28 



the priests were anxious to contemplate these men of God of 

 whom they had heard so much. Madame Lajimoniere was 

 not the last to hasten to the place where the missionaries 

 would land. She took all her little ones with her, the eldest 

 of whom was Reine, then eleven years old. 



Towards the hour of noon on a beautiful clear day more 

 than one hundred and fifty persons were gathered on the river 

 bank in front of Fort Douglas. Every eye was on the turn 

 of the river at the point. It was who should first see the voy- 

 ageurs. Suddenly two canoes bearing the Company's flag 

 came in sight. There was a general shout of joy. The trader 

 of the Fort, Mr. A. McDonald, was a Catholic, and he had 

 everything prepared to give them a solemn reception. Many 

 called to the old Canadians who had left their homes many 

 shed tears of joy. The memory of their native land was re- 

 years before. These old voyageurs who had been constantly 

 called upon to face death had been deprived of all religious 

 succour during the long years but they had not been held by 

 a spirit of impiety. The missionaries were to them the mes- 

 sengers of God. 



The canoes landed in front of Fort Douglas, M. Proven- 

 cher and his companion both invested in their cassocks stepped 

 on shore and were welcomed with outstretched hands by this 

 family, which was henceforth to be theirs. 



They were admired for their manly figures as much as 

 for the novelty of their costumes. M. Provencher and his 

 companion, M. Severe Dumoulin, were both men of great 

 stature and both had a majestic carriage. They stood at the 

 top of the bank and after making the women and children sit 

 down around them M. Provencher addressed some words to 

 this multitude gathered about him. He spoke very simply 

 and in a fatherly manner. Madame Lajimoniere who had 

 not listened to the voice of a priest for twelve years could 

 hardly contain herself for joy. She cried with happiness and 

 forgetting all her hardships, fancied herself for a moment in 

 the dear parish of Maskinonge where she had spent such 

 happy peaceful years. 



The missionaries arrived on Thursday, July 16th. M. 

 Provencher having made known to his new family the aim 

 of his mission wished immediately to begin teaching them the 

 lessons of Christianity and to bring into the fold the sheep 

 which were outside. 



While waiting till a house could be built for the mission- 

 aries, M. Provencher and his companion were hospitably en- 



