to men and women, old and young. Their edifying deportment was most touching. One young woman had waited many months for this precious grace ; when the healing waters were poured over her, ■ ts f : 1 ^ I '■T Mi ixixmni ii III in iniwlnniiiiiiMiM i U 70 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. '1 14 turning to the spectators, she exclaimed: " There ! it is done ! my soul is cleansed at last." Wore these little forest girls susceptible of gratitude ? of benevolence, and the other fine qualities of the mind which adorn their possessor ? Let their teachers5 Mothers Ste. Croix and St Joseph, an- swer : *' Our seminarists, they declare, are exceedingly grateful, and appreciate high- ly the services we render them. One day, seeing the difficulty v^^e have to learn their language, they exclaimed : Oh ! if we could give you our tongues to speak with, w^e would do so with pleasure. A better proof of their gratitude is found in their docility, their affection for their teachers ; their willingness to be corrected of their faults, — a thing so contrary to the customs of their race, — their readiness to conform to the regulations of the school, and to remain away from their parents." As an instance of their kindness towards each other, let us cite another passage from the long pages before us. " Some GLIMPSES OF THE iMONASTLRT. 71 new scholars had come in ; there was no clothing prepared to put upon them ; — quickly our old seminarists supply the deliciency, without being requested to do so, bringing whatever they could spare from their own little wardrobe. Itisthey who commence the instructions. They have no greater pleasure than to teach the new-comers what we have taught them." All the scholars mentioned thus far, were Montagnais or Algonquins. The first Huron seminarist, was the niece of the famous war-chief Chihatenh- wa. He had seen the '^holy Virgins," les saintes filles, robed in black, who had come to teach the little Indian girls the way to heaven ; and others, dressed differ- ently, who would take care of the sick. Great was the admiration of his country- men when they heard the marvellous story. He brings his little Teresa to the Convent, where she becomes a prodigy of learning and of piety. When next the Huron flotilla covers the river, Chihatenh- wa, from afar, points out to his brethren M ' ' f'4 m m i If! J'S . I % ■ Hi ■■% 72 GLIMI'SES OP THE MONASTERY. ■! the " House of Josus," and hastens to meet his httle Teresa. She is only thirteen, but she had the zeal of an apostlo. Her exhortations startle and subdue the most obstinate. On their retur, to -Iironia, they publi^ii her fai/.o tiiioui;hoai the tribe. " Teresa has more oe^iso than any one who has ever appeared in their coun- try. Doubtless the one who has instruct- ed her is also the greatest genius among the French ? " Once, at Sillery, she holds a discourse to catechumens, who remain with her more than two hours ! The sa- chems, even of other tribes, listen to her with reverence. As to scientific attain- ments, Teresa speaks two languages with facility, and sings in Huron, French, and Latin. The nuns, at another time, must take a few days to attend to their own souls, *' for of what avail would it be to preach to others and be one's- self a cast-away ? " The little girls are to have a week of holidays, with Madame de la Peltrie. But they must make no noise, for fear of dis- 1 in as GLIMPSES OF THE MO.VAbTKRY. 73 turbing their go^ ! Mothers, who ore > Dn- versing with Goo. in retreat ; and, lo ! all these late barba: ins are as well versed in good b i-eed in j^ and genuine politeness, as the most accomplished ijoarding-schooi. They speak low, they moderate their play; — yet, the time seems long, and when their dear Mothers reappear, it is to be overwhelmed with caresses. Teresa the Huron resolves to mako a retreat, in imitation of the nuns. She hides herself in the thicket alonc^ the mountain's base, in order to pray for the conversion of her countrymen without ceasing, and to let no one interfere be- tween her and God. Won by her exam- ple, the others btg to be allowed lo make a retreat, and tra?isforming their school- room into cells, they set about it with such a will, that the nuns must interfere to moderate their fervor. ^ "Were these little Indian girls attached to their Convent home ? Let us ask Tere- sa who had remained more than twa years. Oh ! the separation was most pain- '4' t ' i; !r ! if M 74 GLIMPSES OV Tliti MONASTEllY. ! '■ ^1 i lul. But the mi8}?ioiianes were anxious to have the inliuence of the young* semi- narist amoni[^ her countrymen ; and her parents could no longer endure her ab- sence. Teresa makes the sacrilice ; lor she has learned obedience. She leaves her dear Convent Mothers. From Three Kivers, she writes to Mother Mary of the Incarnation : My dear Mother, I am going' to my distant home, we are ready to start. I thank you for all the care you have bestowed upon me. I thank you for having taught me to serve Grod. Is it for a thing of small value that I offer you my thanks? Never shall I forget you. Teresa^ Two days after she had confided her letter to the Eev. Father Du Perron, who was returning to Quebec, she, w4th all who accompanied her, fell into the hands of the ferocious Iroquois. Faithful to Grod during her captivity, she continued to instruct and to edify. After three years she was rescued, through the intervention GLIMPSKS OF TUB MONASTERY. 75 of tho Governor, who made a present I'or her at thi; li^reat assembly lor the treaty ol' Peace at Three Kivers (1(j45). The good conduct of ihe seminarists among their own peopK% was another subject of immense joy, both to tlie nuns and the missionaries. It was for them to reguh\te the pious exercises, to say the prayers, to choose the hymns, and to teach the others how to examine their con- science. Three young girls had been required to follow their pirents during the winter chase. On their return, in spring, their first visit was lo the Blessed Sacrament ; their next to the chapel of the Blessed Yivgin, to crown her statue with the flow- ers they had brought from the woods. Then, entering the Convent, they gave the nuns an account of all they had. done during tlvm- absence. " Oh, said they, how painful it was to be so long away from holy Mass and the Sacraments ! " During the winter, thoy had written twice to the Superior of the Jesuits, to beg him to send i I J ■!i tig I! 76 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. f ' I ;';! a priost to their people. The letters passed Irom hand to hand, and Avere even carried to the Governor, who, like the others, pronounced them admirable for the style and execution, as well as ibr the senti- ments expressed. lint it is time to pause. The rrader who has seen how Mother Mary writes to her intimate iriends, will understand how she could say in the second year of her labors : " The lielation will make mention of the seminarists and the conso- lation they give us, but the truth is, if all were published, it would appear past belief. They lose all their barbarity once they are baptized ; and one who has siH^n them running wild in the forest, cannot, without emotion, behold them approach the holy Table, gentle as lambs, to receive the true Lnmb of God. No one would have thought that they could be brought to live in the cloister ; yet they do remain willingly and do not leave it without per- mission. " The elegant historian, Bancroft, had he GLIMPSES OF TJlE MONASTERY. 77 seen the Let ten and the Relations, from which we have abridged the above ac- count, wouUl have given unrestricted praise where he has said : " Is it wonder- ful ii* the natives were touched by a bene- volence which their poverty and squaHd misery could not appall V " " Their education was attempted ; and the venerable ash-tree still lives beneath which Mother Mary of the Incarnafon, so famed for chastened piety, geniu.^, and good judgment, toiled, though [surely not] in vain, for the education of the Huron [and other Indian] children. " No! it cannot be accounted vain or useless to soften the manners of a barbar- ous race ; to elevate their souls by the knowledge of the high and holy truths of revealed religion; to teach them to forgive, instead of torturing, a captured foe ; to practise the austere virtues of Christianity, instead of following the in. Hncts of a de- praved and degraded nature. This effect of the instruction given by the IJrsulines has already appeared in the 1 {. m r t-il ' 78 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. preceding pages; those that follow will prove it still more abundantly, while we behold hundreds of Indian children, as well as men and women, receiving with joy the inestimable boon of Faith, and transmitting it to other poor pagans in the distant forest-wilds of the continent. _t !] ■lil ' m CHAPTER VII. Sli, 10^^»-1G^0. EIGHT YEARS IN THE NEW-MONASTERY. ! i ! : ! i 1 i ■ i 'i 1 • 1 ^ ... The conversion of the aborip;eries, which Mother Mary of the Incarnation, had seen pre-figured as a Church just emerging from clouds and darkness, was now rapid- ly progressing. On all sides, the mists of error were retiring, and soon whole nations embraced Christianity, with the fervor of the primitive ages. But was this Church ** GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 79 i ;■< destined to be perpetuated through a long* space of time ? Or was it destined to people the heavenly Jerusalem with one rich colony of souls, and then diminish with the nations that formed it ? — This latter destiny, Mother Mary foresaw, — as appears by her letters. So much the more ardent, if possible, was her zeal for the welfare of souls, purchased with the blood of Christ ; so much the more strenuous her efforts to be useful to them, by opening to them a more spacious " House " where greater numbers of them, could be instructed " unto eternal life. " The missionary Fathers often Cvpressed their desire to see the Monastery compl'.'t- ed, foretelling that th(^ nuns would have more la])or than they could perf)rm, whether for the Indians or ibr the French population \ That Monastery was, at last, in readiness i< ^ Si jamais ellca ont une maisoii bicn capaldo, clle-s aiiront phis d'ouvrage qii'elles lie pourrutit tUire lation IGll, Hi t ^m^ 80 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. to Toceive inhabitants. It was a stately^ edilice, for the times,— built of dark-co- lored, ronghly-shaped blocks of stone ; it was three stories in height, its length being ninety-two feet, and its width twenty-eight. Three other massive, stone edifices stood within the limits of the city, where the primitive forest yet victoriously disputed for the mastery with the encroachments of civilization. At various distances from these centres, were scattered a certain number of dwelling houses, built, some of hewn pine-timber, some of stone. lllvidently the colonists, if yot few in number, were provided with means of perpetuating the civilization they had brought to these uoithern wilds. The Fort would defend them from being cut oIF by the native barbarians ; ■ ^ Ce Seminuire e.^t un des phis beaux ornemens de la Colon ie, ct line aide siirnalee pour I'arret et con- version des >auvages. Leur balinient est .n'rand ct solide, fait a cluuix et a sable. GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 81 the college of the Jesuits and the Monas- tery ol' the Ursulines, provided ibr the Avants of th;Mr souls and the education of their offspring ; the Hospital assured them an asvlura for the sick and aillicti^d. * To the Indians, the new " House of Jesus " was a wonder, worth coming a long way to see. U the little tenement on the wharf, dignified with the name of " Convent," had been to them so precious, was not this a more secure and certain asylum V The new~ Monastery might well 1)0 called "^ The House of Jesus ; " — no one else could claim to be the proprietor. It had not been built by means of Bazaars or Lotteries, so convenient at the present day, to raise funds when coffers are empty. Neither was it due to the endow. aents of the Fouridress : these l)arely sulliced for the expenses of the Convent, where, far from exactinu' pavment for board or teach- ing, food, raiment, and instruction were distributed gratis. The only biutker known to Mother Mary and her nuns, was Divine 82 GLIMP,-ES OF THE MONASTEIlY. rrovidoiice ; — it had not failed them on tiie present occasion. AVith gralei'iil hearts, they prepare to take possession of their new home, — yet it is in a spirit of penanee, more than of joy ; as if i()reseei)i<^ the trials reserved for them, and for their dear neophytes. The fast of the vigil of the Presentation, was a prelnde to that of the day of re- moval, with all its cares and fatigues. At an early hour, the nuns, preceded by Rev. Father Vimont, and followed by their French pupils and their seminarists, were seen climbing the steep mountain- path, which led from tlnnr Httle Convent to the Ijp})er Town. Crowds of Indians followed, or awaited the sight among the fon^st trees along the way. In the cold autumnal atmosphere, in the crisp of the dry leaves that covered the frosty ground, fhere was little to make the morning walk pleastMit; but vvIkmi they approached the goodly mnn;=;io)i prepared for them, all were deeply affected. The poor forest- c s GLIMPSES OF TIIK .noNA'^TERY. 83 children who had never beheld any tliiiu so <^rand, could not retrain from shouts of admiration, Avondering- if iiuleed this ^^ g'real cabin'' was to be their home. liut they soon proceeded aq-ain quietly, and with rec(4lection ; they knew that the holy sacrilice of mass, was to be offered by the revered Father Gabriel Lalemant, who closed the procession, bearing the most Holy Sacrament. — They must thh)k over the hymns they were going to sing, and their good Mothers were preparing for Holy Communion. Shall we follow them till all kneel in the new Chapel ? It is not vastly spacious, since it measures only twentv-eiijht feet by seventeen, yet it is brilliant with lights, and tapestried for the occasion with red stuffs, borrowed from the store destined to other usages. The "gilded Tabernacle" ; the embroidered altar- front; the high-colored pictures; the priest in radiant vestments ; the sweet odor from the censer ; and the sweeter voices of the little seminarists, mingled with the grave 84 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. Ml m notes of the pious .xuns during the Holy Sacrilice, — all combined to make this First Mass in the Monastery impressive. It was still more so when the future martvr, before distri])utino' the Bread of Life, addressed a few words of exhorta- tion to the fervent Spouses of Christ, — words of one to whom the realities of another world were more present than the passing events of this; — words that came from a heart burning with the love of Grod, and longing to seal that love with his blood, in the midst of torments. But let us leave the Chapel, to consider the rest of the premises. The interior of the Convent was still far from being hn- ished. The sound of the saw, the chisel, and the hammer, continued all winter, while partitions were completed, doors set, and ceilings made more secure. Four ample fire-places, which, before s[>ring, devour one hundred and seventy-live cords of wood, are needed to dissipate the cold. During the night, as a means of keeping from freezing, they have in- GLIMPSES ( F THE MONASTERY. 85 of vented a sort of chest, to hold the bed, and the sleeper : ^ yet the cold penetrates uncomfortably. To remain away from the fire more than an hour at a time, even well wrapped up, would be a groat imprudence. The long, pine table is served, as here- tofore, with "salt-fish and pork " garnish- ed with vegetables, such as the country furnished. The courageous nuns who never said to sufferings and toil ; " That is enough," had only desire^^ their Monastery in order to be more useful. During the follow- ing eight years, — that brightest period for the conversion of the poor Indians of Canada, — their labors were incredible. ^ ^ A similar sort of bedstead is still in use among the peasantry of Canada, — so we have been assured — and is considered a great convenience, for, when folded it takes but half the space of an ordinary bed, serving by day as a seat, a sofa ! 2 T\\Q Relation (1G43) says: Elles ont toujours eu un bon nombre de filles sauvages, tant pension- naires arretees que paasageres, outre les petites filles 8G GLIMI^KS OF THE aJONASTERV. I^t\si(U^ the regular somimirists who, ^ w^ have already said, were clothed and t\\l at the expense of the Convent, and who (as the Ivehitions aiiirm) amounted to as many as eighty in one year \ the nuns were daily called upon to give in- struction to Indian women, in their class- rooms, and to Indian men at their parlor. Many oi' th(^se were of the good Christian Indians of Sillery, where there were now (1042-3) from thirty-five to forty families. L ruiii this centre the Faith spread through- out the country, from Miscou and Tadous- sac, to the canton of the Hurons. Here, it is the grod Charles Meiaskwat, Fran^aises, et quantite de sauvagGvS, homines et temiiieei, qui les vont souvent visiter et recevoir quel- que necours et instruction. Le parloir de ces bonnes meres sert souvent de classe, ]e^ saiivages de dehors y venant expres les voir, et deinander a etre instruita, etc. Rel. 1G43. 1 Ces bonnes meres qui ont secouru et in.struit dans le cours de cette annee plus de quatre-vingts filles en divers temps ont vraiment reussi. Leur Seminaire est une grande benediction pour lea Fran- 9aise3 et pour les Sauvages. Bel. 1647. I r OIJM!»SKS OF TIIK MONASTKUY 87 whose ztnvl tviinsrormshim into an apostle, not only for those oi' his own nation on the 8a«4iUMr.iy hut oven Tur the Ahnakis, on the Kennel)ec ; — there, it is another ol* Mother Mary's parlor A'isitors, the brave chi<^f Noel Neirabaniat, who knows no g'reatare enumeration ol' all these visitors Avould be tedious. Jjct it sullice to instance the foUowing: (we quote Ironi the Rehitions, 1G48,) "AVhile the Attika- megues (a tribe of Algonqiuns from Three Rivers) sojourned at Quebec, they went often to the Ursulines to be instructed, entering their parlor with importunity, to be tauglit their prayers or their cate- chism. After th(» instiuctions, the liunger of the poor people must be appeased, so that they occasioned as much expense perhaps as the seminarists themselves." At the same time, some of the Abnakis were at 8illery, and were not less eager to be instructed. The following year y^: GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 89 came the Iroquets ^ from the great island of the AUinnettes, havinp^ passed through the coiuitvy of their enemies, the Iroqnois. "The iroquets, camped near the Monas- tery, went every day to their chapel to be instructed by Father Duquen - ; when suf- ficient ly instructed, they were baptized there. During six weeks, the Ursulines fed this troop of eighty persons, al'tor mass ; and again at a later hour, alter giving them instruction, at their pai'lor. The women came in their turn, enteriug the class-room for the same purpose " 3? ^ Otherwise called Lo Ndtion de I' Isle. 2 Plusieurs sauvages de la Nation d'Irec allaieiit tons les jours en la Chapelle des Ursulines ou le Pere Dnqnen leiir faisait I'aunione spirittielle. An sortir dii sernu-n les Meres donnaientii inan;:er a (luatre-viiiiitspersonnes, cbarite qn'elles ont continuee environ six scniaines durant. Les t'enunes venaient encore en d'auires temps et entraieni dans la classe des filles sanva;ies ou I'on ne cessait de leur apprendre A prier Dien ; lea hoinnies entraient an parloir ponr le meine sujet, leur Jerveur payait et recompen-^ait la bonte des Meres, etc. Rel. IGil. I.. \. '%': .: IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT 3) ' > y /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. H580 (716) 873-4503 f^' \ ^•^ \\ ^9) V 0^ 'A^- '4^ "4^ ^ 90 OUMPSES OF TIfE ^lONASTERY. "During the same year, numbers of Hurons, who remained at Sillory during the winter, were at the Convent every day for instructions. Cold or storm could not deter them ; they remained two or three hours at a time, always occupied learning their prayers, or the Christian doctrine. These, as well as the others, must have food before they go." It is needless to multiply quotations ; — they would show a similar state of things during the following six years, (to 1G50,) which is the period under consideration in the present article. Oar readers will have, with us, but one difficulty ; — and that is to comprehend how these seven nuns ^— that was their number until 1644- -could suffice for such lal)or; — instructions, in three languages, French, Algonquin, and Huron ; cooking, distrilmting food to the family within, and strangers without ; teaching their se- ^ They were ten in 1648, liej-ides Madame tie la Peltrie. GLIMPSES OP TFIE MONASTERY. 91 of minarists to read, to writo, to sew, and clothiniy them ; — teachiiiG: their French pupils, accordins^ to their rules, all that is necessary to fit them for the station in so- ciety to which they belong ; writing let- ters to the missionaries and to their friends, — not letters oi ceremony, but often of many folic) pages: — to say no- thi"^g of their religious exercises, which could, by no means, have been neglected, The letters of Mother Mary of the In- carnation daring this period are most characteristic. It is not of //e/* seminarists, her labors and toils that she chielly enter- tains her friends. O, no ! In her vaht charity, she identifies herself with all who labor for the conversion of the Indians. She surveys the lield of missionary labor, from Lal>rador to the Great l^akes ; she counts the chapels that are built, the number of baptisms, the holy deaths. She knows ail the nomadic tribes thai come to be instructed. She shares the perils of the Missionary, his enthousiasm, and his longings for martyrdom. After liUing ' ! 