jusque la que vous m'avez fait admettre dans la Sainte Compagnie de Jesus,
votre fils."--Chaumonot, Vie, 20. The above is from the very curious
autobiography written by Chaumonot, at the command of his Superior,
in 1688. The original manuscript is at the Hotel Dieu of Quebec.
Mr. Shea has printed it. ]

As he journeyed towards Rome, an old burgher, at whose door he had begged,
employed him as a servant. He soon became known to a Jesuit, to whom he
had confessed himself in Latin; and as his acquirements were considerable
for his years, he was eventually employed as teacher of a low class in
one of the Jesuit schools. Nature had inclined him to a life of
devotion. He would fain be a hermit, and, to that end, practised eating
green ears of wheat; but, finding he could not swallow them, conceived
that he had mistaken his vocation. Then a strong desire grew up within
him to become a Recollet, a Capuchin, or, above all, a Jesuit; and at
length the wish of his heart was answered. At the age of twenty-one,
he was admitted to the Jesuit novitiate. [ 1 ] Soon after its close,
a small duodecimo volume was placed in his hands. It was a Relation of
the Canadian mission, and contained one of those narratives of Brebeuf
which have been often cited in the preceding pages. Its effect was
immediate. Burning to share those glorious toils, the young priest asked
to be sent to Canada; and his request was granted.

[ 1 His age, when he left his uncle, the priest, is not mentioned.
But he must have been a mere child; for, at the end of his novitiate,
he had forgotten his native language, and was forced to learn it a second
time.

"Jamais y eut-il homme sur terre plus oblige que moi a la Sainte Famille
de Jesus, de Marie et de Joseph! Marie en me guerissant de ma vilaine