The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 5: Quebec, 1632-1633
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 5: Quebec, 1632-1633
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
When the Father wished to depart, they made three sledges which
they loaded with meat; one for him, another for our man Pierre,
who was there, and the third [90] for a Frenchman who accompanied
the Father. They had moved scarcely two hundred steps, after their
farewells, when the Father suddenly stopped short; he could see
nothing and could hear nothing. The smoke of the cabin, the snow
outside, the lack of nourishment, for he had eaten only a very
little of that half-cooked meat, and the difficulties of the way
had weakened him so that he was compelled to return whence he came.
He had carried with him a little bread and a few peas; but the
Savages had taken possession of them at once, so fond are they of
them, telling him that he could eat as much as he wanted of these
things on his return to our house. The good Savage La Nasse, seeing
the Father's weakness, asked him if he wished to remain. "No," said
he, "but I cannot drag this load which you have given me." "Very
well," answered the Savage, "I will drag it for thee, and I will
take [91] this great sealskin to wrap thee up in, and draw thee
to thy house. If thou art sick, take courage, I will not abandon
thee." They returned to the house as best they could, our Pierre
running before them to bring the news. We hurriedly sent a boy with
a bottle of cider and some bread to renew their strength. The
wind blew so violently in their faces that they were compelled to
leave their sledges three leagues from Kebec, and send for them on
the following day. The Father, who was sick only from weakness and
overwork, having rested, immediately recovered.
Voila, mon Reuerend Pere, vn eschantillon de ce qu'il faut souffrir
courant apres les Sauuages, ce qu'il faut faire necessairement si on
les [92] veut ayder à se sauuer: Et partant que, V.R. voye s'il luy
plaist qui seront ceux qu'elle destinera pour ceste mission. On ne
souffre point ces incommoditez demeurant dans la maison, tout ce qu'on
y endure est tolerable: mais quand il faut deuenir Sauuage auec les
Sauuages, il faut prendre sa vie, & tout ce qu'on a, & le ietter à
l'abandon, pour ainsi dire, se contentant d'vne croix bien grosse &
bien pesante pour tout richesse. Il est bien vray que Dieu ne se laisse
point vaincre, & que plus on quitte, plus on trouve: plus on perd, plus
on gaigne: mais Dieu se cache par fois, & alors le Calice est bien amer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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