These tender plants received easily the impressions which the father made on them, and it was through these little babes that the town began to change its face.  For, by daily hearing the man of God, they became modest and devout; their modesty and devotion was a silent censure of that debauchery which appeared in persons of riper age.  Sometimes they even reproved their fathers, with a liberty which had nothing of childish in it, and their reproofs put the most dissolute libertines to the blush.

Xavier then proceeded to public preaching, whither all the people flocked; and to the end that the Indians might understand, as well as the Portuguese, he affected to speak that language in a gross and clownish dialect, which passed at that time amongst the natives of the country.  It was immediately seen what power a preacher, animated by the spirit of God, had over the souls of perverted men.  The most scandalous sinners, struck with the horror of their crimes, and the fear of eternal punishment, were the first who came to confession.  Their example took away from others the shame of confessing; insomuch, that every one now strove who should be foremost to throw himself at the father’s feet, knocking their breasts, and bitterly lamenting their offences.

The fruits of penitence accompanying these tears, were the certain proofs of a sincere conversion.  They cancelled their unlawful bonds and covenants of extortion; they made restitution of their ill-gotten goods; they set at liberty their slaves, whom they had opprest, or had acquired unjustly; and lastly, turned away their concubines, whom they were unwilling to possess by a lawful marriage.

The saint acted with the concubinarians almost in the same manner as our Saviour dealt with the publicans and harlots.  Far from treating them severely, the deeper they were plunged in that darling vice, the more tenderly he seemed to use them.  On all occasions he declared himself their friend; he made them frequent visits, without fear of being upbraided with so infamous a conversation.  He invited himself sometimes to eat with them; and then, assuming an air of gaiety, he desired the master to bring down the children to bear him company.  When he had a little commended their prettiness, he asked to see their mother, and shewed her the same countenance, as if he had taken her for an honest woman.  If she were beautiful or well shaped, he praised her, and said “she looked like a Portuguese:”  after which; in private conversation, “you have,” said he to her master, “a fair slave, who well deserves to be your wife.”  But if she were a swarthy, ugly Indian, “Good God!” he cried out, “what a monster do you keep within your doors! and how are you able to endure the sight of her?” Such words, spoken in all appearance without design, had commonly their full effect:  the keeper married her whom the saint had commended, and turned off the others.