92 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. eight or twelve pages with topics like those, she adds :— '' A word now of our seminarists;— they give us every possible satisiaction. Their piety, their devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, their docility, their generosity in overcoming their de- fects,— all this is ravishing; yet it strikes us less now that we are accustomed to it. " — At other times she merely says ' " Grod has blessed our labors this year as on the preceding ones : we have as much a^ we can do, especially during the wintei' months, when the haves leave us their children wiiile they go to hunt." As to the other incidents of Convent life, having once entered into some details, her pen refuses to reiterate them. Later, when the cotmtry from Quebec to lake Huron, becomes one great arena where scenes, at once distressing and consoling, are enacted, she sutlers with those that suffer, rejoices in all that con- duces to the glory of God, and helps to obtain by her prayers, that, abundance of GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. Grace which was poured out so copiously upon the new Christians, who often had the year (Dec. 2d), a lady from the c^reat vmrlil^ Miss Philippa-Gertrude de l^ou- logne, sister of Madame d'Ailleboust, joined the little Community of Ursulines. The triennial election of a Superioress was made again in June (1G48), in pace et benediclione \ resulting in the continuation of the same Ilev. Mother in the office. "Without anticipating more upon a future page, let it at least be said, that Mother St. Athanasius was one of those remarkable women, whose precious and noble quali- ties have entitled her to the lasting esteem and gratitude of the Community, which she continued to govern alternately with Mother Mary of the Incarnation, as long as both were spared. This served to cement indissolubly the union between the two congregations of Paris and Tours, represented about equally for many yearS' in the Monastery of Quebec. I ' i !'■ 1 Thus marked in the Journal des Jesuites. ti' I ■ '■■' sr/r \, : ■■'kins and other furs, of which the Indian had an abundance. These were some of the motives that, in Kj.'JT, had brought to the city of Cham- plain, one hundred and lifty canoes, bear- ing* six or seven hundred of the tall, well-built, swarthy })raves, from the north shores of Lake Huron. From Point- Levis to the opposite cliifs of Quebec, the channel of the St. Lawrence was alive with tlnMr fantastic barks, each containing ibur or live sava2:e warriors, their shoulders covered with shaggy hides ; thiur visages glownig with paint of various colors ; their long, naked arms, A'igorousiy sway- ing the pa Idle. This was the first time so large a number of these allies of the F'rench, had appeared at Quebec. Li the following years, their visits were renewed ; and 100 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTEUT. generally corresponded to the expected arrival of mercantile vessels Irom France. In 1039, there were stranger sii>*ht8 than ever. The Christian Huron, Joseph Chi- hatenhwa, who after his baptism had Jived like a saint, was animated with new fervor. Returning from his journey he went from " town to town, preaching with heavenly eloquence " and publishing what he had seen. "Ah! said he, if you only knew what charity there is among those who believe in God, you would never remain in your superstitions. Even among those who have never seen each other, there is but one heart and one mind. The daughters of Sachems who have crossed the great Sea, to live in Quebec, have come for the love of us. When they arrived, there was such re- joicing, you would have said that all the people of Quebec were one. Oh ! how far are we from resembling them." In the following spring, Joseph sent to the Convent his young niece, the charm- ing Teresa, whom we have already men- m m W GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 101 tioned. Mother St. Joseph, in the mean- time, had studied the Huron with such success that she was able to converse with Teresa, and with the braves who were with her. Soon Teresa was joined by other young Huron girls; and not an Indian of the nation could come to Que- bec without seeing the wonderful, " Wise Virgin " who could speak their language. The holy nun, so rich in the gifts of grace that we forget her noble birth, and all her rare accomplishments, was to the poor Indians, an angel from heaven ; hor words were their law ; her influence irresistible. Her name was known throughout the Hu- ron country. Those who had never been in Quebec, knew the Mother of the IIu- rons, the holt/ Virgin, as well as those who had been instructed by her in the faith 1. From the time Teresa, the niece of the great medicine-man, with some companions, had entered, there was 1 1 Relations, 1642. II ne deficend aucun Sauvage a Quebec qui ne veuille voir ko filles Vierges. 102 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. constantly a class of yonng Huron girls at the Convent. < , ' There are amnsing anecdotes related of the childlike simplicity of some of the Huron braves. * One of the neophytes of Mother St. Joseph 1 being invited by his companions to join them m the winter's chase, de- clined giving a decided answer, saying that he wished to consult his directress ; r^pon which the other replied contemptu- ously "You are not a man, but a woman ! " Th? poor neophyte felt the reproach keenly, but stifled his anger, and came to recount his trials to Mother St. Joseph. He was exhorted to bear the reproach patiently, as became a good Christian, who should know how to love his en- emies. He replies with a sigh : •' That I will do, but, Mother ! you do not know how hard it is for a man to be called a woman." The brave Jean-Baptiste had another ^ Let. of M. M. of the Incarnation. J:. GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 103 f" difficulty ; he was at Quebec with all his family, and lived by the hospitality of the nuns. One day, as he was going out to hunt, some of his fellows refused him what they had promised to furnish. In his disappointment, he uttered some words of impatience. Perceiving his fault im- mediately, he wijihed to confess it ; but his confessor was absent. There was still a resource left ; he comes to see Mother St. Joseph, tell? her what has happened, asking her to tell his confessor, when she would see him, that Jean-Baptiste had sinned, but that he was extremely sorry, and begged God to pardon him. Often the pagan Hurons, decided by their visit to Quebec to become Christians, remained many months, coming every day to the Convent to be instructed. One of these, whom Mother 8t. Joseph was instructing, was invited by the Algonquins to join them in a hunt. He consults the Mother, who tells him if he is in no hurry to be baptized, she sees no reason why he should not go ; but if, on the contrary, he e; I', ■ ) ■ I 104 GLIMPdES OP THE MONASTERY. desires that grace very ardently, it would be better to remain and continue to be instructed. Upon that, he replies with resolution : " It is decided that I shall not go. Cer- tainly, my chief business here is to get baptized, — I seek no other riches than that of being the child of God. " He kept his word ; received the grace of baptism some weeks later, and still remained in Quebec, till Mother St. Joseph had pre- pared him ibr a fervent first Communion. The assiduity of the Huron neophytes to the parlor instructions, which lasted two or three hours when needed, has al- ready been noticed ; but we have not mentioned another tie between the poor Indians and their Mollier, By letters to her parents. Mother St. Joseph obtained abundant supplies for these poor people, whom she had adopted, and whom she cherished like her own family. At the time she commenced her inter- course with the Hurons, there were thir- teen missionaries in their country, laboring GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 105 \nng with a zeal capable of inspiring the most callous with admiration. , But the relentless Iroquois, those Ro- mans of the New World, had vowed the destruction of another Carthage, — with atrocious pertinacity the3/' pursued their plan, until the Land of the Ilurons was a land of desolation. The hour of distress proved the hour of salvation. While misfortunes of every kind were upon them, famine, pestilence, war, in its most horrid forms, — conver- sions multiplied. Crowds, that had long deferred renouncing their superstitions, hastened to demand baptism. The missionaries, after passing through such trials as belong to the most heroic confessors of the Faith, the ordeal of lire and torture in every form which fiends could invent, left upon the list of martyrs the names forever glorious of Daniel, Gar- nier,Chabanel, Brebceuf and Lalemant,^ — all persona] friends of the Ursulines. ^ The Letters of Motlier Mary contain lengLliy and interesting details of the labors, sullerings and combats m II i m 'ft 106 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. No one in the Colony, perhaps, followed with more interest than Mother St. Joseph the different stages of that sad drama, des- tined to close by the extinction of the Huron name ; and when, in the summer of tlic«c niarlyrs. In tliom \vc easily follow the pro- gresH of tlie faitli, from the time that the holy Jogues otfered hi.s life for the convension of these poor pagans, and was accepted (1(540). We read in 1G48, " Huit li, neul cents Ilurons baptises p. 439. In IG4(), detail- ing all the cruel circiiinstance.s of the martyrdom of Rev. Fathers Brebenf and G. Ijalement, who had grown oKl in the Apostolic Missions among the sa- vages, she adds : F. lirebeuf had the consolation of seeing seven or eight thousand baptized before his death, many of them by aspersion. While the Intfpiois were burning, massacring, and destroying, the Ilu- rons were no longer rebellious. 2,700 were baptized, tlie year following: — these were dispersed, when they were nut massacred. One oi' these exiled bands came to Quebec, where they subsisted by the charity of the three religious Conununlties, and uther benevoler.t persons. In August IGoO, there were 600 Christian Indians at Quebec. Twenty-nine missionaries luid laboreil fur the con- versio!) of the Hurons : seven of these had perished by the hand of violence. Le//e?rs^ p. 441 to 4J(». GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 107 of 1 650, the last miserable remnant of a people that had lately reckoned 35,000 souls, s'-t up their poor camp-huts within view of the Monastery, no heart bled with a deeper wound than hers. Mother Mary of the Incarnation says it was her death- blow. Soon they gathered around her, in troops of forty or fifty at a time, — as many as the parlor-class, and later the bark cabin could hold — men, women and children. Mother St. Joseph had the secret of consoling them, — fortifying them with holy instruc- tions, and inspiring them with sentiments of Christian resignation. From theHuroii seminarists, in captivity among the Iroquois, the nuns had most consoling accounts. One of Mother St. Joseph's pupils, who had been carried off in 1643, at the age of thirteen or four- teen, was married, and thus had become mistress of one of those " Long Houses " w^here several families lived together. After ten years of captivity, the missionary not only found her iirm in the faith, but i: I 108 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. i t f'il pLe had gained others to worship her God, and pray with her. JSuch instances, — and thoy were not unfrequent, — show the value of the in- structions given by the nuns. The bright wave, once set forward, ran multiplying in widening circles, under the eye of Him who blessed it, in numbers that will be known only in heaven. CHAPTER IX. lOCO. f iT •( / I ONE NIGHT, AND ITS CONSEUUENCES. The year 1650, so fertile in trials and disasters, was drawing to a close. A clear, cold, December evening, was brooding over the glistening landscape. The great constellations which light the wintry GLIMPSES OF THE 3I0NASTERY. 109 'g firmament with splendor, were there, marking the progress of the night. The dark form of the Monastery looked not gloomy, for the ruddy glow of the case- ments told of cheerful lires, and cheerful faces within. There was even the sound of merriment; for this was the hour of recreation. One who had gained admittance on that evening, would have found the cloistered inmates unbent from labor, en- joying in genial intercourse the social hour. Adjoining the Chapel and Choir, was the Community Hall, — not very spa- cious, — which the nuns had just entered, leaving the small refectory, wuth the usual ejaculation : " Deus del nobis suam paceviy God give us His peace ! That peace was there, in the depth of their souls. We saw it in their countenances, as with words of gentle greeting they unfold al- ready their parcels, — knitting, sewing, mending, — and take their seats around a plain centre-table, where burn two candles. !■ , I 110 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. • J Si;!; |i,i We have seen them all before. — It is Reverend Mother St. Athanasius, Supe- rioress, v^ho has hi bored on the arduous mission, ten years ; it is the palo and worn, yet gay and energetic Mother St. Joseph, Assistant ; here is also Mother Mary of the Incarnation, Depositary, the tutelary ge- nius of all ; — Mothers St. Croix, Anne de Ste. Cecile, Anne de Notre-Dame, Mother St. Ignatia have come in. The three lay sisters, St. Laurent, St. Ursula and St. Micha3l ^ wath the poor Indian widow, Cecile Arenhatsi, have still the company of the late " lady of the castle, " Miss de Boulogne, now called Mother St. Dominic, in the kitchen below, where there is work to be done. In the hall adjoining the Community, the largest in the house, the Indian girls are in frolicsome glee. Mother Anne of the Seraphim is in their midst, when Ma(fame de la Peltrie enters, and there is ^ Fran^oise Capel, novice of the white veil, who remained only a few months. GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. Ill a goueral rush to be near the Nutfi^a//^ dear Mother, who never comes to thorn without giving and receiving pleasure. "New years is coming, " they remind her, and she with pretended gravity, does not understand the allusion ; — yet we know she has counted well her little seminarists, that no one may be Ibrgotten in her loving distribution of presents on New Year's moriinig ^ The custom of New Year's visit.-?, ami presents too, in these early times has become known to us through the private Journal of the Jesuits, lately given to the public. One example will sufHce, as a picture of the cordiality that reigned among the in- habitants of New France. Tlie date we select is : — ''Jan. 1-1646. The soldiers went to salute the Gover- nor with their guns : the inhabitants presented their complinient in a body. He was beforehand with us and came here at seven o'clock to wish us a happy New Year, addressing each of the Fathers one al"ter another. I returned his visit after Mass. (Another time we mus* bo beforehand with him.) M. Gift'arJ also cauie to see us. The Hospital nuns sent us a letter of compliment early in the morningj the Ur- sulines also, with beautiful presents, wax-candles, rosaries, a crucifix, and at dinner, two excellent M 112 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. But the hour is waning; let us look into the French class-room, where Mother St. Clara presides at the evening recrea- tion. It is above stairs. We have not lists complete, but we can name : the Misses de pigoon-pies. I sent tliein two images, in eiiuniel> of St. Ignatius and St. F. Xavier. We gave to M. GilTard, the life of Our Lord, by F. Bonnet; to M. des Chatelets, a little voliinie of Drexellius, on Eter- nity ; to M. Bourdon, a telescope and compass ; and to others, reliquaries, rosaries, medals, images, etc. We gave a crucifix to the woman who washes the Church linen, a bottle of rum to Abraham, and four liandkerchiefs to his wife; some books of devotion to others and two handkerchiefs to llobc 't Hache; he asked for more and we gave them to him. I went to see M. Giftard, M. Couillard and Made- moiselle de Repentigny. The Ursulines sent to beg I would come and see them before the end of the day. I went; and paid my compliments also to Madame de la Peltrie, who had sent us presents. I was near leaving this out, which would have been a great oversight. At home, I gave ^o our Fathers and Bro- thers what I thought they would like best. I had given beforehand to F. De Quen for Sillery, all he chose to take from n\y room, and a choice present for Father Masse." Journal, p. 24. GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 113 Eepentigny, Misses Elizabeth and Mary Couillard, Juchoroau de More, Le Tardif, Marsolet, de la Potorie, Bourdon, Hayot, Hertel, Grodefroy, Misses Madeleine and Genevieve Chavigny, Porchet, Nicolet, as being probably of the number. Gay and happy as young girls can be, let them with thoughts of piety, sink to rest. Has not their Mother just told them of the fervor of their little rivals, in the hull below^ ? They will not believe that be- cause they are more privileged than these little forest girls, who have but lately known the good God w^ho made them, they should be less grateful or less pious. The hour of silence is proclaimed by tne bell at seven ; then for a half-hour are heard the grave and solemn tones of the recitation of the Divine office. It is the evening tribute of the Spouse of Christ, as the deputed organ of the Church, offering to Heaven for all crea- tures a few notes of that perpetual hymn which circulates around the terrestrial i 5 iP ^ n 114 GLOIPSES OF THE MONASTERY. orb; a hymn of adoration, praise, and love ^ When all had sunk to rest within that peaceful mansion, there was something that did not sleep. — It was a pan of coals, which a Sister, charged with the baking, had placed beneath her bread-trough, well closed round with the napkin that covered the dough. It was not her habit to take this precaution to hasten the ac- tion of the yeast ; but this was bread for New- Year's; she would have it light. The coals thus set on duty, were unper- ceived, and, alas ! forgotten. All slept, but— the lire. That began by the pine box, soon well heated; then the flames circulated to all within the baking- room ; to the cellar beyond, and its stores ; to the pine beams and floor, overhead. Suddenly, Mother Mary of the Seraphim starts, as by a voice calling to her : "Haste, 1 For all that follows, see Letires de la M. Marie de V Incarnation; the scene that precedes is, of oourse, supposed. OLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 115 id. lim pte, \rie of — awaken your children, or thoy will be burned alive." She leaps to hov foot ; the flames were burstinj^ throuj^h the iloor into the room, whore they all were sleep- ing*. 