THE RULES OF THE CONGREGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MISSIONS CHAPTER X. THE PRIVATE AND SOCIAL VIRTUES OF SISTER BOURGEOIS CHAPTER XI. SISTER BOURGEOIS'S HAPPY DEATH AND THE WONDERS THAT FOLLOWED IT CHAPTER XII. THE EXCELLENCE OF HER INSTITUTES, HER MAXIMS, INSTITUTIONS, ETC. CHAPTER XIII. A RECAPITULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE LIFE OF SISTER BOURGEOIS CONCLUSION LIFE OF THE VENERABLE SISTER MARGARET BOURGEOIS. * * * * * CHAPTER I. THE DISCOVERY OF CANADA AND COLONIZATION OF MONTREAL. Every one knows that America is called the New World because, until the close of the 15th century, it was unknown to the other nations of the earth--at least it was then unknown to Europe. Until quite near the end of that century, Canada was absolutely a _terra incognita_--being one vast forest, inhabited only by the red man, and by beasts as wild and untamable as he. In the year 1534, James Cartier, a skilful navigator, being provided with a commission from the King of France, set sail from St. Malo, with two ships of sixty tons burden, carrying one hundred and twenty-two well-equipped seamen, in order to reconnoitre that part of the New World. Cartier's first voyage was quite successful. He discovered Canada and took possession of it, in the name of the French King. Having made his observations from the different posts which surround the Gulf that receives into its bosom the waters of the great river of Canada, since called the St. Lawrence, he conversed as well as he could with the savages, whenever an opportunity offered, in order to study their characters, and thought he occasionally discovered in them dispositions favorable to Christianity. This led him to hope that the King would form a colony in the country, that might be equally useful to commerce and religion. He accordingly returned to France, to acquaint his sovereign with his projects and the success of the expedition that inspired them.