During all this time the Savages did not come to see us, except rarely some of Membertou's family, to bring us some offering from the chase. Then there was great [185] feasting and hilarity, and our people would begin to feel a little encouraged. The most grievous thing was their dread of the season, when they considered the long duration of disagreeable months to be endured. Les Iesuites taschoient, & en priué, & en public de consoler tous, & vn chacun parmy ceste misere. Et aduint, que le troisiesme Dim[~e]che apres Noël, auquel on lit l'Euangile _Vinum non habent_: Le P. Biard exhorta la Compagnie à bien esperer, & prendre la glorieuse vierge Marie pour aduocare enuers son misericordieux Fils, en toutes necessitez, & spirituelles, & corporelles, estant ainsi, que par son intercession iamais le vin de consolation ne manque à ceux qui l'ont pour hostesse & pour mere. Le seruice finy, le P. Biard s'addressant au sieur de Bi[~e]court, & luy monstrant les compagnõs, [186] luy dit en riant: _Vinum non habent_. Le priant de leur en donner de ce peu qui restoit, adioustant, que le coeur luy disoit qu'on auroit bien tost secours, & au plus long, dans le moys qui couroit, sçauoir est, dans Ianuier: & que peut estre verroit-on, qu'il deuineroit sans y penser. Les Compagnons furent bien-aises, & se gaudissants apres auoir beu, disoyent: Or bien, nous voy-cy de bon courage, pour attendre si le Pere sera point Prophete. Et certes il le fut de bonne aduenture: car vn nauire nous arriua iustement huict iours apres, lequel il nous fallut aller querir assez loin. The Jesuits tried, both privately and in public, to comfort all and every one during this season of misery. And it happened that on the third Sunday after Christmas, when the Gospel _Vinum non habent_ is read, Father Biard exhorted the Company to be of good cheer, and to take the glorious virgin Mary for an advocate with her compassionate son in every need, spiritual and corporal, as through her intercession the wine of consolation would never be wanting to those who have her as a guest and a mother. The service ended, Father Biard addressed himself to sieur de Biencourt, and, pointing to his companions, [186] said laughingly, _Vinum non habent_: begging him to give them the little that remained, adding that his heart told him they would soon have succor,--at the farthest, during the present month, namely, in January; and perhaps it would be seen that he had unwittingly prophesied. His Companions were delighted, and, in their joy after drinking, said, "Now, truly, we have the courage to wait and see if the Father is a Prophet." And certainly he made a lucky hit, for a ship reached us just one week afterward, which we had to go a long way out to seek. CHAPITRE XX. [i.e., xix.]