8he shrieis<;: "Up for your lives, children, ily ; " — and she rushf\S to the dormitory to cry : " Wake ! vrake ! the house is on lire. Quick, and save the children." In a moment, all are aware of the danger ; the fire was upon thom on all sides. One rushes to the bell, to giv(^ warning of their peril. Mother Su- perior, with admirable presence of mind, seizes the keys, and opens the doors ; Mother Assistant and Sr. 8t. Laurent break down the grating, to all'ord egress to those who are in the second story. Some of the Sisters, thinking the lire might be still arrested, run in the direct- ion of the cistern for water : Mother Mary calls to them that it is in vain ; they must only think of saving themselves and the children. The smoke and llames were quicker than words : the dormitory where the little ones were, was already on lire, It . *^' r I) 116 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. if U r I ;■&,. Sr. St. Igiiatia, at the peril of her life, breaks in and hurries them out, — when the floor gives way. The other sisters seize the little innocents iii their arms and bear them off to a place of safety, returning several times, regardless of the danger of suffocation or of being enveloped in the llames. Mother Mary of the Incarnation had grasped the papers of the Community, and attempted to save some clothing for the Sisters, who had all rushed from the house with the children, m their night dresses. She was alone in the midst of the flaming mass ; the lire was consuming the rooms beneath ; another had seized upon the timbers of the roof, over her head; and a third was following upon her steps, as after bowing to her crucifix to acquiesce in the holy will of Grod, she flew along the passage of the dormitory, leading through the parlor, to a stair-case, — the only issue now possible. Happily, it was free, although she encountered another danger from the melting bell, di- GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 117 of ized her poll Icitix she ory, ase, red roctly over her way. At the door, she meets the Rev. Father Superior of the Jesuits and all his household, hurrying to the rescue. The Chapel aloue was not yet in ilames. They had time to save the Blessed Sacrament, and such of the Sacred vestments as were in the vestry adjoining', yet not without imminent peril. But were all indeed safe V Had it been possible in that brief space of time, be- tween the hrst alarm and Mother Mary's egress from the house, which she measures by the length of the " Miserere " — some five or six minutes — to transport all the household to a place of safety ? Had no one been 1 ngotten ? — anguishing ques- tions were these to Rev. Mother St. Athanasius, who having hastened down to open the doors, had not returned, know- ing that it would be of no avail. The others had taken flight in the opposite direction, and when poor Mother Superior, shivering there upon the snow, endures a mortal agony within her soul, and calls her sisters by name, no one answers. f .fi I V w I ; ti; i ! I 118 GLTMPSES OF TIJE MONASTERY. I '. : $ Casting horself upon her knees, 'she makes a A'ow to the Blessed Virgin, — and waits. At last, the children discover her and gather around ; Mother Mary too and all the sisters are there. Poor Cecile had east herself from a window in the third story upon an icy frozen path — but she was only stunned. Little Grenevieve, alas ! was missing still ; — it is agony for all. But the good ani^els were busy : — Ge- nevieve did not perish ;— she was safe, though found only after a two hours' search. Higher and higher rise the flames, wreathing through that wooden roof; the heavy timbers bend, and Hill with a crash: it is the brightness of mid-day on this mid- night scene, while the cold, silent stars look down unmoved. But while that doomed mansion is sink- ing there in a glowing, seething furnace, where are its late happy inmates ? On the cold snow-bank, clustered close to keep those little children warm, they kneel ; — calm, though pale, — so calm that one of I GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 119 -Ge- lace, the :eop le of the spectators cries: " Surely, those women are mad ! or they have an exceeding love of God. " Friends surround them novv% and cover them with their rouc^h <]^arments ; — they bear off the children ;— the little [n- dian girls to the nearest shelter ; — the French children, to their own homes. Madame de la Peltrie, in her night tunic and bare-footed until she gets the loan of shoes and a mantle, shudders in the night air, as she hurries, with the nuns, all in a similar plight down the street to the Je- suits, the nearest inhabited house. Great were the pity and grief of the spectators, both French and Indians, though powerless to stop the progress of the conflagration. They wept with com- passion for the misfortunes of those heroic souls who had never toiled for themselves ; — or they were moved to tears to behold the angelic composure of those victims of a calamity so sudden and so terrible. The dispositions of the nuns on the it n ' .. i ft K w ? es ' ", ilm 120 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. f 'f nii^ht of the conflagration, may be divined by those of Mother Mary herself; — for we know that there was but one heart and mind among them. "My heart, she writes, preserved its usual peace ; I felt neither grief nor anxiety, but united my will to His, whose Hand has passed over us, leaving us in the state in which He w^as Himself at this season in the cave of Bethlehem. " Early the next morning, the friendly nuns of the Hospital sent their steward with a pressing invitation to accept hospitality with them. The Grovernor, on the other hand, had ordered prepara- tions to be made for them at the Castle. The nuns were grateful to both ; — but naturally preferring the Monastery of the Hospital, to the (xovernor's Residence, they were soon in the arms of their dear i sisters, the Hospicalieres, — who shed abun- dant tears, while they "welcomed them so | cordially to their home. The extent of ' the misfortune was sufficiently evident by the condition in which they were forced DNASTERY. may be divined lerself ; — for we one heart and [y heart, she al peace; I felt but united my tias passed over te in w^hich He I in the cave of the friendly their steward ion to accept The Governor, iered prepara- a at the Castle. to both ; — but onastery of the »r's Residence, is of their dear vho shed abun- comed them so The extent of tly evident by y were forced 1 1 ;3 I <■ r, 1 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 121 f^. h f T ": to present themselves : wrapped round in borrowed mantles, and still shivering with the cold they had endured in the night Straightway, the kind hosts brought apparel from their wardrobe, and the whole community of Ursulines were trans- formed to Hospital nuns, dear Madame de la Peltrie with the rest. In the course of the day, the Governor with llev. F. Eagueneau came to convey to the scene of the disaster, the Supe- rioress of the Ursulines, Mother Mary of the Incarnation, Madame de la Peltrie and Mother St. Joseph. That smoking heap of stones was a sad spectacle ! There had perished, not only the fruit of ten years' solicitude and toil, but also the six months' store for them- selves and their seminarists, a part of it due to the charity of their friends in France ; — their provisions for the rest of the winter ; their clothing and beds ; the fur- niture of their chapel and school-rooms ; — all, in fine, that they had amassed for the service of the poor Indians, and for ^ 'J ([l.-|ttftii-tT1l(liilMrri7"-"-"--^-™^tr*™ "•rwmpwWf*-^ 122 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. m i their own subsistence ; all had been con- sumed in the space of two hours. Ma- dame de la Peltrie had lost every thing as w^ell as the nuns. The New-Year's greeting, so cordial in those early times that even to read of it is refreshing, must have given occasion to many touching expressions of sympa- thy. The nuns were at least safely lodged, for the time-being. Nothing which the most delicate and ingenious charity could suggest, was omitted on the part of the dear Hospital Sisters, to alleviate their distress. During three weeks, with in- defatigable zeal, these "frienrls in need" furnished materials, and aided in putting together, complete suits of apparel for each of the Ursulines. The two Communities made but one : —seated at the same table ; sleeping under the same roof, and reciting the Holy Office <:ogether ; — but can Ursulines live without having little children around them? Evidently not. Already the vacant house of Madame de la Peltrie has been GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 123 examined, ana the offer of the good Foundress accepted. The nuns i soon remove thither, bearing with them the generous gifts of their benefactresses; and the not k^ss generous loan of at least 500 Hvres worth of commodities, necessary for a bare commencement. They bore above all and bequeathed to their succes- sors, an inexhaustible fund of gratitude for unbounded hospitality. Among the many marks of sympathy the Ursulines received while they were the guests of the generous Hospital nuns, perhai)s none touched them more than the visit of condolence from their poor Hurons. Assembled in one of the large halls of the Hospital, their chief, Louis Taice- ronk, opened his harangue as follows : I ■■ ' The nuns, on their way home vi.sit the College of the Jesuits, the Castle St. Louis and the Parish Church. Jour, des Jes. On the 18th Feb. the chronicler has written : Les Ursulines se renferment, signifying that they begin to observe again the rule of cloister. If M ^i\ 121 GLIMPSES OF THE MONAhTERY. m *' Holy Vir«»;iiis : You behold here a miserable skeleton, whicli was once a living, ha[ipy people. Our flc^h has been devoured by war and by f'.iniine. These poor bones only held together throun;li your benevolence and couipassum.^ Con- sider our sad late, and you will see that we have every reason to weep for ourselves a torrent of tears. :\las ! the friends that kept us from ulter destruction have become like us, and their afflic- tion renews all our distress. Must it be said that we have seen that «^reat House of Jesus, the House of Charity, reduced to ashes in a moment ? ^ The Relation, IG.JU, giving an account of the desolation of the Huron country, and the arrival of a band of the fugitives at Quebec, explains these words of the Huron chief : Les Ursulines avec leur l)onne iondatrice Madame de laPeltrie, out entrepris en cette rencontre au-dessus de leur forces, mais non pas au- dessus de leur confiance qu'elles out en Dieu : elles se chargerent incontinent d'une famille trcs-nunibreuse, [la f.imille de Teondeciioren, oncle de notre Therese]. Leur seminaire fat ouvert a de petites filles, qui ac- crurent lenr numbre, et le zele de ces bonnes meres ne se trouvant (juasi de bornes, leurs Classes s'ouvri- rent aussi a quantiie d'externes, qu'elles instruisent du catechisme, en langue Huronne, et auxquelles elles donnent a manger, etendant ainsi leur charite en meme temps sur les corps et sur les ames. GLIMPSES or THE MONASTERY. 125 by We have seen the fire pursue, without respect, your sacred persons ! In that conflni^ration we beheld ap;ain our own houses, our towns and country in flames. Alas ! must the fire follow the poor Huron wherever he goes ? Weep, Oh ! weep my brethren, weep with me the misfortunes which were ours, and which have bocome the portion of these innocent Virgins. Holy Virgins : lo ! you are reduced to the same extremity as your poor Hurons, for whom your compassion was so great. You have no more a country, a home, nor a hope, but in heaven where you have placed all your desire. We have come hither to console you, and before entering this hall we entered your hearts to see what was your greatest affliction, in order to seek a remedy. If we were addressing persons like our- selves, our customs would lead us to offer you a present to dry your tears, and another to restore your courage ; but we see that your courage has not failed ; and as to tears, you have not shed one for your misfortunes. Your eyes arc not fixed upon any thing lower than heaven, where your treasures are. Thus, our presents are superfluous. There is but one evil to be apprehended, and that threat- ens us more than you. It is the effect which the >\i m i\ m I ! 126 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. news of this deplorable accident will have upon your friends in France. They will be more touch- ed by it than you are, and will call loudly for your return. How can a motlier read without tears tlie letter that will tell her that her dauj^^htcr is without food or clothing, bed or lodging, — in fine, without any of the comforts of life ? The first thought of these poor mothers will be to recall you, that they may have the consolation of reliev- ing your distress. A brother would do the same for his sister ; an uncle for liis niece ; thus we are in danger of losing you, and of being deprived of the :iid we hoped to continue to enjoy, in having our daughters instructed in the Failh. Courage, holy Virgins ! Do not suffer yourselves to be overcome by the tenderness of your rehitivcs. Let it be seen that the charity you have for us, is stronger than the ti : of nature ! To fortify your resolution in this respect, here is a present [a wampum belt of twelve hundred grains] to fix your feet so firmly on the soil that no love of home or country will be able to remove them. The second present [another belt] which we beg you to accept , is to lay the foundations of an- other House of Jesus, a Houcie of Prayer, where you may again instruct our children. These trro GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 127 the desires of our hearts ; Joubtlcsa they are yours also ; for you would not die happy if you eould reproach yourselves that throuj^h too tender a love for your parents you had lost the opportunity of aiding in procuring the salvation of s) many souls whom you love in God, and who will one day bo your crown in heaven." Doubtless, this harangue has lost by the double translation, much of the vivid coloring it had in its native dress, yet it shows hov sincere was their attachment to the Faith, and to all who contributed to their instruction. VS t '- ^l^ CHAPTER X. lO^O-lOS COURAGE IN ADVERSITY. Had the Ursuliiies been of only mode- rate utility to the Colony, whether for aiding in converting the Indians, or in difFusino!' the blessinjxs of instruction and education among the rising generation of French Canadians, the conjuncture was favorable to allow them to retire. Ten years were sufficient for an experiment ; and had there been a want of success, the nuns themselves, after all the hardships they had endured, and all the uncertain- ties before them, had a right to desist from iheir enterprise without being taxed with pusillanimity, Spring vessels, bringing them the usual succor, would have enabled them to defray the expenses of th'^ pas- sage home. That they would have been ii GLLMPSES OF THE MONASTEUY. 129 cordially welcomed by their different Communities, was evident from the press- ing invitations they had already received to quit the country on account of the In- dian warfare, and the precarious sitite of the colony. These invitations were still more urgent w^hen tidins^s of the conllaiiTation of the Monastery had reached their friends in France. No one conversant with the early His- tory of Canada is ignorant how critical was the state of affairs, and how gloomy the prospect during the years that follow- ed the dispel sion of the Hurons. The Iroquois, Hushed by his dire success, daz- zled by the lires that had consumed his victim, had not paused to rest him, in the sol'tude he had made. Throuuhout the land, he was busy ; here, to cut off a still flying band of Hurons; there, to scalp the trembling Algonquin ; — and everywhere to beset the French, and confine them within their forJSo The ubiquitous Iro- quois seemed destined to remain sole ii!i I f m \> \l\. * ) fni" m '■ •'; 130 OLIMI'SES OF THE MONASTERY. :r inastov of a dovastatod country. Two thousand Frenchmen, scattered along the tSt J^awrence, at the various settlernenis and trading posts, were but a luindlul, compared to the Jlurons destroyed; and their importance to the mother country depend(Hl chielly on the t'ur-trade with tlie Indians, which the Iroquois intercep- ted K All this was well known to the nuns ; but they were all determined to persevere, and share the late of the Colony, whose interests they had espoused. " How could we abandon our Chrii^tian neophytes ^ " says jNlother Mary of the Incarnation. They are our treasures, our spiritual chil- dren, for whom Ave are ready to die a million of times. And what will become of our dear French girls without instruc- ^ Lcs llottcs (lc8 Hnrons ne desccndcMit plus a la traito ; k\s Algunquins isont depciiples, ct les nations plus eloi\ixnee>! se retirent encore plus loin, cruignant le Ibu (los Iroquois. l.e niaga-^in de Montreal n'a pas aoheie des c^au- vages un seal castor depuis un an. ^iel. (J LIMPS ES OF THE MONASTERY. 131 tion, without culture? No ! wo aro not so cowardly as to betray our trust or ahaiidou our post. Our enemies are poweri'ul, but God is greater than they. " The resolution ol' the nuns v^as ap- plauded by the public. In an assembly of the principal citizens and the Jesuit Fathers, presided by the Governor D'Ail- leboust, it was decided to ofFer them a loan, free of interest for six years, and to aid them as far as possible in rebuilding their Monastery \ ' Tlie Relation aays : Le feu avait fait nn Ijolo. cauate tout entier de leurs liabits, de leur niaison, de toua leurs meubles et dc8 auruoiie.s, dont depui.s dix an8 on avait tache de soulager une partie de leurs necessites. La perte a ete grande, inais ce.s buiities meres n'ont pas perdu leur confiance en Dieu. . . .Le desir qui lea presse de se mettre en etat de faire en ce pays ce que leur zele y est venu chercher pour le wa- lut des dnies; I'esperance qui leur fait croire que voulant tout souffrir et tout faire pour Dieu, il fera tout pour elles : ces rai&ons, dis-je, lea ont obligees saintenient d rebtitir de nouveaux edifices. . . . Nous les y avons aaaistees de toutes nos forces. . . . Tout le pays a iuteret d leur etablissement, principaiement a Jf :'■ • ;* ; «! 132 (JLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. This decision taken, let lis return to the " lielhelehem " oi' the UrsuHnes to take note of some oi* the comforts and con- veniences. The mansion, built probably on the model of other small dwelUng- houses of the city, was two stories high, thirty feet in length nnd twenty in breadth. These were narrow limits for thirteen persons, ^ to whom a chapel and a class- cause de leur seminaire ; car I'experience fait voir que les filles qui out ete aux Ursulines s'en ressentent toute leur vie, et que dans leur menage la crainte de Dieu y regne davantage, et qu'elles y elevent bien niieux leurs enfants. In the same article Rev. F. Raguenean mentions a school for boys : On a commence cette annee (1651) iin seminaire, ou les enfants sont en pent^ion sous un honnete homtne. ... lis viennent en classe au Col- lege. Sans cela nos fran^ais deviendraient sauvages, et auraient moins d'instruction que les sauvages memes. ^ The Relation mentions in addition to the '• treize personnes qui component leur communaute, quelques pensionnaires dont leur charite n'a pu se dispenser, nonobstant les incomniodites presque intolerables qu'il leur a fallu souffrir, principalement dans les chaleurs etouffantes de I'ete, et dans une pauvrete qui les a reduites a avoir besoin de toutes choses. GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 133 room were as indispensable as a dining- room and a dormitory. Their ingenuity and their patience, having already been tasked in a similar manner, made them at home in their new domicile. Beds were arranged, one above another, Tor themselves and for some little boarders, probably orphans ; — a board partition screened ofi'a little chapel. A sort of rustic arbor, covered on all sizes wath bark, in the Huron style of architecture as before, gave them an additional class- room for their neophytes. Their poverty, which excited universal compassion, reduced them to receive alms from such as would have been succored by them, in better days. One would bring a towel, a chemise, or a cloak ; another presented a chicken, a few eggs, or a loaf of bread. " The Jesuit Fathers, says mother Mary, sent us the stuffs destined to their own use to clothe us ; they gave us provisions, linen, and blankets for our beds. They lent us the services of their lay brethen m t I i 'i:. i .. ii, I 1-t J p , Mi 134 GLIMPSES OF THE .MONASTERY. '! ' IV. and their workmei), to aid in the build- ing. The Governor also and his wife, Madame D'Aillebonst, succored us in many ways. In short, all our friends showed themselves so compassionate and obhffins^ that we have no words sufficient to express our gratitude. If the poverty of our Colonists is great, their charity is greater." In the mean-time they sought to re- sume the labors of the Institute, in favor of the young French girls, as well as the Indians. The snow had not yet fully disappear- ed from the ground, when the nuns were seen clearing away, with their own hands, the rubbish that covered the charred foundations, in preparation for the work of the masons. On the 18th of May, in presence of the Governor, and a goodly company, another foundation-stone was blessed by Kev. Father Laloment, and deposed, with the usual ceremonies, hy Madame de la Feltrie. All the workmen that could be obtained, w^ere employed ; GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 135 and and the walls rose so rapidly that some hoi)os were entertained of inhabiting them the Ibllowini]^ winter. But the short summer passed too quick- ly ^ ; —autumn came, and the long winter ^ Mother Mary of the Incarnation tells us liow the the nuns managed to live after the burning of tlie Convent. The spring vessels bringing them only the usual snpplics wlien they were in need of every- thing their Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Vignal, undertook to provide for their subsistence by cultivating their land. He took laborers with him, and set them the example, by toiling early and late. God so blessed his charity and liis labor, that they harvested wheat peas and barley in sufficient quantity for the forty persons that composed the family of that year. '* We have a double team of oxen for our labor and six cows that furnish us with milk and butter." Rev. M. Vignal continued his charitable care of the Com- munity until 1()57, when he joit)ed the Sulpicians. Mother M. of the Incarnation says : ''Notre Coiu- munaiite avait des obligations intinies a ce bon prelre. Outre l'acc(jmplissement des devoirs spirituels de sa charge, il surveillait lui-meme nos domestiques, et nous lui devons une eternelle reconnaissance pour avoir fait defricher la metairie de St. Joseph sur les plaines (d'Abraham). Sa generosite etait parfaite. I I n ^ '■'■■' ' 1' m ' • ' m i j f M ; i Sir -■ HI .1 '! i m :i ; Ifi 1 ■ 1 i 1 i 1 136 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. ii I set in, before the interior of the monastery was sufficiently advanced to set at liberty the inmates of " Bethlehem's cave " pent up as they were, and stifling in smoke and unwholsome air. The winter was indeed long and pain- ful for many reasons. The beloved Mother St. Joseph, who for the last four years had been sinking in a declared con- sumption, had not yet given up teaching her dear Hurons. All summer she had kept her place in the bark lodge, where Mother Mary accompanied her i, while she continued to explain the way to serve En nous quittant, il nous legua un arpent de terre tout aupres de noire monastere sur lequel nous avons loge nos dome.stiques et concede plusieurs em- placements This holy priest tell a victim to the cruelty of the Iroquois in IG61. 