days of my girlhood were passed. The ceremony in question was the
renewal of her vows by the Venerable Mother Superior, just fifty
years from the date of her first profession, which was made at
the early age of fifteen. In the world, in the few rare instances
in which both bride and bridegroom live to witness the fiftieth
anniversary of their union, the "golden wedding," as it is
usually called, is generally celebrated with great pomp and
rejoicing; tis but just, then, that in religion, the faithful
spouses of the Saviour should welcome with equal satisfaction the
anniversary of the epoch which witnessed the mystical union
contracted with their Heavenly Bridegroom.


Montreal, Sept. 28, 1859.


On a golden autumn morning,
Just fifty years ago,
When harvests ripe lay smiling
In the sunshine's yellow glow,
A pious group was standing
Round the lighted altar's flame
In the humble convent chapel
Of the Nuns of Notre Dame.

A girl of fifteen summers,
With gentle, serious air,
In novice garb of purple,
Was humbly kneeling there;
Uttering the vows so binding