MIRACLES IN FRENCH CANADA. 235 



publication to make known the cures. The bandages, sticks, and 

 crutches piled in rows speak for themselves, as also the ex voto 

 paintings, one or two by Lebrun, representing the saint in the act 

 of delivering clients from perils by sea and land ; American flags, 

 bracelets, wax flowers, guns, knives, tobacco pouches, etc., are 

 gifts from poorer clients who have experienced her kindness. Per- 

 sons unable to visit the shrine, owing to bodily infirmity or any 

 other restraining cause, may be represented by substitutes or may 

 forward letters containing their requests to the saint ; these are 

 deposited beneath the statue in front of the main altar and 

 prayers are said for a favorable answer through her intercession. 

 The number of pilgrims exceeds one hundred thousand a year. 



Nature has furnished an admirable setting for the shrine. 

 The St. Lawrence at this point is four miles wide. Directly oppo- 

 site Beaupre* is the Isle of Orleans ; behind it, the Saint Anne Moun- 

 tain and the Laurentian Hills clad with pine, maple, and balm of 

 Gilead. Cap Tourmente lies to the eastward ; there the river be- 

 gins to widen till at Tadousac, where the Saguenay joins it, it is 

 thirty- five miles from shore to shore. To the west are the farm- 

 houses and uplands of Chateau Richer, the Falls of Montmorency, 

 from their bellowing and white foam called the Vache, Beauport 

 and the valley of the St. Charles, Quebec and the historic rock. 

 On summer evenings the old Breton hymn peals over the waters : 



" O saiute Anne, 6 Mere cherie ! 



Garde au coeur des Bretons la foi des anciens jours ; 

 En tends du haut du ciel le cri de la patrie 

 Catholique et Breton toujours ! " 



Even in winter, when the snow lies level with the fences and the 

 St. Lawrence is gorged with ice, Beaupre* attracts an occasional 

 devotee. The height of the pilgrim season is from June to the 

 middle of September. 



Miracles are wrought for the most part in the new church, 

 though the old one is still favored. Some find no immediate 

 relief, but are cured on reaching home. At the ordinary services 

 the officiating priest marches down from the high altar to some 

 unhappy creature gasping at the rails, and, after a few prelimina- 

 ries, applies one of the relics, incased in crystal with gold bands, 

 to the part affected, reciting meanwhile the litany of Saint Anne : 

 " Grandmother of our Saviour, Mother of Mary, Ark of Noah, 

 Root of Jesse, Light of the Blind, Tongue of the Dumb." The 

 other sufferers struggle to their feet and watch the process with 

 breathless interest. The dying consumptive bares his breast that 

 the relic may be placed directly over his lungs, then sinks to his 

 knees at the foot of the statue ; having finished the litany, the 

 priest turns to the Gospel of Saint Anne ; the thurif ers surround 