1 It was on occasions like the^^e that our Mother used to write : *' ma chere sceur 1 quel plaisir de se voir avec une grande troupe de femmes et de filles sauvages dont les pauvres habits qui ne sont que de peau ou qaelque vieille couverture, n'ont pas d bonne odeur que ceux des Dames de France I Mais la can- ! l! GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 137 God, to her attentive listeners, men and women, to the number of forty or fifty. Poor Indians ! how they listened with open, wondering eyes, marliing their as- sent, and their admiration of the celestial doctrines that fell from her lips, by ex- pressive gestures ! But even the superna- tural energy of a soul all on fire with holy zeal, could no longer support the wasted frame, nor hush the stifling cough. Mother St. Joseph, extended upon her humble couch, from which she was never more to rise, lingered from the 2d of Feb- ruary to the 4th of April. The picture of that sick-room is too sad to retrace, were it not all radiant with the glow of celestial visitors, — Angels of peace and consolation, flitting around the death- bed of a saint ! That sick-room was the deur et siinplicite de leur esprit est si ravissante qu'elle ne se peut dire. Celle des horiimes n'est pas moindre. Je voisdes Capitaines genereux et vaillants ee mettre a genoiix a mespieds me priant de les f'aire prier Dieu, " etc. m ■Am m i: 11 ., !, 138 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. I ' III! common dormitory ; that dying-couch, one of those beds arranged one under another which, even a person in health, would not willingly accept. Let Mother Mary of the Incarnation tell the rest : *' The Altar where the Divine Sacrifice was offered, being in the adjoining apart- mont, the dear sufferer could hear mass from her bed, and listen to the occasional exhortations ; — which was a great comfort to her. On the other hand, she could see all who went to the Chapel, as they must pass before her bed ; she could hear the singing, the clang of the bell, the clatter of wooden shoes, the noise of the school- room, the din of the kitchen, which was in the room below, and separated from hers by a simple flooring. The odor of eels inf«^cted the whole house ; the smoke forced us to open the windows, even in the coldest weather ; — all this incom- moded her and augmented her cough, yet, far from uttering the least complaint, she GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 139 would fain persuade us that it amused her. " She congratulated herself upon the pri- vations she endured : " O how happy I am, she would say, to die in this poor place, deprived of the comforts and deli- cacies 1 would have enjoyed in France ! Tell our good Mothers of Tours, tell my dear parents, that I die happy in the sa- crifice 1 have made. Tell them I have never re- i i?l ho'Nelf culminated the glory of au illust- rious family. The sweet odor of piety breathes from her very cradle, and her first tottering footsteps bear her on er- rands of charity. Idolized by her parents, and returning their love with all the tenderness of her youthful heart, Marie de la Troche, at the age of thirteen, al- ready meditates the sacrihce of her im- mense wealth, her noble nr.me, all the advantages the world offers her, in order to become the Spouse of Him, who. for her love, had given His life on Calvary. ]>y her importunities, and by arguments above her years she triumphed over the opposition of her parents and obtained their consent to enter the Novitiate of the llrsu lines at Tours, where she had been placed for her education. The postulant of fourteen was a child in years only. In judgment, incapacity, in Hdelity to the duties of the religious life, she was mature as a person of thirty. At sixteen, she pronounced her vows with GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 143 h the fervor of one who fully appreciated the grace of her vocation. Her fidehty in the discharge of her duties in the schools, her piety, her en- gaging modesty and unaffected gravity, rendered her the model of her companions and the delight of her superiors. Her zeal for the salvation of souls, which had man- ifested itself from her tender infancy, was an undying flame, enkindled in her soul in order to consume every other aft'ection. This zeal was the principle of her vo- cation for Canada, and of the courage which sustained her in the midst of such labors and hardships as attended her here. Her first apostolate for the conversion of the poor Indians, was that of prayer ; — uniting herself in spirit with the mis- sionaries, and offering her labors and sufferings to God in their behalf. Her desire to devote herself to their instruc- tion, she had regarded as chimerical, until the moment when the way was ' li ;■/ ' f ".' Hit III i l\ f rv)i 144 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. opened so providentially. Her demand to be allowed to accompany Mother Mary of the Incarnation, was met by an intimation to be in readiness to take the office of another Sister who would be ap- pointed to go. But neither the opposition of her Com- munity, unwilling for many reasons to part with her, nor the justly expected refusal ol her parents to consent to her goings disturbed the equanimity of her generous soul. Confiding in the pro- tection of St. Joseph, she awaited the result of the deliberations of the various parties interested. That result, as we know already, was most fortunate for the foundation of the tJrsulines of Quebec. Wj^M 1 m m ' W": The name of Mother St. Joseph is next to that of Mother Mary of the Incarnation in their hearts. They can never forget that the first of her three constant de- mands to Heaven, was, — the sanctifica- tion of her Community. The second, was, / GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 145 the conversion of all the pagan nations of America; the third, — the preservation and prosperity of the French Colony in Canada, ^ ^ Th6 Relation of 1652 inserted a Biographical notice of Mother St. Josepli, which occupies nearly twenty pages. '* Ces nienioires [L'abrege de la Vie de la Mere M. de St. Joseph] etant entre nos mains — says the au- thor of the Relation— i^3Li cru que ce serait faire tort au public de renfermer ce tresor dans les seules mai- sons des Ursulines Son convoi ne se fit pas avec les ponipes de I'Earope, mais avec tout ce qu'il y avait d'honorable au pays, avec toutes les affections et tons les regrets des Fran^ais et des sauvages qui I'aimaient et qui la cherissaient pendant sa vie etqui la respectent comme une sainte apres sa mort." Rev. P» Ragueneau, Sup. des Jes. m ^'^1 tH i in\ r» .1' t i! CHAPTER XL 16^ -lOG; THE SECOND MONASTERY. I \i , The central building of that pile which constitutes, at the present day, the Ur- suline Monastery, is the one that was erected in 1652, by Mother Mary of the Incarnation. Those walls, cimented by charity, it would seem, over which our Mother passed so many times, conversing in the intimate recesses of her soul, with the Blessed Virgin, as with the principal Directress of the enterprise, were not dissolved by the flames which for the second time, some thirty years later, con- sumed the Monastery. After a fifteen months' residence in the house of Madame de la Peltrie, the Ur- sulines were enabled to remove to their new Convent. Mother Mary, with that li GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. U7 forethought which marked all her plans, had provided additional class-rooins by extendini? the walls to the leuGrth of one hundred and eight feet, instead of ninety- two. The nuns effected their removal on the vigil of Pentecost. It is easy to imagine that few baggage-ivai^ons were required. As usual, the whole population of Que- bec took part in the rejoicings. On the morning of Pentecost Sunday, a proces- sion from the parish Church. — priests in glittering cape and stole, youths in the white robe of the alcolyte, citizens in holiday attire, came singing hymns befit- ting the occasion, to transport the Blessed Sacrament from the lowly Altar where it had rested for the last fifteen months, to the Tabernacle prepared in the new Con- vent for its reception. During three days, the clergy and people came in similar order to sing High Mass in the new Chapel, where there was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the quaranV Ore. To all the country, the rebuilding i t fcj m \ 1 U A n u na 148 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. h \ I of the Monastery and the opening of the schools on a larger scale, was a subject of joy and congratulation; while men of business, aware of the difficulties and cost of such a work, wondered to see it accomplished in so short a period. Once more Mother Mary and her com- panions were at liberty to give ful'. scope to their zeal. The bark cabin might be torn down, the shade of the grand ^sh- tree, destined to perpetuate the souvenir of the holy teachings in the open air, might — unless from choice — be abandon- ed ; at all hours, a more secure shelter would protect them, while they mingle with the lore of books, '' The liigher lore that sanctifies." The seminarists continued to occupy the late residence of the Community, the house of Madame de la Peltrie. The French population was not yet numerous, but there was a rising gene- ration as the Relations testify (1653) of '' line, healthy children." GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTEir 149 This explains what Mother Mary states of the Institution at this period. " After the restoration of our Monastery" she writes, " our scholars augmented in pro- portion to our accomodations. In fact, we have been, at times, overcharged ; and I have seen myself, to my great regret, forced to refuse many ; — the poor parents, retiring with tears in their eyes, while I wept in my heart. It is indeed a miracle that we have been able to subsist," over- whelmed as they were with the occu- pations of our Institute. AVhen we reflect how well the good Mother understood the art ot lodging a large family within very narrow limits, without complaint or observation, we may easily form some estimate of the number of pupils. The zeal of the co- lonists for the education of their children need not be frustrated by the scarcity of money. The usual barter of the country will do, for the nuns required ^\fire-wood, bfffter, pork^ saHed-eels, corn, ve^^etables, (^6\" although they cultivate as much land as 'i*. IMI ! ^;- hi m .Wj 150 GLIM I SIS OP THE MONASTERY. they can under the charitable direction of their Chaplain. From the Journal of the Jesuits, already- cited, we learn that in 16G0, forty children made their iirst Communion at the Pa- rish : twenty had been placed at the Convent by the Bishop, for the usual I>reliminary instructions. From this num- ber of poor children within the limits of the city, nearly ot the same age, it is reasonable to infer that the French pu- pils under the care of the Ursulines at this period were numerous : — the usual proportion of children for their first Com- munion is not one fourth of those sent to school. The education of those times, without embracin<^ the diversilied pro<:^ramme re- quired by the customs of the present day, was perhaps the more favorable to the development of the superior fav-^iJties of the mind. The rules for the Institute which were printed at ihat date and follov^ed, required the pupils to be taught leading and grammar ; the Christian doc- .^'.'W^ "1^ , GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 151 'OIK- th 1(358. Tlie Hospital nuns received one into their riovitiate, but she only lived to receive the habit and to pro- nounce her vows on her ileath-bed. A few others have been received into the different Communities of Cana- da— but all died young. I n GLIMPSES OP TIIK MONASTEUY. 153 for the Indian i^irls, whenovt^r their pa- rents were unahie to protect th<'ui. Sometimes it was an orphan, thai the relativ^es could not provide I'or;— some- times a wee bahe of some months, wliich the nuns wore otFered because th.^ mother was dead, or that two of the same a^e were burdensome. ^ More than once, a poor widow, with tearful eyes, hei^i^ed for the protecting shelter of the Convent, — and was not refused, Mother Mary k '.rt ' HI and itiate, ^ Ccs bonnes Meres sont extreinement charitableH ; les difficultes da pays ne les etonnent point; leur eeminaire ne refuse auciine Fran^ lise m aucnne fille Sauvage; I'aumone so lait cliez elle on tout ten)ps, leur Cfjeur est plus grand que leur.s biens. Le.s pen- sionnaires en France ne grevent p'lint les Monasteres ou elle-i sont instruites ; ce n'est pas de nieme en Canada: il faut non-seuleinent nourrir et instruire les petites seininaristes, mais il les faut habilier, ct a leur depart leur fciire de bonnes aunioiies et sou vent encore a leurs parents, tant ils sont pauvre-». '' After giving some itntances the gi>od Father adds : " Vous diriez qu'elles feraient volontiers t )us les frais neces- eaires pour les mener et pour les conduire jusqu'en paradis. Relation, i:il iiii 1 154 GLIMPSES OP TIIR MONASTKRY. seoms to havo hud a special compassion, and a jpecial care for widows and orphans. It was with the hitter she was most successful in forming them to all the usages of civilized life, — some of these seminarists really intelligent and accom- plished became the wives of respectable Frenchmen. Mr. Bnicher, afterwards Governor of Three Rivers, married a seminarist. In 1650, the nuns abandoned, for two years, their class-rooms in the house of Madame de la Peltrie in I'avor of an il- lustrious personage, for whom, it appears, Quebec could offer no better accommoda- tions. It was the noble Scion of the house of Montmorency, Jean-Fian9ois Laval, the lirst Bishop of Canada. Mother Mary announcing his arrival says : — " He is a man of superior merit and singular virtue, w^hose a])ilities are of the hic^hest order. He is above all human respect, zealous for the spread of religion and for every good work His manner of lite is so exemplary that every one is in admira- GLTMrsES OF THE MONASTKRY. 1 •• * tion : in short, ho is a man choson by lloavon, an aposth} worthy of all possible consideration. AVe shall be incommoded, certainly, to find place in our class- rooms for our seminarists, but we shall suffer the inconvenience joyfully on such an occasion. He will have the enjoyment of a fine garden; we have put up a cloister-pahng, that all may be according to rule." Within the precints of the cloister, another enterprise had been undertaken, which doubtless received a fresh impulse from the presence of the chief Pastor. It was a Church, adjoining the Convent, commenced by the unwearied friend of the Ursulines, Madame de la Peltrie. The pious widow, who without the consolation of an irrevocable engagement in the service of her Divine Master, per- severed in the humble and retired life she had embraced in the Community, had long nourished the project of raising a *' House to the Lord " — thus she designa- ted the church she had in contemplation. , 11 if III li ' ill I. ' ''3 i. Mi- I 1 ; I i! li .111 Is 156 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. While the nuns were enga<2^ed in rebuilfl- ing the Monastery, she had commenced amassing the necessary funds. Her an- nual income, much diminished by the law-proceedings of her relatives, only permitted her to begin in 1650. The Go- vernor, M. de Lauson, invited to lay the foundation stone, had assisted at Yespers, with his suite, in the little Chapel of the Monastery, on the Feast of the Ascension. The Olhce of the Church concluded, the Superior of the Jesuits, and other Eccle- siastics, proceeded to the spot marked for the foundation. The stone, inscribed with the sacred names,— Jesus, Mary, Joseph, — was blessed by the Rev. Father LeMercier ; the Governor, with his silver trowel, performed the part assigned him in the ceremony, while all the cloistered family looked on with pleasing anticipa- tions. Two years and a half later ^ the chapel being completed, was solemnly blessed 1 This date we have been enabled to verify by the Journal des Jcsuiies : — 1659, % 3 _A ERT. in rebuiid- ommenced • Her an- sd by the ives, only The Go- ^ o lay the t Vespers, pel of the ascension. L^ded, the er Ecele- marked inscribed 5, Mary, ■ . Father tiis silver led him oistered mticipa- -3 ' chapel blessed fy hy the iti [^ I > I 'hi if h':\ '} '^ 1 i o o '.J ' — 4 to <-C3 O ^. Col! ■ul o • — ' oo U O I. if; tr^l ?■ - ^ GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 157 by the Superior of the Jesuits ; the liiessed Sacrament was transported to the new altar, leaving* the apartments which had hitherto served for prayer and the Divine Sacrifice, free to be employed as class- rooms or for other purposes. At the close of this period of thirteen years (1G65) we find the UrsuHnes had aui?mented their number of teachers in the Institute by receiving several subjects, formed in their classes \ Although the Indian race had greatly diminished throughout all the country, since the first arrival of the nuns, — cut off by sickness ^ and the unsparing arms of the Iroquois, — there were still the sedentary Indians of 1 See Chapter XII. 2 " Sickness, " — among the Indiana. — For Euro- peans the country was remarkably healthy. During thirty two years, only two deaths had occurred in the Community. The Superior of the Jesuits says : L'air du Canada est si excellent, qu'il y a fort peu de ma- lades en ce pays, et on n'y peut quasi mourir, a moins qu'on ne meure d' accident ou de mort violente.. Rel. 1663. . \H [; If ^ i 'H 1 ' till i ■ III ! I' I ill .'i:i ffl f ^ 158 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. Sillery, whose danpfhters, from the first, were instructed in the Convent ; there were also the Hurons, who, since they had been transported from the Island of Orleans to Quebec (1658), and lodged near the Chateau St, Louis^ sent their children daily for instruction, to the number of sixty or eighty. These, as in former times, had their daily mess of sag'amitCy after their school was over. During the w^inter of 1662, Mother Mary was surrounded by a class of novices, eager to render themselves useful, and to avail themselves of her knowledge of the Indian languages. For their benefit, and for the use of the other nuns, she composed at that time, a catechism in Huron ; three in Algonquin, and a large Dictionary, French and Algonquin. With all this labor for the Indian race, writing in 1664, she says : " "We are still more occupied in the classes for the French children ; and, it is certain that if Grod had not sent the Ursulines to Canada, they would be left to the most deplorable ignorance. All GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 159 the young girls in the country pass through our hands ; and this causes piety and re- ligion to flourish everywhere. The French population, rapidly increasing, our em* ployments must keep pace with that in- crease. 5> M; .S2 ». , ifi CHAPTER XII. lOS^-lOO^. THE NOVITIATE. The secret of a religious vocation is, for many, a mystery unfathomable : but in vain would they seek, in the circle of human passions, the motive for embracing a state, whose first obligation is to curb those passions. By what standard can the w^ordly-minded, the unbelieving, judge of actions that arise from motives superior to nature V No; they are incapable of form- ing a just estimate in these matters; and M I f- ■■4 ■ r ■■ !i' v'l i, 8 ' •■' If- i ■ 1 ! , 1 1 1 I,,; 160 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. from false premises, necessarily draw false conclusions. They study the phenom- enon from their own level, and setting up a caricature, call it a true portrait. Ambition, pride, self-love, at best rolii^ious enthusiasm— they cannot mount to high- er motives. But neither pride nor am- bition prompts one to reduce himself to be the servant of the poor, the orphan, or the savaire. Self- love is not so blind as to thrust itself into the wilderness, to seek admirers, nor courageous enough to en- dure long years of abnegation and utter self-sacrilice. ^ As to reliiiious enthu- siasm it may excite to rash enterprises, but it is insufficient to ensure persever- ance ; — the fire invariably burns out, and leaves its possessor colder and weaker than before. ^ The present century will have to record other heroic examples of self-sacrifice; and none more resembling that of the first Ursulines and Hospital nuns of Canada than the recent establishment for the poor savages of the River McKenzie, by the coura- geous Sr. Lapointe and her little Community the daughters of Madame Youville. GLIMPSES OF THE HONASTEBT. 161 The true motive of a religious vocation, especially for the active Orders, is Cha- rity, — that supreme love of Grod which hears vv^ith joy the injunction : " Take up thy Cross and follow me ;" — believing in the promised " hundred-fold in this world, and eternal life in the next " ; — believing also the words of our Saviour : " What- soever ye have done to the least of these, ye have done unto me." Without this supernatural motive, in a greater or less degree, there can be no true religious vocation. But it is time to return from this di- gression. The value of the labors of our first Ur- saiines to society, is sufficiently evident; — but how will their work be perpe- tuated ? Will the wild soil of Canada be fouiid productive of plants, fit to be trans- ferred to the " G-arden enclosed " of the Celestial Bridegroom ? Yet, why should we not expect to find the Lily and the Rose blossoming under the shadow of the Cross? In an atmosphere, redolent of the \ M ! U.I t; i \ '■' I id ll ! ^f 1 * ;,■■•■ ,1: ■I: ■f! m |r 162 GLIMPSES OF THE 5I0NASTERY. purest Christianity, there could not be a dearth of vocations for the cloister. "We have seen that three novices had been received before the burning of the ^Jonv^'Ui ;— Miss Barre, and Mi£.s de Bou- logue, were natives of France: Catherine Lezciiu. ?» lay sister, was the first Canadian novice. In 1652, Miss Genevieve Bourdon, at the age of fourteen, hears the mysterious call, and turning av^^ay from the world she was just entering, she begs to be permitted to embrace the religious state. The Honorable Procureur- General, her father, was of that class of men, whose w^orth is superior to any station. The refuge of the poor, the protector of the widow and the orphan, he was a man of prayer, leading an interior life, such as is the aim of the monk in his cell, or the nun in her cloister. Such a man would not refuse to part with his daughter, when it was to give her to God ^. ^ Miss Marguerite Bourdon, the eldest of the family, and her younger sister Mary, embraced also the re- GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERT. 163 G<3nevieve, on taking the veil, i adopts the name of St. Joseph, proposing, no ligious state, among the auns of the Hospital in Quebec. ^ Le 9 decembre 1652, Genevidve Bourdon prend I'habit aux Ursulines ; c'est moi (/e P^re Rague- neau Sup.) qui officia le P. Jerome Lalement qui dit la messe, et le Pere CliQ;telain qui precha. Ma- dame d'Ailleboust et Madame Bouru.,. a i-trerent et dirierent dans la maison des Ursuli 38. 