At Quebec itself the two bright spots were the convent
of the Recollets [Footnote: The Recollets were a branch
of the Franciscan order, noted for the austerity of their
rule.] and the little farm of Louis Hebert. The Recollets
first came to New France in 1615, and began at once by
language study to prepare for their work among the
Montagnais and Hurons. It was a stipulation of the viceroy
that six of them should be supported by the company, and
in the absence of parish priests they ministered to the
ungodly hangers-on of the fur trade as well as to the
Indians. Louis Hebert and his admirable family were very
dear to the Fathers. In 1617 all the buildings which had
been erected at Quebec lay by the water's edge. Hebert
was the first to make a clearing on the heights. His
first domain covered less than ten acres, but it was well
tilled. He built a stone house, which was thirty-eight
feet by nineteen. Besides making a garden, he planted
apple-trees and vines. He also managed to support some
cattle. When one considers what all this means in terms
of food and comfort, it may be guessed that the fur
traders, wintering down below on salt pork and smoked
eels, must have felt much respect for the farmer in his
stone mansion on the cliff.

We have from Champlain's own lips a valuable statement
as to the condition of things at Quebec in 1627, the year
when Louis Hebert died. 'We were in all,' he says,
'sixty-five souls, including men, women, and children.'
Of the sixty-five only eighteen were adult males fit for