one was willing to take charge of it, and many advised that it be thrown
into the sea alive. The cruel suggestion aroused my sympathy, and I
offered to take the infant myself, much against the will of my
companions, who were all sick. However, I succeeded in getting the
little waif in my keeping. When we arrived in Quebec, its cries and
horrible appearance caused us much annoyance, and as I had business to
transact in Quebec, I was obliged to return it to the father, who was
then well, promising to reclaim it before setting out for Montreal. That
September, the cold season set in with unusual rigor, and the crew built
fires in cabins along the shore, to keep themselves from freezing, and
this man, with the babe in his arms, lying down among them, the poor
little martyr rolled into the embers and was shockingly burned. However,
when we arrived at Montreal it grew better, and in consequence of losing
its mother so young, I procured a nurse to supply it with natural
nourishment; a few days after it sickened, died, and went to rest in the
bosom of God. We arrived at Montreal on the Feast of St. Michael, being
exactly one year, day for day, and hour for hour, from the time of our
departure."

Sister Bourgeois and her companions immediately took possession of the
stable which was given for school purposes by M. de Maisonneuve the
previous year. It was built of stone, about twenty-five feet square, and
had been for a long time a shelter for all kinds of animals. She had a
chimney built on the floor prepared for the school-room, the Sisters
cooking and eating there, when school was dismissed. The loft of the
stable served for a dovecot and granary, and was reached by an outside
ladder. This she arranged as a dormitory and a community-room. All
things being now in working order, they began to receive boarders and
day-pupils. One of the latter, Marie Barbier, who was afterwards called
in religion Sister Mary of the Assumption, succeeded Sister Bourgeois as