satisfaction of the natives.  Many solemn baptisms and marriages have been celebrated which were attended with great fervor, especially by the inhabitants of one village, who in this respect have had the advantage of the others.  One of the women of this village received the sacrament with such devotion and joy that a few days after her baptism she made her confession, and persuaded her husband to become a Christian; and she was one of those who practiced the exercises of the Christians with most pleasure.  An old man, already so exhausted by age that he could hardly stand upon his feet, came one day with the others to the church, and upon being enjoined to become a Christian, that he might give to God the little of life that remained to him, told them to leave him in peace, for he was no longer fit for anything except death.  Seeing that for the time being nothing impressed him, I left him; and afterward caused him to come to my house, where I represented to him the benefits which he would gain in heaven by becoming a Christian.  This had such an effect that our Lord moved his heart; and, unable to repress his satisfaction, with much gladness he urgently sought immediate baptism.  I told him to go away and to reflect upon the matter for a time, for an affair of such moment could not be hastily settled.  He again answered that it should not be delayed, as he desired baptism immediately; but, at last, the ceremony was deferred.  While being instructed he made the most joyful answers, and afterwards received holy baptism with the same tokens of pleasure.  During the remaining short period of his life his happiness was such that he imparted it to everyone who spoke to him.  The great goodness and mercy of God were seen in the case of a new born babe whose pagan mother—­an inhabitant of another village, far distant—­gave birth to it in a village of this mission.  To escape the burden and labor which she must sustain in rearing it, she took it in her arms and, descending to the bank of a river, was about to bury it alive.  A Christian chanced to see her and hastened to inform us.  Upon reaching the spot I found the child, so small that it was a cause for astonishment.  I baptized it, and it soon passed away to the eternal rest of which the imprudent mother (worse than a step-mother) had recklessly tried to deprive it.  But as God our Lord showed to these the gentleness of His great mercy, so on others did He execute the rigor of His justice, chastising them for their obstinacy and hardness; and others He terrified, so that some day they might enjoy His mercy.  One of Ours had asked a certain man to receive baptism, following the advice of his father, who was an Indian of high standing and governor of the village.  He made excuses, saying that he did not wish to receive the sacrament until he had been married.  But God our Lord did not allow him to fulfil this desire, on account of which he deferred holy baptism until he paid for the delay by an untimely death.  Besides dying as he did,