Untitled - Libr@rsi

1651 - 52] RELA TION OF 1650 -51 63
to me,— which was short, but full of affection and
piety,— we were taken to a chapel made of the bark
of certain very odoriferous pine-trees, and built by
the hands of these good Christians, wherein no
European had ever set foot. Two Captains did wonders
by speaking [no] highly of the blessedness of
the faith, which they enjoyed through our attentions
and charity. One of them, whom I had baptized at
three Rivers some years ago,— a very intelligent
man, tall of stature, and an excellent Christian,—
brought me a small bundle of straws, as a list of
those whom he himself had instructed and very well
prepared for baptism. I was delighted to see that
God had done, without us, what I could not have
hoped to do myself after long instructions. The
first two to whom I spoke were two brothers, mar-
ried to two young women who were well-formed,
but as modest as any European Christian. The elder
of the two brothers spoke to me thus, while holding
"
his rosary: Here," said he, " is v/hat I prize more
than anything in the world. I have [m] never
seen any Europeans before to-day, and I did not wish
to see any, except that I might be instructed and
baptized. For three years I have asked God that I
might see those who teach and who baptize ; he has
greatly obliged me by bringing thee here to baptize
me. I thank thee for having come; lose no time;
"
teach us." But," I said to them, " do you know
"
the prayers?" Listen," they said to me. Thereupon
each of them knelt and said his prayers holding
"
his rosary in his hand. But where did you get
that rosary?" "The Christians gave these to us,"
they replied. It was consoling to see their modesty
and their attention ; they did not lose a single word