1637.] CHAUMONOT'S EARLY LIIE. 103 



self-mortification. With a voice of the greatest 

 kindness, he profi'ered his aid to the wretched boy, 

 whose appearance was alike fitted to awaken pity 

 and disgust. The conquering of a natural repug- 

 nance to filth, in the interest of charity and humil- 

 ity, is a conspicuous virtue in most of the Eoman 

 Catholic saints ; and whatever merit may attach to 

 it was acquired in an extraordinary degree by the 

 young man in question. Apparently, he was a 

 physician ; for he not only restored the miserable 

 wanderer to a condition of comparative decency, 

 but cured him of a grievous malady, the result of 

 neglect. Chaumonot went on his way, thankful to 

 his benefactor, and overflowing with an enthusiasm 

 of gratitude to Our Lady of Loretto.^ 



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 



1 " Si la moindre dame m'avoit fait rendre ce service par le dernier de 

 ses valets, n'aurois-je pas dus lui en rendre toutes les reconnoissances pos- 

 sibles ? Et si apres une telle charite' elle s'etoit otFerte a me servir toujours 

 de mesrae, comment aurois-je du I'honorer, lui obeir, I'aimer toute ma 

 vie ! Pardon, Reine des Anges et des hommes ! pardon de ce qu'apres 

 avoir reyu de vous tant de marques, par lesquelles vous m'avez convaincu 

 que vous m'avez adopte pom- votre fils, j'ai eu I'ingratitude pendant des 

 annees entieres de me comporter encore plutot en esclave de Satan qu^en 

 enfant dime Mere Vierge. que vous etes bonne et charitable! puisque 

 quelques obstacles que mes pcches ayent pu mettre h vos graces, vous 

 n'avez jamais cesse de m'attirer au bien; 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. 



