[wood] an URSULINE EPIC 29 



who are now entering the fourth century of our country's history, who, 

 like the rest of mankind, prefer amusement to interest and incident to 

 charaoter, and who are now more than even apt to mistake comfort for 

 civilization: — we, in this twentieth century, can certainly not afford to 

 neglect the example of all the zeal, devotion and self-sacrifice which 

 went to the making of that well-wrought career. 



VI. 



La Mère Marie's influence has always remained inspiringly alive; 

 and the tradition of her service has been greatly strengthened by many 

 personal linlcs between the passing centuries. Only three nuns had died 

 during the first Ursuline generation; and some of the twenty-five on 

 the roll in 1675 lived long enough to connect Frontenaic's first adminis- 

 tration with the first capture of Louisbourg in 1745. 



Indian converts were as eagerly sought for as ever. Frontenac used 

 to bring back the brightest Iroquois girls he could find whenever he 

 went to Kataraqui, where Kingston is now. The Algonquins, Abenakis 

 and Hurons were in still closer touch with the convent. The books of 

 the " Séminaire," as the Indian classes were always called, contain 

 many entries like these. " On the 15th of Jnly, 1682, Marie Durand 

 left the seminary after having been provided with board and clothing for 

 a year." " La Petite Barbe, of the Mohawk tribe, who has been six years 

 in the seminary, has returned to her parents at x\ncienne Lorette." In 

 1686 an Indian girl called. Marie Eose laid the foundation stone of a 

 new wing ; she was "dressed in white and represented the Infant Jesus." 

 An Abenaki called Agnes Wes-k-wes even found the call of the cloister 

 more compelling than the call of the woods. Only death prevented her 

 from taking the veil; and the fame of her piety drew every Christian 

 Indian near Quebec to her funeral. 



Within four months of the day the corner stone for this extension 

 was put in position the convent was burnt again. A brave lay 

 sister, Marie Montmesnil, nearly lost her life in rescuing the precious 

 relics. The Hospitalières again offered shelter in their cloisters, where 

 the Ursulines intoned a Laiidale and sang a Memorare to their perpetual 

 superior, the Blessed A^'irgin, in token of resignation and thanksgiving. 

 The Hospitalières greatly cheered the homeless Ursulines by remember- 

 ing to make a special celebration of the feast of St. Ursula the following 

 day. As before, ever}^ one in Quebec showed the greatest kindness, and 

 a return visit of acknowledgment was headed by the ]\Iother Superior, 

 who called on the Marquis de Denonville at the Château St. Louis and 

 on the Intendant at his palace. After going to see the eight sisters who 

 had remained on guard in an outbuilding of the burnt convent, the little 



