1642.] THE BIRTH OF MONTREAL. 209 



admiration of the beholders.^ Now all the company 

 gathered before the shrine. Here stood Vimont, 

 in the rich vestments of his office. Here were 

 the two ladies, with their servant ; Montmagny, no 

 very willing spectator ; and Maisonneuve, a war- 

 like figure, erect and tall, his men clustering around 

 him, — soldiers, sailors, artisans, and laborers, — all 

 alike soldiers at need. They kneeled m reverent 

 silence as the Host was raised aloft ; and when the 

 rite was over, the priest turned and addressed 

 them : — 



" You are a grain of mustard-seed, that shall rise 

 and grow till its branches overshadow the earth. 

 You are few, but your work is the work of God. 

 His smile is on you, and your children shall fill the 

 land." 2 



The afternoon waned ; the sun sank behind the 

 western forest, and twilight came on. Fireflies 

 were twinkling over the darkened meadow. They 

 caught them, tied them with threads into shining 

 festoons, and hung them before the altar, where 

 the Host remained exposed. Then they pitched 

 their tents, lighted their bivouac fii-es, stationed 

 their guards, and lay down to rest. Such was the 

 birth-night of Montreal.^ 



1 IMoiin, Annahs, MS., cited by Eaillon, La Colonie Frangaise, I. 440 , 

 also Dollier de Casson, A.D. 1641-42, MS. 



2 Dollier de Casson, MS., as above. Vimont, in the Relation of 1642, 

 p. 37, briefly mentions the ceremony. 



3 The Associates of Montreal published, in 1643, a thick pamphlet in 

 quarto, entitled Les V€ritables Motifs de Messieurs et Dames de la Society de 

 Notre-Dame de Montreal, pour la Conversion des Sauvages de la Nouvdle 

 France. It was written as an answer to aspersions cast upon them, appar- 

 ently by persons attached to the great Company of New France known 



18* 