1. le Gou- verneur, M. d'Ailleboust etM. Bo' lo; vinrent diner en notre refeotoire comme aussi M. le St. Sauveur etM. Vignal, s^l^un pretre, Vau e rJiapelain dej Ursulines,) M. Bourdon ayant envoye de qnoi di- ner pour tout notre retectoire, ubi duplicia fuere omnia. Jour, des Jes. The Journal des Jesuites, published under the supervision of the Reverend Laverdiere and Casgrain has furnished details particularly precious for the history of the Monastery, verifying the wordn of their Preface : '' Ces details, peu important a'ors, sont aujourd'hui d'un grand interet, ^ cause d^ . lumiere qu'ils peuvent jeter sur ces epoques reculees." Rev. C. Laverdiere, Librarian of the University Laval, has written a valuable '* Histoire du Canada." To his care was also confided the publication of the complete series of the delation des Jesuites, or- dered by the Canadir.i government. ^ vf i 'i- 164 GLIMP6ES OP THE MONASTERY. II doubt, while placiiif^ herself under the protection of that glorious Saint, to imi- tate the holy nun who had lately borne it with so much edification to the Com- munity. A younger sister, Miss Anne Bourdon, having, in 1658, attained the age of four- teen, like Genevieve, enters the novitiate of the Ursulines. Hereafter, she is known as Mother Anne of St. Agnes. These two angelic young girls have not become nuns " to pine away and die." O no ! Mother St. Joseph lives to celebrate the 47th anniversary of her profession, having filled all the offices of the Commu- nity, except thai of Superioress. She was oftenest employed at class, where her vigi- lance, her zeal, her tender piety, rendered her services invaluable. Mother Anne of ot. Agnes was very precious to her community, which she was called to govern, later, after those venerable Mothers who had directed her in the paths of perfection, had been called to their reward. GLIMPSKS OF THE MONASTERY. 165 This is not the place to outer into fur- ther detjjis ol' the piety, the rare iiilelli- gence, the rich eiulowiiieuts, of this first Canadian Superioress, whose memory is embahned in the gratitude oi' the Com- munity. She lived to the age oi' seventy. Miss Anne Bourdon had taken the veil with Miss Mary ])0utet de St. Martin, in religion Mother St. Augustin, v^'ho pro- nounced her vows at seventeen, and lived to renew the 40th a)niiversary ol' her pro- fession. Mother Mary of St. Augustin, was chielly employed at the Institute, for which her talents adapted her in a sp(»cial manner. Proposing to herself onr Saviour in Ilis hidden life, as her model, she had a special preference for all the laborious and obscure ollices, — aidhig the lay Sisters, sweeping, taking care of the little Indian girls. The following year, the novitiate re- ceived another accpiisition in the person of Miss Jeanne G-odefroy, who had been a pupil in the Convent from the age of six years. She was one of those who, :y\\ ^1 : , m-r m ^ ■• ,.: 1G() OMMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. I' ) ill' i. * l! \ driven from their beds at a moment's warninj^, were there shivering on the snow, while the im was consuming the Monastery. Her lather, M. John Clode- froy, ol' Jjjnctot in Normandy, was one of the earliest settlers of Three Uivers. To realize the perils that surrounded these p'oneers of the colonization of Canada, v/e have only to read the tragic fate of six members of our novice's family. In the daily encounters with the Iroquois, deiermmed on the extermination of the settlers, live among her ten brothers, were killed. Her uncle, Thomas Godefroy, was taken prisoner, and burned by those bar- barians. A man capable of maintaining his post, a]id aiding, in such circumstances, to fix the French name v.pon the soil, might well be remembered by the " Grand Koy " in his distribution of titles ^ of nobility among the most worthy of his Canadian subjects. ^ These titles came to tlie family Godefroy in 16S8. GLIMPSES OF THK MONASTKllY. 1G7 S in Returnini^ to our Novice, who took iho name oi' St. Frs. Xavier, we must cite hero,a(rording, in its way, a picture oi' the times, a lew lines oi* the "Memoir" ol' this amiable Canadian Ursuline : " Our little pupil, from the age of six year^o, was re- markable for the precocity of her intelli- gence, her happy memory, her brilliant talents. 8he made rapid progress in learn- ing her catechism, Sacred History, and the other studies suited to her age. In these early times, the Rev. Fathers of the Society of Jesus, used to give public in- structions on Sundays, at which all our boarders assisted. To excite emulation among them, they were allowed to learn dialogues or verses on sacred subjects. Miss Grodefroy was the one w^ho oftenest carried off the prize for application and success. " Bishop Laval gave her the veil at the fige of sixteen. From that day forward, she never turned aside from the paths of perfection she had resolved to pursue. Mother St. Frs. Xavier was one of those I I I ! rf I i p| ! I, y '^^^ GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. i! w It' t young sisters, so ardent to loarn the In- dian languages, as we have seen in 1G62. Her biographical notice would lead us too far, while it would show us this fer- vent Ursuline, practising the sweet vir- tues of charity and humility, preserving the candor and gaiety of her chilhood, passing through the laborious offices of Depositary, Mistress of Novices, and Gen- eral Mistress of the BoardinG^ School. Another youthful aspirant to the reli- gious life from Three Rivers, enters in 16G5. It is Angelique Poisson, daughter of the Seigneur of Grentilly. Her vocation was as precocious as that of the Misses Bourdon ; and her eloquence like theirs, in pleading the cause of her fervor, enabled her to triumph over the opposition of her mo*,her, her only surviving parent. She entered the Novitiate in her fifteenth year, to serve the Community, and edify it to the age of seventy-nine. The annal- ist of the Convent, tracing a notice of this beloved Mother Angelique Poisson of St. John the Evangelist, who died in the J ( GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 1G9 office of Superioress, makes us share her admiration of a life so pure, so fervent, so replete with ediiication during the space of sixty-four years, which she had passed in the faithful observance of the rule and the oblijT^ations of the reli^i^ious state. These are the five first-fruits of the grace of a religious vocation for the Ur- su lines in the New World. Won by the sweet attractions of grace, they ti rned away from home and kindred, to follow Grod more closely, living in Him by a life of prayer and recollection ; laboring for Him in purity of intention, in singleness of heart. Their death was in peace, and their memory is blessed : who shall say that their sacrifice was in vain, or their choice unwise ? V i CHAPTER XIIL M v? THE URSULINES AND THE IROQUOIS. CIVILIZATION OP THE INDIANS. AVould the Iroquois ambassadors*, at Quebec, in 1655 and '56, fail to visit tlie House of Jesus, and the Hoif/ Virgins, so much talked of by their Hiiron captives ? And would the Ursulines, with their ex- perience of the value of such interviews, fail to seize the occasion to speak of the " Grreat Creator of all things " to their swarthy visitors ? Mother Mary tells us how the Chief Teharihogen and all his company, eigh- teen stalwart braves, were received at the Convent, and twice regaled splendidly. GLIMPSES OF THE MONA TEUY. 171 ||i*l The seminarists were a woiider to tlnun, especially to see them cared for and cher- ished so tenderly by the nuns, to whom they were by nature, strangers. Marie Arinadsit, who, at the au'e of eleven, writes French as well at Huron, and sinews hymns in three lani»*ua<]!;es, is a prodigy for them, especially after she has taui»-ht a class (f Huron o'irls in their presence. Marie profits of the occasion to harangue the Chief; r;he makes him the present of a wampum belt, to invite liim to send the little Iroquois girls to the Convent, and £/r';rjnHe» to treat them as her sisters. Another day, a female sachem comes, with all her suite. Marie recommences, with the same success. Mother Mary of the Incarnation has repeated interviews with Magdalen and her companions, lie- fore they leave Quebec, their faith is lirm, and they are sulficiently instructed to be baptized : the ceremony takes place in the convent Chapel, — " Oh ! what a glad Te Deum was sumr on that occasion. ! ; ) ! ! U i : ' 172 GLIMISES OF THE MONASTERY. H •IV I- I". Thankful hearts exulted, to see the porse- cu!;ors ol' Christianity become the children of (rod." The ambassadors and the new Christians, on their way home, meet a lari^'e number of their nation, men and women, at Montreal, and tell them so much of the nuns and their " seminarists" that another band come on, impelled by no other motive but to see the " sights " at Quebec. They were welcome at the (;()nvent no doubt. The women were admitted to the class-rooms of the semi- narists, to be regaled and entertained like the former visitors. The nuns were delis^hted with the fe- males of that nation, whose warriors were a terror to the country. Mother Mary pronounces them the gentlest creatures in the world, and often reiterates the wish to see a troop of young Iroquois girls in her conv<^nt. This wish was destined to ])e fulllUed, as we shall see later. The noble Magdalen, who has come so far to be instructed and baptized, might herself be considered as the lirst seminarist. GLIMPSES OF TFiS MONASTERY. 173 This fervent Christian, returning to her country with Mother Mary's holy words still ringing in her heart, proved fiiithful to the graces she had received. To aid the missionary, Father Dablon, in acquiring the language, she remains hours by his side, a willing and patient teacher. She is a missionary herself*. Fearless of the ridicule and contempt to which she was exposed by fullilling an olTice considered i:nworthy of her rank, she goes daily from v?abin to cabin to call the Christians to prayer. She sings at mass with the Huron captives, and in all things lives up to the t< achings of her Faith. When Father Chamnonoi writer, she renders Mother Mary of the Incarnation an account of herself, declr os she will ever be faithi'ul to praye and renews her promise to send her si 'r to the Con- vent. Later, when perseci ed by her un- believing relations, she never wavered in her faith, and her death vvas as consoling as her life had been edifying. It was not without a smile we real in ! > I I S ,1.! 174 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. i' II ^ * the Old Books that the nuns took part also in the Council ^ of the Iroquois and the Missionaries spoke for them ; a present in the style of the country, ^ inviting the Indian braves to send their daughters to the Convent. But the pagan Iroquois was the per- sonification of deceit and treachery. Five years after ^ the visit of the ambassadors, alluded to above, the Iroquois were again expected at the Convent, — but not as ^ This assembly was held in the midst of the Iro- quois country, where the missionaries liad fearlessly penetrated. 2 Pour donner du relief a tout cela [les presents des Peres] suivait le present des Meres Ursu lines de Quebec, qui s'ofiraient de grand c"U- larly mounted by a g'uard of twenty-tour resolute men, to whom were associated, at niiiht, ibr the out-posts, twelve French blood-hounds, — and we shall have some idea ol" the martial air oi' the Monastery during eight days oi' that month of .Fune. The Ibrtiiications were maintained during live months, but tln^ imauites oi' the Mo- nastery were nut disturbed. Once there was a sudden alert;-— the Iro- quois were certainly in sight. In less than hall* an hour, every thing was in readiness to give him a terrible reception. Mother Mary and her aids, had distri- buted the ammunition ; every soldier was at his post. Happily it was a false alarm, no enemy appeared. Later, it ^vas known that the colony had ))oen saved by the heroic devotion ot Dollard and his seven- teen companions, with a party of llurons from Quebec, who within t]icir little fort. i'''. 178 aLI.MrsES OF THE MONAhTEIlY. hnd 80 weakened an army of seven hun- dred [roquois that they came no I'arther.^ 1 We give the picture in the ori;iinal; — '* I/ur- Tiiee lies Iroquois etuient atteiulue ... Nous Ji't-u avons eu que la pcur, si cola peiit s'appeler pour, car je ii'ai })asvu (pi'aucune deuo-us ait ete hors sa tran- (piillite. J-,e l»ruit nieme de la ganle ue muis tlonnait aucuiie (listraclic^n, Nos gens n'eutraieiii liaiis la cloiuro qu(j io soir; on lai pour lairc la roade ct la visite. Toutes les avenues des c urs etaieut l»arricadees, outre environ une ilouzaijie de grands cluens (pii gar- daient les pirtes de dehors, et dont la garde valait mieux sans coniparaison (|ue celle des honunes pour ecarter les sauvages; car ils craignent autant les cliiens JVan^-ais que les honunes, parce qu'ils se jet- tei>t sur eux et les dechirent quanil ils peuvent les attraper." " On se tient certain (pie les Iroquois revienth'ont a I'autonine; c'est pourquoi on se t'ortitie dans Quebec Monsieur le Gouverneur travaille a faire tliire :> %, # % J^ o;^ ^. /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 ^^ ,\ Is •N5 :\ \ 9)' ^o ^ 4^^4. ^ V- <^ «>. / \ o^ '<> 180 GLIMPSES OF THK MONASTERY. V bcsi, my dear son, to prevent it. We are not afraid Although the intention of our enemies is to destroy us, I have a firm confidence that the design of God is to ensure the stabifity of the Colony and to render this new Church victorious over her enemies. — Adieu for this year." [The interest the Ursulines took in all that re- garded the conversion of the Indians, and the welfare of the Colony, with which their own was inseparably linked, induces us to follow briefly the course of events until, at last, the tomahawk of the Iroquois is buried, and the Lily of France is suf- fered to grow a while in peace.] The issue of these events of 1660, was the return of that intrepid missionary. Father Le Moyne to the Iroquois, as a hostage. Already he had four times penetrated into their country, at the imminent risk of his life. His chief consola- tions were among the Huron women, captives, whose faith he found un dimmed ; some even had won their mistresses and brought them to receive instruction. Strange as it may seen, Christianity was taking root in the cantons of the Iroquois, while parties of their braves were, as usual, threading the by- GLIMPSES OF TUE MONASTERY. 181 the Le he at sola- ves, had ceive path.s of the forests, particularly in tlie vicinity of Montreal and Three Rivers, to burst upon the un- guarded and the defenceless. The Cayuga chief even made a present, solicit- inc; Bishop Laval to send to his people, not only Diissionaries but nuns ! — The French knew, by this time, the value of the treaties of peace and all the fair promises of the Mohawks. There re- mained one resource — to subdu 3 them by force of arms, — but for that the colonists were unprepared. Men of influence had been sent to engage the French monarch to furnish troops for an expedi- tion, in form, against them. These came at last, in 1G65. The Marquis of Tracy, named Vicc- Koy and entrusted with almost royal prerogatives, commanded about 1200 men. The season was too far advanced, before the last companies arrived, to permit the expedition to be undertaken with all the forces ; but the Marquis sent a detachmenf to defend Three Rivers, and to establish forts that might protect the friendly In- dians in their hunting grounds, and be a safe- guard for Montreal and the other French settle- ments. The Governor DeCourcelles, impatient of delay, led, in the depth of winter, one hundred and fifty men to the country of the Iroquois^ i: 1 : m M f 182 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. Their march lay through a wilderness, to the dis- tance of more than four hundred miles, over snows four feet in depth, through all the horrors of trackless wastes, impenetrable thickets, chill ra- vines, frozen heights, — with no conveyance but their own vigorous limbs, and no guide but a band of faithless Indians. When a three weeks* march, with all their baggage, and a bare escape of starvation, had led them into the heart of the wily enemy's country, ^ they were forced to retreat almost as suddenly as if they had met with a de- feat, to save themselves from another enemy, — the return of spring, to break up the ice of the rivers which they had no means to ford. So much bravery was not totally lost ; — the xMohawks made overtures of peace ; but would they not prove as perfidious as heretofore ? A few months sufl&ced to show that this first expedition had not suffi- ciently terrified these human tigers. Again they had fallen upon a party of Frenchmen, kill- ing some and bearing ofif others as prisoners. The Marquis de Tracy, notwithstanding his advanced age, would command the expedition in person. The valiant army, more than thirteen thousand strong, equipped for war, prepared by the ^ They were near the present city of Albany, N. Y. a a GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 183 reception of the Sacraments, and wearing, for the most part the scapular, which the nuns had wrought for them ; — embarked on the 14th Sep- tember, in their long-boats, with all that pnlitary display, which inspires enthusiasm. Less hazard- ous than the winter expedition, this had yet its toils and its hardships, most trying to European soldiers. The march extended to thirty days. At the aspect of this army, whose numbers seemed majf- nified to thousands, th€ Mohawk warriors flod in precipitation, so that the victory was won, like that of Jericho, without the shedding of blood ; and the pious j lenchmen sang, as usual, the Chris- tian's triumphal Ode, — the Te Denm. Very different were the Iroquois strongholds from what was expected of a savage foe. The " Long House " nation was lodged in cabins, thirty feet high, one hundred and twenty feet in length, by thirty in width. These structures, which sheltered eight or ten families, wore provid- ed interiorly, with elevated platforms for sleeping apartments, and furnished with implements of tillage and cooking. Abundant stores of provi- sions, — maize, beans, and fruit ; kettles, and other articles of European manufacture, together with arms and ammunitions, proved that there were Hi A 184 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. still life and strength in this universal foe, who-e hand, like that of the son of Ilai^ar, had been against every man's hand, for the last thirty years. The forts of the Molnwks were triple palisad(\s, twenty feet in height, flanked with bastions, and armed with cannons, purcliased from the Dutch in New York. All this, it seemed necessary to ruin. Fires were enkindled in each of the four strongholds, after riflini:; them of whatever could bo of use to the French army. The terrible lesson proved salutary. Crippled of their strength, they were forced to keep tlie peace, and in a short time, Christianity, which was already flourishing in some of tho cantons, entered that of the Moliiwks. The famous Craracontie, — not yet ranked as a catechumen, — was there, preparing the way for the missionaries. ( i With the success of the French arms in 1GG6, commenced a period of greater prosperity for the Colony, which now seriously occupied the attention of the mother country, i ^ The Relation of 1GG7, marks with admiration that Quebec had seen ekven vessels in her port that year. a GLIMPSES OF THfi MONASTERY. 185 It was an act of benevolence, no doubt, as well as of policy, in the French Mon- arch when, in 1668, he signified to his lieutenants in N ew France, that he desired the Indians should be civilized. It would be the means of assuring their welfare, while it would consolidate his power, forming of all those nations one vast empire. There was but one objection to be made ; namely, — that the project wasim- praticable. During half a century the missionaries had converted thousands to the Faith; they could say; " Experience has proved that the Indians are as capable as the most civilized nation in Europe, of under- standing and practising all that relates to piety and the service of God. They are perfectly instructed in the Christian doctrine, the mystery of the adorable Trinity, and the two natures in Jesus Christ ; they know what the Church teaches regarding the immortality of the soul, the judgment of the world to come ; I' 186 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. ;i mortal and venial sin, the fall of man, &c ; They know the ordinary prayers of a Christian, the Commandments of G-od and the Church; they approach the Sacraments with piety and edification. Even children of the most tender age are susceptible of the impressions of faith." Thus writes the Rev. Father Fremin, in 1669, in reference to the most rebellious of all the tribes— ths, the Indians love their children to an ex- cess, and if they see them sad, lo consi- deration can induce them to leave them in that state. We have had them of dif- ferent nations,— Ilurons, Algonquins and Iroquois ; these are the prettiest and the HI K a Il loo (1LIMPSK8 OF THE MONASTERY. most docile; bat are Ihey more suscopti- l)le ol' Ixnni^ civiliz<.Hl ? Will they retain th(* polished nicimiers, and the customs in which we are briui^iiig them up ? 