dressed in white, and many of them were still fasting, though it was four o’clock in the evening; they having indulged the hope to be able to assist at his Mass, and receive the Holy Communion from his hands.  An altar had been prepared at the entrance of the first court under a bower composed of four small trees which overshadowed it with their foliage.  Here the bishop put on his pontifical robes.  After the aspersion of the holy water, he was conducted to the chapel in procession, with the singing of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin; and the whole function closed with the prayers and ceremonies prescribed for the occasion in Roman Pontifical.’  Ah, yes; we did our best for him!”

Sister Teresa’s soft eyes were shining now behind her tears.

“And hear this, also written by the same dear friend who sends us the bishop’s letter.  The priest, M. Badin, to whom this letter refers, is in charge of St. Stephen’s, so that it was his duty as well as his pleasure to make preparations for the bishop’s coming.  This letter says that:  ’M.  Badin had for his lodgings one poor log house ... and it was with great difficulty that he was enabled to build and prepare for his illustrious friend, and the ecclesiastics who accompanied him, two miserable log cabins, sixteen feet square:  and one of the missionaries was even compelled to sleep on a mattress in the garret of this strange episcopal palace, which was whitewashed with lime, and contained no other furniture than a bed, six chairs, two tables, and a few planks for a library.  Here the bishop still resides, esteeming himself happy to live thus in the midst of apostolic poverty.’” The Sister broke off suddenly.  “But I must not allow you to stand out here, my dear children.  It soon grows chilly on these late fall evenings.  Come indoors at once, my dears.  And then, Ruth, Sister Angela is very anxious to show you the sewing which she has finished.”

“Oh, I know how beautiful it is without seeing it,” said Ruth, with a sudden shrinking; but she added hastily, “There is no such needle-woman as Sister Angela anywhere.”

She followed the Sister into the larger of the two rooms which the house contained.  David bashfully stayed behind, lingering on the threshold, and keeping man’s respectful distance from the mysteries of feminine wear.  But the three white caps and the flower-wreathed bonnet drew close together over the dainty garments, all a foam of lace and ruffles and embroidery.  David heard the terms rolling and whipping, and felling and overcasting and hemstitching and herring-boning which were an unknown tongue to him.  Ruth praised everything, till even Sister Angela was quite satisfied.  That pretty young sister was indeed so elated that she turned to admire Ruth’s dress but the Sister Superior gently reminded her that it was the eve of All Souls’, when they and every one should be thinking of graver things.

“This year the souls and the safety of the living, as well as the repose of the dead, will need all our prayers,” said Sister Teresa.  “There seems no doubt of the war with the Shawnees.  Ah me, ah me!  And the Cold Plague growing worse every day!”