Besides the persons I have mentioned, I had interviews with numbers of
others. I learnt from some, that Father Phelan addressed his
congregation a second time concerning me, and expressly forbade them to
speak to me if they should have an opportunity, on pain of
excommunication. It was also said, that he prayed for the family I
lived with, that they might be converted.
I repeated to several different persons my willingness to go into the
nunnery, and point out visible evidences of the truth of my statements;
and when I was told, by one man, who said he had been to the priests,
that I had better leave the city, or I would be clapped into prison, I
made up my mind that I should like to be imprisoned a little while,
because then, I thought I could not be refused a public examination.
Some Canadians were present one day, when the mistress of the house
repeated, in my presence, that I was ready to go into the nunnery if
protected, and, if I did not convince others of the truth of my
assertions, that I would consent to be burned.
"O yes, I dare say," replied one of the men--"the devil would take her
off--she knows he would. He would take care of her--we should never be
able to get her--the evil spirit!"
A woman present said--"I could light the fire to burn you, myself."
A woman of Montreal, who has a niece in the nunnery, on hearing of what
I declared about it, said that if it was true she would help tear it
down.
Among those who came to see me, numbers were at first as violent as any
I have mentioned, but after a little conversation, became mild and
calm. I have heard persons declare, that it would be no harm to kill
me, as I had an evil spirit.
One woman told me, that she had seen Father Phelan in the street,
talking with a man, to whom he said, that the people were coming to
tear down the house in which I stayed, intending afterward to set fire
to it in the cellar. This story gave me no serious alarm, for I thought
I could see through it evidence of an intention to frighten me, and
make me leave the city. [Footnote: I felt very confident, from some
circumstances, that this woman had been sent to bring such a story by
Father Phelan; and such evidence of his timidity rather emboldened me.
I was in another room when she came, and heard her talking on and
abusing me; then coming out, I said, "How dare you say I do not speak
the truth?" "God bless you," said she, "sit down and tell me all."] I
was under great apprehensions, however, one day, in consequence of an
accidental discovery of a plan laid to take me off by force. I had
stepped into the cellar to get an iron-holder, when I heard the voices
of persons in the street above, and recognised those of my mother and
the Irish woman her friend. There was another woman with them.
"You go in and lay hold of her," said one voice.
"No, you are her mother--you go in and bring her out--we will help you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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