but which, we were sure, would have been withheld had she known to whom it was offered.  After waiting till the cows were milked, and she had finished her own breakfast, she filled a large earthen pan with bread and milk, gave each of us a spoon, and we ate as much as we wished.  As we arose to depart, she gave each of us a large piece of bread to carry with us, and asked us to pray with her.  We accordingly knelt in prayer; implored heaven’s blessing on her household, and then took our leave of this kind lady, never more to meet her on earth; but she will never be forgotten.

That day we traveled a long distance, at least, so it seemed to us.  When nearly overcome with fatigue, we saw from the tow-path an island in the river, and upon it a small house.  Near the shore a man stood beside a canoe.  We made signs to him to come to us, and he immediately sprang into his canoe and came over.  We asked him to take us to the island, and he cheerfully granted our request, but said we must sit very still, or we would find ourselves in the water.  I did not wonder he thought so, for the canoe was very small, and the weight of three persons sank it almost even with the surface of the river, while the least motion would cause it to roll from side to side, so that we really felt that we were in danger of a very uncomfortable bath if nothing worse.

We landed safely, however, and were kindly welcomed by the Indian family in the house.  Six squaws were sitting on the floor, some of them smoking, others making shoes and baskets.  They were very gayly dressed, their skirts handsomely embroidered with beads and silk of various colors.  One of the girls seemed very intelligent, and conversed fluently in the English language which she spoke correctly.  But she did not look at all like an Indian, having red hair and a lighter skin than the others.  She was the only one in the family that I could converse with, as the rest of them spoke only their native dialect; but the nun who was with me could speak both French and Indian.

They treated us with great kindness, gave us food, and invited in to stay and live with them; said we could be very happy there, and to induce us to remain, they informed us that the village we saw on the other side of the river, called St. Regis, was inhabited by Indians, but they were all Roman Catholics.  They had a priest, and a church where we could go to Mass every Sabbath.  Little did they imagine that we were fleeing for life from the Romish priests; that so far from being an inducement to remain with them, this information was the very thing to send us on our way with all possible speed.  We did not dare to stay, for I knew full well that if any one who had seen us went to confession, they would be obliged to give information of our movements; and if one priest heard of us, he would immediately telegraph to all the priests in the United States and Canada, and we should be watched on every side.  Escape would then be nearly impossible, therefore we gently, but firmly refused to accept the hospitality of these good people, and hastened to bid them farewell.