1 do not expect it, lor they are of the Indian race, and that is sullicient." This verdict of Rev. Mother Mary of the Incarnation has been sanctioned now by the experience of two hundred years. We all know that the Indians, as a race, have not entered into the category of what are called civilized nations. Those who live in the neighbourhood of the whites, enjoy more of the comforts of life ; but, unfor- tunately, they adopt the vices rather than the virtues of civilized man : in his vici- nity, especially, they seem destined to an inevitable decrease in population, which has already ended, in many cases, in the extinction of a people. In Christianity, alone, the Indian has been found suscep- tible of " progress," capable of " improve- ment," and even attaining a high degree of moral excellence. Many among these simple-hearted people have exclaimed GLIMPSES OP THE MONAHTEUY. 11)1 like the saintly Catherine Tehgahkwita : *' Who will teach me what is most agree- able to God that 1 may do it ?" The results of the labors of the missionaries, as well as those of the nuns within the humble limits of their station, were great, certain- ly, since by imparting to these poor people the knowledge of the true God, and fur- nishing them the means of salvation, they opened heaven to many thousands of immortal souls. Nor were these results confined to the period in which they were achieved. All over the Continent, the Indian races have been found more acces- sible to Christianity from the time of the first converted tribes. There are still in Lower Canada, seven Indian villages, pro- tected by the Government and attended by the clergy : they have schools and chapels ; ^ they are not excluded by the ^ The first priest ever ordained in Canada -and perhaps in America — of pure Indian descent is Rev. Prosper Vincent, grand son of Tsanhanwanhi, one of the four Huron chieftains who went to England and were presented to king George IV. Another family of the same village of New Lorette, 192 ULIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. i'^ ■kf, :' • r law nor by any prejudice against thorn, Ironiany calling or profession ; but to this day, where are their learned men, their men oi* business V We may seek them without iindingone in a thousand, — it we may not better say one in ten thousand.'^ Yet it is well known that Indian tribes, at a distance from the settlements of the whites, if visited by a missionary a few times during the year, readily become good Christians and are most faithful to the law of God. They learn to read and write ; they know how to sing and pray; — has furnished a student at the Laval University for the Faculty of Medicine. Four or five young girls, sisters or cousins of these two Huron educated men, have followed, with advantage, the usual course of studies at the Ursulines or at other Convents. 2 The worthy missionary of the Montagnais of Sagueuay Rev. F. Arnaud, 0. M.I. who has attended them as pastor for the last twenty-two years, attributea to tlieir being well instructed in the Christian doctrine and morals, and to their unfrequent intercourse with the whites, the admirable life they lead. Sin is almost unknown to them. <' How can we offend God after all He lias done for us ? " they say. I . : I GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 193 they ignore the vices as well as the enjoy- ments of civilized life, and in that ignor- ance find their security and their hap- piness. ^ Our readers will not expect, then, to hear that the Ursulines succeeded, after 16G8, in forming young ladies of the young Indian girls. No ! but, in one sense, they did more ;--they formed them to piety, to the virtues of our Blessed ReU- gion ; and sought not to unfit then for that state of life for which nature had formed them. There are always exceptions to general rules:— some of the pupils, as already mentioned, were susceptible of all the polish desirable in society. ^ n ^^1 IS of Mided jute8 jtrine with most after 1 The fate of the Mohegans, Pequods, Narragan- eets and others of the continent has been very dif- ferent. 2 Noua avons francise plusieurs filles sauvages, tant Huronnes qu'Algonqiiines, que nou8 avons ensuite marieea d des Fran9ai8, qui font fort bon menage. II y en a une, entre autres, qui sait lire et 6crire en perfection, tant en sa langue Huron ne^ ?•■ IS 194 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. One of the last letters that have been preserved of Mother Mary, mentions " a fine band of Indian girls, of four different nations; Iroquois, Algonquins, Abnakis, and Montagnais. " They are our consola- tion and our delight, she says, by their do- cihty, rendering our labors so light that we would not exchange them for all the kingdoms of the earth." (1670) qu'en notre Fran§aise; il n'y a personnequi la put distinguer ni ee perBuader qu'elle fut nee sauvage. Monsieur I'Intendant Talon en a ete si ravi, qu'il I'a obligee de lui ecrire quelque chose en sa langue et en la notre pour I'emporter en France, et le faire voir comme une chose extraordinaire. Lettres Hist, 1668. .1 »( . I ' '.. CHAPTER XIV. iGG^-ion. . THE INMATES OF THE MONASTERY AGAIN. The residence of the Vice-Roy during nearly two years in Quebec, could not fail to furnish incidents that would be remem- bered in the cloister. Our old books re- late some which seem to merit a place here, were it only to give a picture of life and manners. We must remember that the city itself, on the arrival of these 1200 soldiers, with five hundred workmen and some two hundred farmers with their families, contained only about seventy dwelling-houses. The principal public monuments to be visited by the strangers who had come to protect and strengthen the Colony, were the Cathedral, with the adjoining Theological Seminary of Bishop ■ :? •I i I } 196 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERT. i I W\ m ..ill Laval ; the College of the Jesuits; the Mo- nastery of the Ursulines, and the Hospital? or Hotel-Dieu. As to the castle St. Louis, within the Fort, that was the residence of the Yice-Roy and his household. This veteran of seventy years, of a lofty stature and military bearing, had come to person- ate royalty, on these distant shores, and royalty of the time of Louis XIV. Whenever he appeared in ^>ublic, he was attended by four pages, and followed by six footmen. Twenty-four guards pre- ceded, and officers of various grades sur- rr anded him;— all apparelled in the bright colors of the military, or court-dresses. Let us note one occasion which called out, not only the military, but the clergy and all the citizens. The relics of the holy martyrs, St. Fe- licity and St. Flavianus, had been sent to the young Church of Canada by the Holy Father; and the Bishop had ordered a public procession in their honor. The shrines enclosing the precious relics, plac- ed on stands elegantly decorated with i.i GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTEBT. 197 drapery, lights, and flowers, were borne by four venerable priests. A sheltering canopy of scarlet and gold, was upheld by the Vice-Roy ; the governor, DeCour- celles; the Intendant, Talon; and the Agent of the West India Company,Barrois. The Bishop, in pontifical robes, follow- ed, with above forty clergymen, in surplice, chasuble and dalmatic. Next came the ofiicers of the Yice-Roy's house- hold ; the citizens according to their rank; the long tile of soldiers, in full uniform ; and finally the mass of the people and the Indians. The procession paused at the church of the Ursulines, which doubt- less could not contain all this multitude. The three other churches of the city, were stations, and a fifth had been prepared within the Fort. Another day, the Cathedral was conse- crated, in the midst of a similar concourse, with all the imposing ceremonies of the Roman ritual ; this was in July, 1666. In the same month, at the College of the Jesuits, there was an examination; degrees I ' I i i I!: S . :« ■ 1' 198 GLIMPSES OF THE MONABTERT. were conferred in Philosophy and Physics, in presence of Ihe noble personages above mentioned. Ml ■ ' < r < ' ," J But the Marquis de Tracy was not a mere passing visitor at the Ursulines; he was a sincere friend and a benefactor. For his powerful protection in a matter that regarded the temporal interests of the Community, the Ursulines owe him a lasting debt^of gratitude. In debating these questions, and on many other occasions, when the pious Yice-Roy called upon the Ursulines, he had an opportunity of appreciating those qualities that gave Mother Mary of the Incarnation such an ascendency over all who approached her. On her part, she describes the Marquis as not less remark- able for his piety and merit, than for his rank. ^ His example, she says, was an 1 The Journal des Jesuites among its amiable souvenirs, tells us, in 16GG, on the Feast of St. Jo- seph : *' The Marquis de Tracy made a general con- fession of all his life, and received the Holy Com- munion at the Ursulines. He presented three fine ti;. [M GLIMPSES OF TH£ MOiNAciTERT. 199 inestimable advantage to society, and his zeal for the welfare of the Colony was boundless. . ii-zrij *.n»iif;,. " jtj The Ursulines owe to the generosity of the Vice-Eoy the erection of a chapel dedicated to Ste. Anne ^ adjoining their church, which cost him above 2,500 livres. At his request also, their Church was consecrated by the Bishop with the same " magnificence " as the Cathedral. 3 loaves of Blessed Bread, and twenty crowns for the Monastery." 2 It may interest some of our readers to know that the devotion to good St. Anne, is ancient in the country. We read in the Relations 1667 : '*T1 sem- ble que Dieu a voulu choisir de nos jours I'Eglise de Ste. Anne du Petit-Cap, pour faire un refuge assure aux Chretiens de ce nouveau monde des mer- veilles s'y sont opere^c depuis six ans." 3 Mother Mary mentions the departure of the Marquis de Tracy in terms that mark both her gratitude and her esteem : *' Nous allona perdre Monsieur de Tracy. Le Roi qui le rappelle en France a envoyeun grand vaisseau de guerre pour I'emmener avec honneur. Cette nou- velle Eglise, et tout le pays y fera une perte qui ne iji \ I If; 200 GLIMPSES OF THE M0NA6TEBT. if Passing now to the interior of the Mon- astery, let us view once more the inmates, and examine their labors. Four young ladies, from 1667 to '70, had passed from the classes to the novi- tiate, exchanging their own for a religious name. These were Miss Agnes Duqiiet, in re- ligion Mother Agnes of the Nativity; Marie Madeleine Pinguet of the Assump- tion ; Marie Margaret de Lauzon of St. Charj^^s, and Charlotte Godefroy of the se peut dire, car il a fait ici des expeditions qu'oa n'aurait jamais ose entreprendre ni esperer. Dieu a voulu donner cela a la grande piete de son Serviteur, qui a gagne tout le inonde par ses bonnes oeuvres et par ses grands exeniples de vertu et de Religion qu'il a donnes a tout le pays. Nous perdons beaucoup pour notre particulier. II nous fait faire une Cha- pelle qui lui coutera plus de deux mille cinq cents livres. C'est le nieilleur ami que nous ayons eu depuis que nous sommes en ce pays. Nous sou* haiterions pour le bien de I'Eglise et de tout le Ca- nada, que Sa Majeste le voulul renvoyer. Nona prierons pour cela, joignez vos prieres aux notres. " Lettres Historiques, m GLTMPrfES OP THE MONASTERY. 201 ;a. Blessed Sacrament. It appears that the air of Canada and the regime of the Mon- astery were specially favorable to lon- gevity in those times : — we have here, again, four young novices, from the age of fifteen to nineteen, destined, like the pre- ceding that we have noticed, to celebrate some their 50th and some their OOth an- niversary of profession. Another novice, admitted to her pro- fession in 1669, was Mother LeBer of the Annunciation. Miss LeBer was born at Pitre in Normandy. Her family having sought the wilds of Canada, through motives of piety, like many others. Miss LeBer was retained in the world two years more, against her will, and only lound means, at the age of twenty-six, to break the ties that bound her. She might, with some reason, complain of the long delay ; but it excites a smile to see that young girl, Miss Pinguet, tired, at fifteen, of " hope deferred," putting on shoes with heels as high as could be worn, that her bize may no longer be objected to by :i 4 '1: i I \i ■f ■ 202 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. I' the nuns, who seem to think her yet a child ! kSr. de Lauzon ot* St. Charles has another way (although she little suspects it) of proving the maturity of her virtue, if not of her years, — preferring the hum- blest occupations of the Monastery,serviiig the little Indian girls, abasing herself before all ; and, lar from accepting the services of a lay Sister, as had been sti- pulated by her parents, she often found means to aid that Sister in the manual labor of her office. "While these ffood Sisters were bcG^in- ing their career, an estimable h\j Sister was closing hers. It was Sr. St. Laurent, w^hose merit we shall sufficiently make known by citing one of her last words . " I have thanked God, said she, every day of my life for having called me to the humble state of a lay Sister in an Ursuline Convent. I would not exchange it lor that of a queen." The novices, above mentioned, confided to Mother Mary of the Incarnation during the years 1667 and '9 raised the number li GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 203 of the Community to twenty-two mem- bers, and others, earnestly demanded, were expected from France. The labors of the Institute, at this pe- riod, necessarily increased with the in- crease of the population in the country. ^ We have seen that the limits of the Monastery had been extended by the building of a church where the public were admitted, with an interior chapel for the nuns and for their pupils, leaving the apartments which had hitherto served ii an hng ^ De grands accroissenients sont faits en ce pays depuis qu'il a plu au Roi d'y envoyer des troupes et par I'etablissement de plus de , ois cents families en assez peu de temps, les manages etant si frequents que depuis trois ans on en a fait quatre-vingt-treize dans la seule paroisse de Quebec. Plus de 400 eol- dats du Regiment de Garignan ee sont fait habitants avec de tres-avantageuses conditions. La crainte de nos ennemis n'empeche plus noa laboureurs de faire reculer nos forets et de charger leurs terres de loutes sortes de grains Nos chas- feeurs vont bien loin en toute assurance, courir I'ori- gnal, avec un profit signale. Relations, i ': ii It !1 204 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. c; ii' i 'i „ I ,, 1 I. for prayer and the Holy Sacriiice, free to be employed as class-rooms or for other purposes. The state of the seminary for the Indinn girls, has been noticed in the preceding Chapter. As to the French pupils, al- though our catalogues were destroyed with other useful documents in the second burning of the Convent, we can, in a measure, re-establish them by the statistics of another institution in the city. It is recorded that, in 1668, the College of the Jesuits in Quebec was attended by one hundred and twenty students, sixty of them being boarders. ^ That same year Bishop Laval opened the classes of his Seminary for boys. It seems improbable that, in these early times of the Colony especially, there should be more boys than girls sent to school. 1 Le College des Jesultea se maintenait depuis 30 ana ; lorsqu'on y admit lea jeunea hurona (1668), on 7 instruiaait 60 penaionnaires et autant d'externeF« Hist, du Can, Ferland, Ml GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 205 On the other hand, Mother Mary of tho Incarnation mentions, in 1668, that their pupils aui^ment from day to day; that seven nuns are constantly occupied teach- ing in the French classes, while for other services there are two lay sisters. ^ •*Some pupils remained six or eight years others in the short space of twelve months must be taught reading and writing, arith- metic, the Christian doctrine and morals ; their prayers ; in short, all that is most essential in the education of females." Is 30 on IneF* 1 Any one who examines attentively the statements of Mother Mary of the Incarnation with regard to the care of the colonivSts to send their children to the Convent &c., the number of nuns employed at class &c., will perceive that in writing to France, at least in the letters preserved, she makes mention only of the pupils supported by the Convent. Others, who paid for their board, were not objects of charity and needed no particular mention. This was not the case with those whom, as she says, " she was forced to send away for want of means to keep them.'* Bishop Laval makes mention in his turn of the large families in the country, where there were eight, ten, twelve, and sometimes, fifteen or sixteen children. ' I fi Ii' 206 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. Mother Mary may well add : — " For this end a teacher must be unremitting in her efforts to improve every moment, in order to lay a good foundation of instruction ! " Even the poorest faniilies sent their daugh- ters two or three months, to be prepared for their first communion. The extern pupils were numerous, but as they came to the Convent merely for the hours of class, the nuns had not the same oppor- tunity of forming their character as they had with the boarders. ^ Two years later we find another remark that is not less significant. She says : " The French Col- ony augments sensibly ; ^ the great forests I i 1 Le8 externes nous donnent beaucoup de travail, niais nous ne pouvons veiller sur ellescomine si elles ^taient ea cloture. Elles sont doclles, et ont I'esprit bon, ellea sont fermes dans le bien quand elles le con- oaissent. Lettres de la Mere M. de V Incarnation . '^ A glance at the statistics of the country from 1665 to 1671, shows a rapid increase of population in. comparison to the preceding years. Before the first mentioned date, there were not 2,600 Europeans in Canada : in the following year (1666) there were 3,418, of which 684 belonged to ' 11 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 207 irom )aiii not rear bdto formerly inhabited only by wild beasts, begin to be peopled by Christians. " Our Community is composed of twen- ty-two nuns ; our classes are filled with pupils, French and Indian." Montreal and its environs, 460 to Three Rivers, 2,374 to Quebec and the environs. Two years later (1668), the population was 5,870. Rev. J. B. Ferland remarks the rapid natural in- crease of the population in the country. In the course of the year 1671, there were nearly seven hun- dred children to baptize. The population of Canada, in 1684, amounted to 17,000. For other marks of growing prosperity in 1670, see the following : — Pour ce qui est des affaires temporelles, le Roi fait ici de grandes depenses ; il a encore envoye cette an- nee cent cinquante filles et un grand nombre de sol- dats et d'officiers, avec des chevaux, des moutons et dea chevres pour peupler. Monsieur Talon fait ex- actement garder les ordres du Roi. II a comniande qu'on fasse des chanvres, des toiles et des serges; cela a commence, et grossira peu di peu. II fait f'lire une lialle a Quebec, une brasserie et une tannerie dL cause du nombre prodigieux de betes qu'il y a en ce s of Three Rivers. Confided to the nuns at the age of four, she grew up I. I ll lit ! 210 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY, !■.:■] pious,ainiable, and intelligent, and seemed destined to complete the happiness of her excellent parents in the family circle ; — but God had not so ordained. At the age of fourteen, she, like her companion. Miss de Lauzon, saw death approaching, and bade him welcome. To the privilege of being waited upon by the nuns, in their Infirmary, she begged them to add that of being buried in the religious dress. Miss des Moulins also, reposes in the ce- metery with the Ursulines deceased. Other pupils of Mother Mary's time, consecrated their lives to the service of God in the Hotel-Dieu of Quebec ;— for in- stance, the two Misses Bourdon, Misses Marie Marguerite and Marie Madeleine Gloria : others, in the Hotel-Dieu at Mon- treal ; as Miss LeDuc, who had greativ edified her class-mates (1669) at the Lr- sulines, before returning to edify her na- tive place by embracing the laborious life of a Hospital nun; Miss Marie Racine had preceded Miss Le Due in the religious state. Miss Marie Morin, the first Cana- GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 2U dian novice received at the Hotel-Dieu of Montreal, had been also a model of piety and amiable deportment while at the Ur- sulines, desiring above all things to be a martyr for the Faith. Before attaining her fourteenth year, she had essayed the state of life in which she persevered to the age of eighty-two ! She left her Com- munity a lasting memorial of her piety and her talents, by w^riting their Annals, — a work in which she was engaged till the age of seventy-five. Let us mention also the Misses Moyen ; one of whom, after being a captive of the Iroquois, married Major Lambert Closse, the hero of Montreal; her sister became the wife of Capt. du Gue ot the regiment of Carignan ; — Miss du Clos, daughter of the intrepid Madame du Clos, whose name is another celebrity of Montreal ^ was accompanied to the Ursulines by two ! ; n 1 For many otlier names of the olden times, — the '* Heroic times " of Canada as they have been called, — see Uistoire des Ursulines, Tame 1 tr. vi i r 212 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. of her friends Miss Sailly and Miss Le Due. ^ Brief as are these notes, they give us an insight into the sealed book of the past, and enable us to form some estimate of the Institute as it was 200 years ago. As to the qualifications of the teachers of those days, we know that our beloved Mo- ther Mary of the Incarnation was ready to impart to the other Sisters all that could be communicated; — even in the last months of her life she had a class of young nuns around her, learning the Indian languages. She wrote several valuable treatises, for the use of the Institute, in French, besides a Sacred History in Algonquin ; a Diction* ^ Several Officers of the famed Regiment of Cari* gnan-Salieres, married in the country, and found '' des mariages assoriis " in the pupils of the Ursu* lines : for instance M. de Sorel married Catherine LeGardeur de Repentigny, of Quebec (1668) ; M. Ber- thier, — Marie LeGardeur (16Y2); M. Chambly — Louise de Launay; M. Vercheres — Marie Perrot (1669); M. Gauthier de Varennes— Marie Boucher etc, etc, GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 213 ary and a Catechism Iroquois ; a Diction- ary Algonquin ; a catechism in Huron ; another catechism and a Prayer-book in Algonquin. She excelled in all kinds of needle-work and embroidery, as well as in painting and gilding. While she sanc- tified these talents by working for the Altar, and contributing to the decoration of chapels and churches all over the coun- try, her young Sisters as well as the pu- pils, must have loved to take lessons and to aid her in her toils. Even in sculp- ture and architecture this indefatigable Mother had taken lessons, — unless we suppose her to have been self-instructed. It was she who taught the workmen, employed to decorate the interior of the Church with architectural ornaments, guiding them for the proportions of the columns and entablature as well as in the minute details of the art. t "4 M M I ; We have mentioned that other nuns from France had been invited to join the little Community. 