At harvest time, in company with twenty other nuns, I was taken out
into the country to the residence of the monks. The ride out there was
a great treat, and very much enjoyed by us all. I believe it was about
five miles, through a part of the city of Montreal; the north part
I think, but I am not sure. We stopped before a large white stone
building, situated in the midst of a large yard like the one at the
nunnery. A beautiful walk paved with stone, led from the gate to the
front door, and from thence, around the house. Within the yard, there
was also a delightful garden, with neat, well kept walks laid out in
various directions. Before the front door there stood a large cross.
I think I never saw a more charming place; it appeared to me a perfect
paradise. I heard one of the priests say that the farm consisted of four
hundred acres, and belonged to the nunnery. The house was kept by two
widow ladies who were married before they embraced the Romish faith.
They were the only women on the place previous to our arrival, and I
think they must have found it very laborious work to wait upon so many
monks. I do not know their number, but there was a great many of them,
besides a large family of boys, who, I suppose, were being educated for
priests or monks.
Immediately on our arrival a part of our number were set to work in the
fields, while the rest were kept in the house to assist the women. I
hoped that I might be one of these last, but disappointment was again
my lot. I was sent to the field with the others, and set to reaping; a
priest being stationed near, to guard us and oversee our work. We were
watched very closely, one priest having charge of two nuns, for whose
safe keeping he was responsible. Here we labored until the harvest was
all gathered in. I dug potatoes, cut up corn and husked it, gathered
apples, and did all kinds of work that is usually done by men in the
fall of the year. Yet I was never allowed to wear a bonnet on my head,
or anything to shield me from the piercing rays of the sun. Some
days the heat was almost intolerable, and my cap was not the least
protection, but they allowed me no other covering.
In consequence of this exposure, my head soon became the seat of severe
neuralgic pain, which caused me at times to linger over my work. But
this was not permitted. My movements were immediately quickened, for the
work must be done notwithstanding the severe pain. Every command must be
obeyed whatever the result.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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