Meanwhile, during the summer, the vessels plied between Yule Marie
and St. Michel to bring up the rest of the stores and ammunition left
behind. These reduced the guard to but a score of men, but as yet, the
Iroquois had not got scent of the new settlement. On August 15 the
new chapel was completed and used for service--a framework building
of about ten feet square which did service as a conventual and quasi
parochial chapel till the beginning of 1659.[47]
So passed the happy days unmolested by any foe. A friendly band of
Algonquins visited the camp and after witnessing a religious procession
on Assumption day, 1642, journeyed with the governor to the summit
of Mount Royal. While there, it is related that two of their body,
aged men, told the bystanders that they belonged to the race formerly
inhabiting this island. Stretching out their arms to the slopes on the
west and the south sides of the mountain they exclaimed: "Behold the
places where once there were villages flourishing in numbers, whence
our ancestors were driven by our enemies. Thus it is that this island
became deserted and uninhabited." "My grandfather," said one old man,
"tilled the earth at this place. The Indian corn grew well then." And
taking up the soil in his hands: "See the richness of it," he cried,
"how good it is!" Charmed with this discourse they were pressed to stay
and live happily with their friends, the white men, but the wandering
habits of these forest children finally prevailed.
In the month of December, the safety of the colony was threatened by
the floods of the St. Lawrence which advanced over the low lying lands
towards the fort. With simple faith, M. Maisonneuve planted a cross
over against the invading waters, and the "Relations" of this year,
tell how the floods receded on Christmas day.
In pious gratitude M. Maisonneuve would erect a permanent cross on the
mountain. A trail was blazed and cut, and on the feast of the Epiphany,
January 6, 1643, a procession formed, M. Maisonneuve leading, carrying
the cross on his shoulders and followed by others bearing the wood
for its pedestal. On reaching the summit, Père Duperon had an altar
erected, and celebrated mass after the cross had been blessed and
erected. At this time, there seemed to have been two priests attached
to the mission. This was the origin of the annual pilgrimage, since
discontinued. On the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1643, the main
building, or the Habitation, containing the chapel of Notre Dame, the
stores, and dwelling rooms for sixty persons, was completed. In front
they placed the small pieces of artillery and then celebrated the
occasion with a cannonade.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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