5 ' i 214 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 11 )11 News reached the Monastery on the 15th September that a vessel detained at the lie aux Couclres^ by contrary winds, hp'^, Ursulines on board— UrsuUnes from " Home ! " Several of the nuns knew what it was to be rocked for three months in one of those wooden prisons, called a mercantile vessel — not to speak of the fare and the accommodations ! As the wind continued contrary they would, at least, send them refreshments — perhaps even, a smaller vessel would find its way against the wind. A little sloop was accordingly sent, with a cordial invitation to accept the protection of the good Jesuit Brother Juchereau,the pilot of the bark; and M. de Dombourg ^ who had generously placed himself at the head of the expedition. Sailors were hired to man the " vessel " and the Convent steward added to the equipment. They werestrongand resolute, '* ^ens de occur " ; but all their efforts to ^ Thia M. de Dombourg was son of M. Bourdon, and brother of Mothers St. Joseph and St. Agnen. GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 215 make a prompt voyage only availed them to reach Quebec on the 19th. We need not ask if the time seemed long. It gave the voyagers time to remark the beauty of the environs, — already beginning to put on the gay colors of an autumnal land- scape, the lovely Islands among w^hich they were detained ; V lle-aux-Coudres, II e* auX'Oies, — inhabited even then ; the fertile Island of Orleans with its pleasant farm- houses: all along the shores of the St. Lawrence they had seen villages and hamlets/ where thirty years before dark forests frowned. Let us meet now upon the wharf, where thirty-two years ago, our first Ursulines landed, that missionary band, so long and U I i ft ■m m t Ihe Lte, to Ion, 1 "II fait beau voir ^ present (1667) les rivagea de notre fleuve St. Laurent; de nouvelles colonies vont s'etendant sur plus de 80 lieuesle long des borda de cette grande Riviere; ou I'on voit naitre d'espace en espace de nouvelles Bourgades qui facilitent la navigation, la rendant plus agreable par la vue de quantite de maisons, et plus commode par de fre- quent lieux de repos. " Relation, , , Mr j, , 15!. ■ill . 1 i i m o -16 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. ill! m l: anxiously expected. Of these four French ladies, wearing the black robe of the Ur- suline, two are from the monastery of Bourges ; — Mother Marie Drouet, of Jesus, nineteen years professed ; and Marie Gri- bault du lireuil, of St. Joseph, four years professed. Two others are from the " great Convent " of Paris ; it is Mother Marie Le Maire, of the Angels, once a rich Parisian Lady ; the other is a lay sister, Mary Dieu of the Resurrection. Great was the rejoicing in the cloistered family on receiving this desired accession to their number, — not mere young girls, to be formed to the religious life ; but persons of mature yea^s, trained in the most fervent Communities, and ready now for any labor. Such were the persons de- manded by Bishop Laval, by Mother Mary of the Incarnation and Mother St. Athan- asius. The latter, about 50 years old was still hale and vigorous ; the former was passed " three score and ten." Mothers St. Croix and St. Clair, who had aided in governing the house for the GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 217 last thirty years, in the office of Assistant, wore not younger. The rest of the Com- munity, as we have seen, were mostly young. Without anticipating upon the future career of usefuhiess of these three Mothers, we shall merely say that all passed long years in the Superiority, and not only contributed to the prosperity of the Mo- nastery they had come to aid, but founded and governed long that of Three Rivers. Our missionary band, while we have discussed their merits, have been intro- duced to their new Sisters. We shall not at- tempt to describe the scene. ^ The two Pa- risians find one from their own Monastery at the head of the Community, — Rev. Mother St. Athanasius, in place of the recent Superioress, Mother Mary of the Incarnation, who is now charged with the Novitiate. The other members are all known to our readers, or soon will be. ^ ^ Elles furent accueillies dans notre Communautfe avec de8 sentiments de joie qui se peuvent biea sent'r, mais non s'exprimer. Vieux Becit. ^ See List, at the end of present Chapter. :!! 4 \\ '^i M \l te ( ■; m m Mil ^M i k J 218 GLIMISKS OP THE MONABTERY. ill Tho pupils, as is usual on such occasions, took an active part in tho welcomhig. A few days later they comply with a general custom, a sort of by-law lor the two Communities on similar occasions, end visit the good Hospital nuns of the Hotel-Dieu. They do not find a numerous, but a fervent, happy Community conti- nuing the labors, and emulating the bright examples of their first foundresses. Our voyagers had also to acquit them- selves of a pious vow. This took them, still accompanied by the amiable Ma- dame de la Peltrie, to the statue of the Blessed Virgin, honored in the Chapel of Notre Dame de Foye. They would not, of course, fail to visit this nauch-talkea-of Huron village, where Father Chaumonot attends with assiduous care, his beloved exiles ^ now reduced to 150 souls. The It- m 1 After the Huroos were attacked on Isle of Or- leans, by the Mohawks in 1656, a part of them voluntarily emigrated to the country of their enemy, and became incorporated with them : such was the custom of these nations. The remainder were trana- ;, I GLIMPSES OF TnE MONASTERY. 219 Or- Ihem the :ana- fl£^ed Dogique, passed his eightieth year, was there, ready to hurani^ue the " Holy YiriT^iiis" in his most picturesque style, and all these good Christians invoked upon them a thousand hlessinj^s. Had our voyagers postponed this visit a few^ weeks, they might have witnessed an edifying spectacle. At the commencement of Advent, Mo- ther Mary of the Incarnation sent the worthy Dogique a wax-figure of the In- fant Jesus. ^ These simple-hearted people ported to Quebec, and lodged in a Fort (on the margin of Mountain Hill) built for them till peace was restored in 16G6; when they removed about five miles from the citv, and founded the mission of Notre Dame de Foye. Some twenty five years later they removed to Lorette, 12 miles north of Quebec. ^ This devotion of the Christian Hurons is so edifymg that we transcribe an extract from the ac- count in the Relation. '' La Keverende Mere Marie de I'Incarnation fit au comiiu'ucement de I'Avent, un present au premier Dogique de la petite Eglise Huron ne, Louis Taonde- choren, d'une belle Image de cire en relief du saint Enfant Jesus, dana sou berceau. Ce bon Sauvage 4^ m Y':>' "fl •M .ill 220 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. received it as a present from heaven. Each poor cabin became, in turn, a en tfernoigna plus de reconnaissance, que si on lui eut donne tons les tresors du monde. Toute la Bour- gade prit part a sa joie, et regardacette sainte Image, quoique donnee a un particulier, conime un bien commun et coninie un present envoye du Ciel. lis prirent la pensee d'offrir les honneurs qu'ils ren- draient a cette sainte image, en reparation de la niauvaise reception que les Juifs firent a 1' Enfant Jesus, quand il vint au monde. Le Pere qui les vit dans ces bons sentiments, les assura que cette devo- tion attirerait sur eux mille benedictions du Ciel. II leur donna une semaine entiere pour se preparer d recevoir I'Image dans leurs Cabanes : cette semaine Be passa dans un redoublement de ferveur . . .Le jour destine a commencer cette devotion etant venu, apres le chant du Veni Creator, on tira au sort. . . . Le premier billet etait marque du nom d'une bonne veuve, qui a cette nouvelle pensa mourir de joie En un moment tout fut piet, sa cabane bien nette, un petit Autel fort ^n'opre, avec son dais, orne de tout ce qu'elle avait pu trouver de beau pour rece- voir un tel bote. Car elle etait bien persuaiiee que ce choix etait un coup du Ciel, et une marque d'une Providence particuliere de Notre Seigneur sur elle et 8ur toute sa fannlle. La sainte Image y ayant ete portee coranie en Procession et posee sur PAutel, le Pere leur fit faire une priere pour saluer leur hote^ liJii^ GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTEET. 221 i Vi m a chapel, while from week to week their devotions were prolonged and their acts et lui offrir tout ce qu'ils avaient, leurs biene, leura peraonnes et leur vie, et k la fin ils se rairent tou8 d ch jterdes Noels en leur langue en I'iionneur du saint Enfant Jesus, ce qu'ils continuerent tous lea jours euivants ^ leurs petits salute du soir." Cette image du Saint Enfant Jesus, changeant chaque semaine de cabane, en la maniere que j'ai dit, jusques ^ la f^te de la Purification, chacun par une sainte jalousie prenait plaisir ^ lui preparer un reposoir toujours plus magnifique, trouvait de nou* velles inventions pour le garantir de la fumee. Cette devotion fit des biens incroyables partout; la nio- destie et la retenu de ceux de la cabane qui jouiseait de ce bonheur, etait si grande, que pendant ce te»^.)p8- 1^, on s'y comportait ^ peu pres comme dans une 6glise; les saluts s'y faisaient reglement tous les eoirs, meme en I'absence du Pere; les petits aussi bien que les grands y afesistaient sans y manquer, et apres les prieres communes, qu'ils recitaient tous ^ haute voix d I'heure ordinaire, ils chantaient alter- nativement, les hommes et les petits gardens d'un cote, et les fenimes et les filles de I'autre, des can- tiques et des Hymnes en leur langue, sur le Mystere de la naussance du Fils de Dieu ; leur maniere Je clian^"^ '^tait si agreable et ai devote, que les Fran- ^ais qm demeurent au;( environs, et quelques uns f Si 1 tfi '4 1) ' ¥ 1\ fi: 1 if^i 1- ^ mJ 222 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. mil ¥\ of virtue, till the Feast of the Purification dosed the Christmas-tide. --^ - - In the hamlet of Sillery, our travellers heard the good Algonquins and Monta- gnais in their devout chapel, entone, as they had done thirty-two years before, sweet hymns that moved strangely the hearts of these French ladies. Yet what ravages sickness i has made in this once flourishing mission ! The poor Indians are but a handful, compared to former meme dans des habitationfl assez 61oignees, les ecou* taientavec admiration et en etaient touches, Le8 plus eclaires d'entr' eux remarquerent un si grand changement dans les families, qui avaient re§u chez elles I'Image du Saint Enfant J6su8, que quand ils e'apercevaient de quelque desorde dans une famille, ils souhaitaient aussitot et proouraient selon leur pouvoir, qu'on y portat la sainte Image: C'est oe que fit leur Capitaine, 3 La petite verole a depnis un an fur'eusement desole cette petite colonic. — Les Algonquins et les Montagnais en sont quasi tons morts. Rei. 1670. From this period Sillery became an Abenaki mis- sion, until a new site was found for thom in 1G83, at the falls of the Chaudiere, south of Quebec, GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 22a ui mis- 3, at times, when Madame de la Peltrie, had seen happy groups of romping children, follow her, their Ningay^ more fondly than their own mothers. But the kind-hearted, generous lady, who had done much for Sillery, only to feel her heart swell with the wish of doing more, visits to-day her poor IndianSjher dear ancient seminarists, for the last time. Did her good angel whisper to her that she would return no more? or did the good squaws with tearful eyes, follow wistfully the receding figure of their pious benefactress as she disap- peared withthe " Holy Virgins," for the last time from their hamlet ? But lot us not delay our narrative to conjecture, — Madame de la Peltrie con^ ducts the good nuns back to the Convent : they have come to labor, and we shall find them engaged, at once, in teaching the French classes, while they take les* sons from Mother Mary of the Incar^ nation in the Indian languages. The followih^" list will show us their compau-* ions, if. < ! I 'I \ i\ m :!;' Ml' M' ,'$ \i 224 QLIMPSES OF THE M0NA6TERT, I HI Atler nfiming Madame de la Peltries we place J A WST OF THE CHOIR JJUNS, IN 1671. , , ' ' [PBOFESSED IN FRANUE.] Ven. Mother Mary Guyart of the Incarnation. 1639 Bev. Mother Cecile Richer of St. Crojx 1639 •r- ' Anne Le Bugle of St. Clare. ... 1640 — Margaret de Flecelles of St. Atha- nasius 1640 '— AnneLeBoueof Our Lady 1644 ' — Mary de Villiers of St. Andrew.. 1657 Mary du Breuil of St. Joseph 1671 Mary Drouet of Jesus 1671 Mary J^e Maire of the Angels .... 1671 \^Pr of eased in the Monaster y.^ PBOFESSION* Charlotte Barre of St. Ignatius.. 1648 Philippa de Boulogne of St. Do- minic 1650 Mary Genevieve Bourdon of St, Joseph 1654 Anne Bourdon of St. Agnes 1660 Mary Boutet of St. Augustin . . - 1661 Jane I^oui.=e Godefroy of St. John tlje Evangelist 1668 Mary Angelica Poisson of St. Francis Xavier 1668 Agnes DM^'uet of the Nativity 1669 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 225 PROFESSIOy. Rev. Mother Mary MagJelen Pinguet of the Assumption 1 669 — — Mary-Charlotte Godefroy of the B. Sacrament 1669 — — Mary LeBer of the Annunciation. 1670 — — Mary Magdalen de Laiizon of St. Charles 1672 Lay Sittera, Sr. Catherine Lezeau of St. Urania 1648 — Frances Ouen of St. Magdalen 1655 — Antoinette Makinon of St. Martha 1659 — Mary Dotiier of the Passion 1660 — Mary Dieu of the Resurrection [from Paris] 1671 I in ;50 [54 [60 61 68 168 19 hV:; €Hx\PTER XV. ion— lO'Ts, THE CLOSE OF WELL-SPEiNT YEARS. . in The rejoicings with which the nuns newly arrived from France, had been re- ceived, had hardly subsided to the calm of daily life, when a cloud arose to over- shadow the Monastery with sorrow. The *' favors" solicited had been granted: — Heaven now demanded a sacrifice, as un- looked for, as it was afflictive. Death had marked a victim : it was the good Foun- dress, who had lived with her beloved Ursulines, sharing their poverty and their labors, practising, in their midst, those sweet virtues of humility, gentleness and mortification, which endeared her to them even more than her generous donations in thei' favor. GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 227 ,11 It was early in November when Ma- dame de la Peltrie was struck with her last illness. Seven days were a short space for the nuns to prepare to lose her; but to the pious lady herself, the summons brought no terror. She had no sooner been warned that her malady, a violent attack of pleurisy, would termi- nate her life, than she occupied herself in regulating her temporal affairs, in order to have done with the things of this world. The Royal Intendant, Talon, was present, with the other functionaries necessary, at the signing of her will. She took her leave of him, expressing her thanks for his visit with as much ease and presence of mind, as if the occasion had been an or- dinary occurrence. The last Sacraments, administered by the Grand Vicar, M. de Bernieres, were to her a source of abun- dant strength and consolation. Seeing the nuns in sorrow, surrounding her with affectionate solicitude, and seeking by a thousand delicate attentions to procure her some alleviation in her sufferings, she m I m ^ y. V, 'iH I *t' I Ji • 228 GLIMPSES OV THE MONASTERY. m^ appeared sensibly afiected ; and declared, like the dying Mother St, Joseph, that G^od had given her the promised hundred- fold in this life, for all that she had aban- doned for His love. As life ebbed slowly away, the hours seemed long to her, in her ardent desires to be forever united to her God, and often she repeated the words of the sacred Psalmist : *' La3tatus sum in his quse dicta sunt mihi : in domum Domini ibimus : — I rejoice in the words that have been said unto me, I shall go into the House of the Lord." These words were accomplished in her on the evening of the 19th November, 1671, leaving her spiritual daughters sad- dened by her loss, yet consoled by a close of life, so tranquil, so full of sweetness. • Madame de la Peltrie was sixty-eight years of age; but the vivacity of the French character, and the healthful influence of such occupations as hers had been, — ex- ercises of piety and good works, — are a ifS-. mtg '"^ GLI3IPSES OF THE MONAiSTERY. 229 i [ht of a great preservative against the ravages of time. No one had ever thought she was growing old. The good nuns now missed their companion and friend, whose unob- trusive virtues had been an unfailing source of edification ; while to the poor, and to the missions, she had been a con- stant and generous benefactress. Her funeral obsequies were attended by the Grovernor and all the distinguished persons of the city, as well as of the neigh- boring hamlets. Her loss was universally deplored ; nor were the poor Indians the last in their demonstrations of sorrow. Our venerable Mother Mary of the In- carnation had assisted her companion at the hour of her departure from this world ; she seemed to have outlived her only to console her sisters, and to animate them by her own example of perfect resigna- tion to the will of Heaven. Alas ! another and a greater sacrifice would soon be de- manded of them. Early in January a serious malady threatened the precious life of that beloved Mother, for whom is % I, I' 1 iw 230 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTEUY. '(i each of the nuns would have gladly given her own. Overwhelmed with grief, they be- sought Heaven to spare them the dread- ed sacritice, and the venerable patient, unable to refuse them this consolation joined in their petitions so far as to say : " My God, if I may yet be of service to this little community, I do not refuse the labor nor the fatigue : thy will be done." — "No, my good Mother, that is not enough, urged the kind Father Lalemant, you must join our petitions, and ask to re- cover." Ever obedient, she fulfilled the injunction. Thus was obtained a few weeks' respite;— but it was only a delay. The bilious affection from which she had suffered severely for eight years past, with a few intervals of comparative health, had impaired her naturally strong con- stitution, and the hour was at hand when it must fail altogether. ' During Holy Week, in the month of April, the venerable Mother was obliged once more to suffer herself to be conduct- GLVMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. 231 of LCt- ed to the Intirmary. Her sufFerin<^s, which were intense, only served to unite her soul more closely to God. — " Christo confixa sum crvcir " I am crucified with Jesus on the Cross." — These words were not a complaint, but the expression of the joy of her heart. On the 2nth of April she received the Holy Yiaticum and Ex- treme Unction, entering from that moment into so intimate a communication with God that she seemed no longer of earth. "While her dear Sisters, overcome with ten- der sorrow, surrounded the dying saint, her tranquil aspect inspired them with higher thoughts ; that weary pillow seem- ed the porch of heaven. Visitors, allowed to enter to behold a spectacle so impres- sive, spoke low, and stayed the farewell they had prepared to utter. Mother St. Athanasius, whose grief, in- tensified by that of each of her Sisters, ren- dered her the more thoughtful of all who, with her, would soon mourn their dearest friend, reminded her of her son, and asked a message for him. Mother Mary of the 1{ «! i i ^ iil ^;1 1 1- m m 232 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. I) '. Incarnation, recalled a moment to earth by maternal love, answered with emotion : " Tell him that I bear him away with me in my heart : in heaven I will ask for his perfect sanctification." Already, several times, the boarders, French and Indian, had knelt around her to receive her blessing. On the morning of the day of her death, having asked to see once more her dear seminarists, she spoke to them admirably in their own language, on the beauty of the Christian doctrine, and the happiness of serving Grod, and gave them, with effusion, her last blessing. From noon to six o'clock in the even- ing, she remained absorbed in God' speechless, yet conscious, aw^aiting in peace the moment of her departure. The nuns kneeling beside their dying Mother and friend, felt the tranquillizing influence of those marks of predestination, which transformed the chamber of death to a sanctuary. HI GLIMPSES OV THE MONASTERY. 