“Oui, cette vie en larmes est féconde; J’ai peu vécu, j’ai déjà bien souffert. Mon Dieu, j’ai soif, et les routes du monde Ne me sont rien qu’une aride désert. Mais à tes pieds mon âme se repose. O tendre Ami, Divin Consolateur, Qu’importe à moi de perdre toute chose, Si je te garde, amour de mon Sauveur!”[33] Footnote 33: Yes, this our life is plentiful in tears. Though I am young, still I have suffered much. My God, I thirst! and this world’s weary ways Are but an arid desert unto me. But at thy feet my soul finds her repose, O tender Friend and Comforter Divine! What matters it to me if I lose all, But still keep thee, my dearest Saviour’s love! And this cry of the soul: “Jesus, pour seul bonheur, ah! donnez-moi des larmes Que vous consolerez.”[34] Footnote 34: Jesus, for my sole happiness, oh! give me tears Which thou wilt wipe away. JANUARY 10, 1870. Karl has spoken to me much of you, dear sister. He wishes that his last sculpture in Europe should be for our chapel: René and his brothers have for some time past been working at a pulpit; the principal figure will be our missionary’s work. He has consented to let me prepare his baggage. Kate, I was complaining of our solitude, and now it has become sweet to me, because I love God more. Oh! what a blessing to the soul it is to love. I am slipping these few words in with René’s, and send you a thousand loving messages. JANUARY 14, 1870. Impossible not to give you the history of our day, although it is very late. I wished to go to Auray with Karl, and my mother felt strong enough to go with us. On the way we met with a German, poor as Job, a true disciple of Luther, his Bible in his hand. His gentle and melancholy air interested us. We entered into conversation with him, Karl preached to him, he came with us to Auray, and when we came out of the church he told us that his mother was a Catholic, that the sight of our fervor had touched him, etc., etc. In short, we brought him back with us to the château, and Karl is going to catechise him and finish his conversion. You see the good Saint Anne has indeed had a hand in this. Is it not a charming episode? 15th.—Letters: 1st, Margaret, who sends you her heartful of good wishes; 2d, Marcella, with the chronicle of the Council and the account of an audience with the Holy Father; 3d, Lizzy, who wants to make me admire her Daniel; 4th, Lucy, who is impatient to come back, because her pretty Anne cannot be happy without us, says our amiable sister; 5th, my Kate. I mention all in chronological order; you know very well that you are first in order of affection. But how short it is, dearest! Tell me soon the reason of this brevity; you must have so much to say! _A Dieu_, my dearest Kate. All and each of the happy inhabitants of my Brittany offer you their homage and respect. JANUARY 19, 1870.