— 256 — 



" I have done what lay in my power to live without 

 reproach ; do the same ! " 



His closing words to his loving wife, and dear children 

 are equally tender and touching. 



* 



A century will roll over and the customs of the 

 auspicious visiting day will still continue, though in a 

 modified form. 



Doubtless, at the gloomy close of the old regime, 

 when the infamous Bigot and his godless crew held 

 high carnival, at Quebec, the paternal blessing and the 

 traditional religious observances on New Year's Day 

 were on the wane. 



Gambling, boodling and profligacy in high places 

 overshadowed the land ; General Montcalm's corres- 

 pondence, recently published, points out to other joys, 

 other observances at that period, though the crowning 

 pleasure of the first week in January was not omitted 

 — tirev le Gateau — the family evening reunion, at 

 Epiphany, to draw the pea and the bean out of the 

 colossal Jour des Rois cake. 



In January, 1758, General de Montcalm writes to 

 the Chevalier de Le\ds : " Grand souper au palais, j'y 

 eu comme de raison la feve, et Madame P(kn fut ma 

 reine." — Montccdm and Ldvis, Casgrain, Vol. 1, p. 

 345. 



A supper, and a grand one, took place that night at 

 the Intendant's palace. Montcalm drew the magic 

 bean ; he was the king and selected the fascinating 

 Pean as his queen. 



A thoughtful, drooping New Year's day was at hand 

 for the following year ; the colony, deserted by France, 

 expected a hostile fleet round Pointe-Levi with the 

 return of spring. A more gloomy and exciting 

 New Year's Day must have been for besieged and 