233 H The 30th of April was drawing to a elose, when the venerable Mother hearing the summons : " Come, faithful soul ! enter into the joy of thy God," — opens her dying eyes upon her beloved Sisters with a look full of love, as if to bless them and say — " Adieu." — One feeble sigh was heard, — life was over ; — the spirit, disen- thralled, had sped on wings of love to the bosom of its God. That moment, so overwhelming to sur- viving friends, when suspense has yielded to certainty, and we become conscious that, while waiting for the last sigh, we were still nourishing a secret hope that life would be prolonged,was not one of unmin- gled grief A ray of immortality seemed to illuminate the features of the departed, and celestial consolations inundated the hearts of those who wept an irreparable loss. The venerable Mother had expired^ aged seventy-two years, 2 thirty-three of which had been spent in Canada. The inteliis'ence of her decease was re- { jt? I I I i ^P' II 1 She was born Oct. 28th 1599. ii! MB « ! 234 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. %:l ceired xii the city and throughout the Colony with sentiments that corresponded to the universal esteem in which she was held, and the gratitude which almost every family owed her. «* . On the day of her burial, that veteran of the sanctuary, Father Lalemant, now seventy-nine years of age, made the pane- gyric of the deceased, applying to her the actributes of the valiant woman, as de- picted in Scripture. The church was thronged with a dense concourse. In the midst of the mourners, as all the au- dience micrht be called, were the Grov- ernor De Courcelles and the Eoyal In- tendant. It was at their request that the coffin was not lowered into the grave before an artist had been employed to transfer to canvas, if possible, some trace of that celestial beauty which struck the beholders with veneration. Our readers will not expect to find here any thing resembling a biographical no- tice of Yen. Mother Marie de riucarna- tion. The bare enumeration of her re- GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTEUT. 235 lio- I re- markable qualities, the heroic virtues, the marvels of grace that constituted her in- terior life, and which have made her, ac- cording to Bossuet, the Teresa of the New World, would lead us far, without being satisfactory. Our purpose in this little work has been, to trace her principal labors in the ac- complishment of that special embassy which concerned the spiritual, as well as the temporal, well-being of so many thou- sands of souls in Canada, and to leave our readers to draw their own conclu- sions. It would be easy to point o^H her wonderful and versatile talents ; the thoroughness of her character ; her uner- ring and enlightened judgment ; the ex- traordinary powers of b/n* well-balanced mind. At the same time we might revert to her spirit of self-sacritice, of utter re- liance upon Providence, which was only equalled by her vast charity, and her insatiable zeal for the salvation of souls. The wonderful extension of the Faith during the last years of her life, consoled (i M ^I \ *^ ,. .^„. 1 n n ^' ) 236 GLIMPSES OP THE MONASTERY. her in proportion to tho interior martyr- dom she had suffered while she saw the efforts of the missionaries baffled, and the salvation of the poor pagans retarded. Christianity was now triumphant throughout the land ; and, if she, in her humility, considered herself and her Community as a mera grain of sand in the foundations of the Church of Canada, — the object of her solicitude, and of her burning zeal, — by others her labors and her success, were appreciated differently. The illustiious Bishop Laval has written her eulogium, from which we cite one passage ; — " Mother Mary of the Incarna- tion, having been chosen by God to es* tablish the Order of yt. Ursula inCana da, was endowed with the plenitude of the spirit of that fioiy Institute. She was a perfect Superioress, an excellent Mis- tress of Novices, and was well qualified for all the offices in a relis^ious Commu- nity. Her life, which interiorly w^as all divine, was so well regulated exteriorly that she was a livinii: rule for her Sisters. GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 237 Ihe as .is- ied LU- lall •ly Her zeal for the salvation of souls, and especially for that of the poor Indiana, was so ardent that she seemed to em- brace them all within her heart. We have no doubt that to her prayers are due, in a great measure, the blessings which the Church of Canada now enjoys.'' Charlevoix, who wrote her life about fifty years after her decease says, that, *' History presents us few women to bo compared to her*" Of her writings he declares : — " They prove her lo have been one of the most intelligent women of that century. Every thing is solid in her writings: the thoughts are just; her as- sertions never hazarded ; her manner is original, and her style is marked by that noble simplicity which few writers at- tain," We cannot take our leave of the subject without allowing our readers to hear how the decease of Mother Mary of the Incarnation and of Madame dela Poltrie, was announced in the Ivelation of 1072. The writer, Rev. Father LeMercier. op.Mis li \. 111 ■I t . 1) !i!t ':. 238 GLIMPSKS OF THE MONASTERY. ;:i|;- a biographical notice of thirty cohimns in the following terms : — " The death of those two illustrious per- sons is a public afHiction. They were ve- nerated for their virtue and holiness ; but they were especially cherished and es- teemed for having lounded an Institution for the instruction of female youth, both French and Indian, thereby contributing greatly to the solid establishment and progress of the Colony of New France. These two holy souls burned with the same zeal and had no other object in view but to live and die in the love of God, and at the p^'ril of their lives, to cause Him to be known and loved by the people of this New World." i "^ Two years previous, the same Rev. Father had written : It is an inestitiiable happiness for Canada to have possessed since thirty years the religious Houses of tlie UrsuHnes and the Hospital nuns. These two institiitions wero necessary here, and the nuns have ac(pntted themselves with honor and with merit of all that God or man conld demand of them in the discharge of the duties of their respective callings. *' On ne pent asscz estimer le bonheur du Canat.la GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. 239 11 ad [\ to ises :wo tvve It of Ithe Let us now hear how her faithiul com- panion and friend, writes of the dear de- ceased. That inconsolable moiirner.Mother St. Athanasins, deplores in pathetic terms the loss of one "so dear, so precious, and so d'y avoir depuis pres de trente ans, \e^ deux Maisona Kpligieuses d'Ursulines et d'Hospitulieres qui y etaient necessaires, et qui s'acquittent dignement et saintement de ce que Dieu et les hojuines ont pu at- tendre d'elles, chacune dans ses emplois ou la di- vine Providence les avait destinies. " " Les Meres Uri^ulines ont eu tant de boiiheur dans I'instruction des filles qu'on leur a confiees, soit Pen, eionnaires, soit Externes qui frequentent leurs classes, qu'en .voyant les manages du Canada, et chaque niaison en particulier, tres-ais6ment on di.-tingue, par I'education Chretienne des enfants, les meres de families qui sont sorties de leur Maison, d'avec celles qui n'ont pas eu cet avantage. " *' La regularite est aussi exacte dans ces deux Mai. sons Religieuses, qu'elle soit en aucun des Monasteres les plus regies de France. Les filles nees sur le pays y prennent si heureusement les impressions de piete, ft de la vie vraiment religieuse, que c'est une conso* lation au milieu de la barbaric, d'y voir des exemplea de saintete qui ne cedent en rien ^ ce que I'Europe a pu voir de plus admirable en ce genre." Rtl, 1G08. I I I ■ i ; 1 1 1 {') i 11 240 GLIMPSES OF Til.-: MONASTERY. 111 ,i--i necessary that it seemed impossible to live without her, that beloved and most amia- ble Mother whose love for the Monastery and whose zeal for its w^elfare and ad- vancement were boundless. " — She enters into the detail of her virtues, "her gen- erous humility, her prudence and her simplicity, her gentleness and constancy, her iirinnesSj her zeal for the glory of God which was as a consuming fire, increasing rather than diminishing with her years." That voice oi' mingled admiration and mourning even now, at the distance of two hundred years, awakens similar emo- tions in the heart of Mother Marie de rincarnation's spiritual daughters. The oOth April is, with them, ever a hal- lowed anniversary, celebrated by the tra- ditional chant of the Te Deum, instead of the imploring accents of the Requiem. It is often set apart for the ceremony by w^hich the Monastery inscribes another name upon the list of its happy inmates, a religious profession. This morning, at GLIMPSES OP THE MOiNASTERY. 241 it the close of a touching exhortation * ad- dressed to the new Spouse of Christ, we listened to the following peroration. " This is a most auspicious day. It is the two hundredth anniversary of the death of the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incar- nation, foundress of this Monastery, whom the Infallible Church is now occupied in placing on our altars. These Convent- walls, erected under her intelligent super- intendence, and hallowed by her holy pre- sence will most e]oc[uently speak to your heart. They will recall to you the heroic virtues, the admirable sanctity, the un- bounded zeal, the wonderful abnegation of that really strong woman, venerated a* like in the Old World and in the Now. She has bequeathed her spirit to her spi- ritual daughters, and, although departed^ she still lives in their midst. From her ele- vated position in heaven, she looks with complacency on the young daughter she * ^ By Rev. E. Bonneau, chaplain of the Asylum of Sisters of Charity, Quebec. ^ It 242 GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY. i ! m I j,i is about to receive, and she will lovingly extend to you the protection she has be- stovv^ed from the beginning on the mem- bers of this admirable Institution." It is in breathing a fervent prayer that the protection of our Venert^ble Mother may, indeed, ever be extended to the Com- munity she has founded, that we bring the little oflering we had prepared for the day, and lay it in filial love and duty upon her tomb. 1 t Mi- ' 4- "We shall only add the wish that these Glimpses of the Monastery ^ these faint and transient views caught at intervals through the receding vista of more than two hundred years, may serve to enliven a vacant hour, while they edify by present- ing pictures of unreserved fidelity in the service of God, and unlimited confidence in the paternal care of Divine Providence. jw. -^ \ ■ i>. t i: .J--' ' THE END. "^-^ • L» 1^ \.l' lOf \^0 L a jnt- the Lce Ice. i^ APPENDIX. Ilii 5 !l -'■f^, 'rosseau, S., Longueil. Burns, Mary. Boisvert, Henriette. ]]cn(lcr, Julie. ]?ell('uii, Eleonore. ]>reaky, Annie. Bertlielot, Adele. Blakiston, Rebecca. Bosse, Adeline. Beaudry, Felicite. Biiteau, Marie-Anne. Buteaii, Philomene. Baillargeon, M. -Louise. Belanger, Elizabeth. Bloiideau, Caroline. Bertlielot, Josephine. Brown, Henrietta. l^eaulit'U, Emma. Bouchette Adele. Campeau, Odile. Casgiain, Emma. Cutellier, Adeline. Catellier, Lunnna. Catellicr, Delphine. Crawlbrd, Flor., Toronto. Crawtonl, Charlotte,do. Crawf' rd, Emily, do. Crawlbrd, Mary, do. Craig, Martha. Carter, Amelia. (iarroll, Mary-Ann. Cockrane, Charlotte. Clancy, Mary. Clancy, Jemima. Constantin, Caroline. Constaiilin, Adeline. Cliink. Malvina. . Carrier, Marie. Carrier, Henriette. Carrier, Emma. Cote, Delima. Cimon, Adele. Cole, Helene. Clarke, Lizzie. Chateau vert, Eupliemie. Cimon, Emma. Cazeau, Philomene. Cauchon, Cymoducee. Chartrain, Nathalie. Chinic, Eugenie. Chinic, Julie. Cahill, Mary. Chinic, Emma. Charlton, Mary. Cuvillier, F., Montreal. Campbell, M. Ann. Cannon, Edith. Dugal, Cecile. Dupre, M. L., Montreal. Delachevrotiere, Octavie. Delachevrotiere, Clem. Dubord, Marie-Louise. Dion, Vitaline. Dolierty, Catherine. Drununond, E., Montreal. DeBeaujeu, B., do. Deegan, Marv. De Gaspe, Philomene. Duchesnay, A juelie. Duval, Atiienais. Dodd, Chariotle. Dorion, Jo.sephine. Dessaint, V., St. Louis Mi. i , W: m. — 3 — inie. je. eal. •eal. ;avie. ie. treal. le. iMi. Dwyer, Julia. Dola ' O'Sliea, Annie. O'Kane, Annie. 0' Grady, Margaret. O'Conngr, Mary. O'Sliea, Anastapia. O'Donnell, Adelaide. O'Doiinc'lI, Mary-Ann. Osborne, Mary. O'Brien, Ellen. Paradis, Louise. Paradis, Flore. Fatten, Annie. Patton, Agnt's. Patton, Isaliella. Parent, Mathilde. Parent, Augustine. Patoine. Leda. Patterson, Marv. Pellelicr, Eniilie. Paradis, Alvine. Perreault, C, Montreal. Perreault, M., do. Purcell, Annie, H. I. Parent, M. -lionise. Parent, Leda. Peters, Clara. Pelletier, Alphonsine. Peinbert( n, Isabella. Paradis, Leonide. Prunlx, Kleonor. Pronlx, Ai)ol]ine. Pa try, Catherine. Pcnniston, A., Topshani. Power, Cecilia, N. Y. Pen nee, Margaret. Planiondon, Elodie. Plainondon, Sara. Picard, Clementine. Picard, Georgina. Pentland, Zoe. Pichette, Philoniene. Parke, Susan. Perreault, C, Montreal. Perreault, A gal he, do. Panet, Rosalie. Poir, Antoinette. Pouliot, Melanie. Picard, Claire. Poulin, Helena. Prevost, Philoniene. Pilote, Eniihe. Prenderga>t, Agathe. Pye. Elizabeth. Percy, Emma. Ruston, Annie. Rustc.n Chi.rlotte. Roy, Sophie. Ranni'y, Emily, Toronto. Kanney, ;\Iarg., do. Roy, Sophie. Robitaille, Celima. Roy, Ileleiie. Ptoy, Antoinette. Ritchie, Fanny. Routier, Eiisa. Ross, Minnie. Ross, Elizabeth. Rcnaud, Wilhelmine. Ross, Mary. Ross, Clara. Roy, Sophronie. Roche, Catherine. Ryan, ^linnie, C. W. Rubridge, Fanny. Ik' 7 — i: Roy, Flore. Rinfret, Olive. Ryan, Mary. Roy, Reine. Roy, Adele. Roy, Hortense. Roj , Marie. Roberge, Elinire. Riverin, Eniilie. Routli, Blanche. Robitaille, Leontine. Stuart, Anna, Halifax. Stuart, Mary, do. St. Hill, Eliza. Shea, M. Ann. Stuart, Lauretta. Stuart, Alina. Siuuinl,' Josephine. Scanlan, Catherine. Snuth, Marv-Ann. Shaw, Alice. Stanley, Emma. Sauva,ireau, Jc^ephine. Senecal, Th., Longueuil. Stuart, Eleonor, Halifax. Trudelle, Louise. Trudclle, Josephine. Talbot, Heluise. Taschereau, Celanire. Talbot, Philoniene. Thonip.son, Christine. Tracy, AL, New-York. Trudelle, Delphine. Taylor, Margaret. Taylor, Sarah. T T T rv Tavlor. Ellen. Tetu, Stella. Tfitu, Atha'is. Tetu, Caroline. Timmons, Mary-Ann. Taylor, Matilda, Ireland. Taylor, Alice, do. Thivierge, Philoniene. Thivierge, Julie. Thompson, Mary. Trudelle, MalvinR. TowiKshend, Mary. Thurber, Eliza. Thompson, Jane. Terroux, Th., Montreal. Theberge, Rebecca. Turgeon, Justine. Tetu, GeraUline. Taylor, Elizabeth. Terrien, Adelaide. Taylor, Mar v. l^ai'fl'e, Mary. Taylor, Eniily, C. W. Urquhart, Gertrude. Valleau, Tsabelle. Verret, Virginie. Von inland, Kate. Vincent, Virginie. Vincent, Dulpiiine. Verret, Emma. Veasev, Marv-Ann. Venner, Federa. Vincent, Ilenriette. Wiieeler, Catherine. 1.. ■■■'\ 'HI s; .; 8 — Woolsey, Georgina, Williams, Anna. Walsh, Mary. Wadsworth, B., Toronto. Wadleigh, M., Conipton. Wadleigh, Lilia, Corapton. Wilson, Margaret. Wlierry. Rosa. Whittier, H., Washington. Wilson, Isabella. HALF-BOARDERS. LES ELEVES DEMI-PENSIONNAIRES. SHI ill Aule, Aiizide. Armstrong, Mathilda. Aniiot, Delphine. Audette, Rachel. Askins, Henrietta. Bosse, Lncle-Anne. Besse, Anna. Borne, Georgina. Iceland, Caroline. Bell, Emma. Blanchard, Sara. Berthelot, Marie. Berthelot, Adele. Bates, Lucy. Blurton, Eliza. Blaiklock, Emma. Baillarge, Ellen. Bardy, Celina. Barrett, Maria, Barrett, Sarah. Kaniie, Eniilie. liarthe, Flore. Bradley, Amelia. Cah ill,' Mary. Chauveau, Flore. Chauveau, Ol3'nipe. Connolly, Eliza. Cliateauvert, Zoe. Chateauvert, Odile. Cliateauvert, Virginie. Carbray, Eliza. Carbray, Catherine. Clarihue, Jane. Campbell, Mary-Ann. Campbell, Jane. Coote, Mary-Ann. Clarke, Elizabeth. Cowen, Eliza. Chatigny, Aurelie. Chouinard, Josephine. Connollv, Eliza. Dubnc, Philomene. Don Carlos, Emilie. Dusseault, Virginie. Doyle, Catherine. Djrval, Marguerite. Dawson, Mary. Daly, Jessie. \ — 9 — Deliele, Lucy-Ann. DeHIois, Lucette. Dodtl, Sophia. Dusseault, Josephine. Dickinson, Charlotte. Darveau, Louise. DeBlois, Josepliine. Day, Caroline. DeFoy, Hombeline. DeFoy, Alvina. DeFoy, Georgina. Drum, Caroline. Drum, Mary. Doucet, Delphine. Dion, Elniire. De Salaberry, Einilie. De Salaberry, Eugenie. Dugal, Alphonsine. Deegan, Sarah. Dusrieault, Alvine. Dunsconib, Mary. Dunsconib, Alice. Drum, Mary-Ann. Duford, Virginie. Duford, Cleuientine. Evanturel, Malvina. Evanturel, Elniire. Evanturel, Corinne. FerguRsoi, Euphetnie. Footner, Isabella. Eraser, Arabella. Fremont, Adine. Frew, Marion. Freeman, Isabella. Eraser, Mary. Fitf=^patrick, Alice. Freeman, Henrietta. Frazer, Eliza Ann. Grannery, Eliza. Gendron, Elizabeth. Gaboury, Marie. Gingras, Louise. Gaboury, Emilie. Garneau, Josephine. Gendron, Louise. Gourdeau, Elizabeth. Gethings, Esther. Gingras, Eliza. Gilloran, Maria. Giroux, Louise. Gamble, Mary-Ann. Himsworth, Augusta. Hiuisworth, Louisa. Hamel, xVoemie. Heazla, Mary. Kamel, Antoinette. Hamel, Sephora. Hough, Carohne. Henrichon, Celine. Huot, Clotilde. Bagens, Martha. Horan, Mary-Ann. Horan, Catherine. Hall, Mary. Jolicueur, Louise. Jackson. Mary. Julien, Josepiiine. n i i)i I ( ■ l! i '3 ic.i 10 — m 5M . ' '.! 1 } n, Kirwin, Kate. Kelly, Marv. Kellv, Ellon, Kennedy, Jcsephinc. Kiml-er, Arline. Ken»l>le. Mury. Kelly, Kate. ' Kenny, I'^'za, Kenny, .yLi.ie. Lesueur, Amelia. Leinoine, Emma. Lindsav, Lonisa. Lawson, Mary. Leonard, Mary. Legare, Celina. Le,:iare, Let ilia. Laurie, Mary. Lelievre, Kale. Laprise, Eniilie. Laprise, Hemeline. Levy, Matilda. Lee, (Jeoriiina. Lee, Lonisa. Lee, Rosa. Lewis, Saral». Lewis, Isabella. Martin pan, Ilelene. McNeil, Mary. MeNeil, Perpetne. M(jreau. Eugenie. Motl'et. Eleunore. M^reau, Celina. Metivier, Anna. Madden, Eliza. . McKay, Mary xVnn. MofTet, Josepliine. M(»rin, Leoiitine. McDonald. Agnes. Meyer, Editii. Maguire, Mary. Masse, Supliie. Mu'-oliy, y ir;.'iret. M(. \6.--etl' Ho.'" >pliine. Mcintils, Mary. M gui- ' !? ra-iette. Murph\ , Mai \ Mountain, Mary Jane. Meiklejolui, l'jli;:al)eth. Meiklijohn, Louif-a. Meiklijolin, >hirion. Matte, Georgina. Montmigny, Zoe. Murison, Mary. Murison, Eliza. Matte Philomene. McDonald, Mary-Ann. Newton, Ellen. Nerlan, Mary. Nowlan, Mary. O'Connor, Mary. O'Meara, Kathleen. O'Meara, Eliza. O'Leary, Mary-Ann. O'Meara, L Penniston, Eliza. Parent, Jo-ephine. Perreault, Jose[)lune. Peltier, Jose'>hine. .* if — 11 Prov^x, Louise, Pro. 1^ »iu.-epliitie. raritt, liosaiie. Pah. t, Alnlionsine. Pai iosei)hine Povtlin, ^larie. l^emhertoii, L>-abella. Peimiston, Kosina. Parkin, Sarah. Parkin, Jane. Poilras, Piiiloniene. Pitt, Sophia. Phmiondun, Josephine. Parent, Carohne. Plainondon, Sara. Ro'itier, Elizabeth. Rinfret, Diana. Kontier, Marie. Hoherge, Einiire. Roach, Mary. Ryan, Mary. Ratte, Celina. Ritchie, Fanny. Rintie^., Olive. Shea, Mary-Ann. Swords, Mary. Swords, Harriet. Synies, Clara. Swordt^, Eliza. Samson, Caroline. Shortel, Mary -Ann. Sliorlel, Helen. Stuart, Louisa. Statdev, Emma. Smith, Mary-xVnn. Shcppard, Sophie. Sullivan, Simard, M irv. ¥ osepliine. Tetu, Virg'nie. Taschdeaii, Eugenie. 'J'etii, Eliza. Tetu, Emilie. Tetu, Mary. Timmony, Mary. Taschereau, Leda. 1'rudelle, Marianne. 'J 'ay lor, Mary. Timmons, Mary-Ann. Tessier, Adele. Tliibaudt-au, Virg'nie. Tawsun, Mary. Unwin, Emilv. Usborn, Mary. Vallerand, Antoinette. Vermitte, Leda. Verrette, Emma. Valin, Euphemie. Wilson, Isabella. Wilson, Marv. Wils( n, Elizai)cth. White, Mary-Ann. White, Emma. Wiiliauis, Martha. Wherry, Mary. WoU'e, Julia. I iill !i ♦ .' I The foregoing pages of the early hiBtory of the Mo- nastery, in connection with the List of names annexed, will not be read by such as have been pupils in the Convent, without reminding them of the changes which some two hundred years have wrought, and leading them to compare those olden times with the present. In those days, the Ursulines were required to be prepared to teach French, Algonquin, Huron, and Iroquois j now, they must give lessons in French, En, glish, German, and Italian. New-France extended from Nova Scotia (Acadia) to *he far west and along the Michigan ; now, the Domi. nion of Canada extends from Nova Scotia to Vancou- ver and the Pacific. Pupils came from the forests along the Saguenay j the country of the Abnaki, and of th.. Upper Algon- quin 5 the Huron country, and the cantons of the Iro* quois : — the preceding Catalogue (a continuation of that published in volume IV of the ''Histoire des Ur- sulines") gives the names of pupils from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the United States. Instead of Upper Algonquins, we have pupils from the Diocese of Kingston ; and others from Toronto, in place of the Hurons. <" ■, m 'Tr.-I ^ii!' — 13 — i 1^ w Many of the pupils of Mother Mary of the Incar- nation, became the wives of tliose efitiniable Oflicera of the Regiment of Carignan-Salierea, who settled in the (lifitrict of KicheHeu, Three Rivers, and Montreal • — the names of their descendants may be traced from year to year upon the Hsts now published. If formerly little Indian girls, alternately with the French pupils, sang at Mass and Vespers, or exercised their skill upon the ''viol": — at the present day, music has become an almost obligatory part of a young lady's education ; instruments of many a name, have taken the place of the antique viola, and cele- brated artists might hear their compositions inter- preted by yoifng Convent musicians, in a creditable manner ; — at least, so people say. The yearly account, for board, is, of course, seldom balanced by so many '* Cords of wood, " or ** Bushels of corn", as in ancient timesj — cash has become too abundant in the present prosperous stat'e of the Domi- nion of Canada. May all be, now, and in future, as it wat, i.i the days of the Ven. Mother — ''for the eye of God alone. " — A. M. D. G. '