The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-31


new, strange life OF an Indian wgwam Here mission
is frozen TO death there another sinks beneath the
heat Of Western prairie here Brebeuf is killed by the
enemies o. his hscA and ssSSra BY an
Noyrot wrecked the shore but these dangers
never deferred the missionary In the language Of the
great American historian The Jesuit never receded
one feotn
Once established in n tribe the dnicult,es were in
creased After months nay years of teaching, the mis-
sstray; never could they form pupih to life and
manners The nineteenth century failed rs the
teenth failed In raising up priests from among the ro
quos the AIgonquins and at this day pupil Of the
Propaganda who disputed In Latin theses OF Peter
Lombard roams at the head OF hall naked band in the
These were the obstacles in the career of the mission
AIRY, but with the word OF power Co. teach all ~.
ward to execute the command-to teach all to
10 all to convert the elect such was Gods Will to
labor in vain except so far as the accomplishment OF
the command can never be in vain.
The Indian tribes contributed many instances Of
exalted piesy and religious enthusiasm TO the re-
cords Of the first forts Of the missionaries. Here
is one celebrated in the traditions Of the Frsnch
Mission Of st. Francois Xavier, in the valley %
the st. Lawrence. Speaking Of the emigration OF
the mission from Laprairie de la Msgdelene to the
Portage river, the writer says -
Before its completion and while Fremin was absent in
Europe, Catharne Tebgahkwia arrived, and, forming
close friendship with few pious women aspred to the
highest sancty Her hours were spent in labor or in
prayer and in both she seemed to lose sight of
God Deaf to all offers Of marriage, she lived by the
work of her hands, hazardous Experiment. for In
dian, but from her skill and industry successful in her
What leisure her labor permit ed she spent in the
chapel ediyng oil by her modesty recollectedness and
voluntary poverty
Her first desire formed as she sat beneath the village
with Theresa Tesuaiagena, gazing upon the rapid
river which hurried by them, was to lead, with some
others, life like that OF the at Quebec; but this
being mpracticab, she resolved avoid all the vanity
of her countrywomen and observe the utmost modesty
had their bellies, whose toilet as anxousy cared
for Us in any polished country manuscript OF the
time describes the Indian maiden, with her well oiled
and neatly parted hair descending in long pait be
hind while fine ehemseswas met ut the waist by a
neat and well trimmed petcoat reaching to the knee
below this was tie rich lcggn then the well fitted
moccasin, tie glory of lroquos belle The neck
loaded with beads, while the crimson blanket enyeloped
the whole form.
nary blue banket, now universally by the women
served her use her other garments plain. In
brave of the village had ever looked her in the face but
one who rudely put aside her blanket to her blush
with shame. But it not enough to renounce plea
sure, virgin, she kept the vow of chastity, and
solved to the painful austerities of penentia
life to lken herself to her Redeemer Who will teach
me-" she would exclaim, " what is most agreeable to
God that may do it 2" Two days in every week she
tasted while scourging and chains in constant USE
the former to the eiusion OF blood These auste
ties indeed moderated by her directors but they
were evidently prompted by the spirit of God, those
which the missionaries forced to conccde to her
After one winter spent in the woods her desire Of
attending all the Offices Of the Church made her
nounce the advantage of the hunting season, and re-
main in the village, where she supported herself by
ing and the manufacture of articles of wood and
bark, which she made with great ingenuity
The servants of God ever tried by persecution.
Pure the life of Catharine Tehgahkwita, she did
not escape the breath Of caumny under which she long
suffered in silence unable to dispe! the suspicious
against her Her sefmposed pains did not equal this
sorest trial OF her lfe Her pilgrimage was however,
drawing close Towards the end of 1879 her health
proved fatal. During the winter she often unable
10 drag herself TO the chapel As spring on,
the outdoor occupations of the rest left her sole oc'u
pant of the cabin, where the missionary to console her,
would frequently assemble the children to instruct them
in their religion and such branches the more settled
state Of the village now enabled him to undertake
As Holy Week came on, she sank rapidly, and it
found impossible to convey her bark litter to the
chapel according to custom for the last sacraments
For the FIRST time, the Vaticum and Extreme uncton
We're administered in cabin. The novel sight, and the
general esteem for Catharne drew all around the priest
as, accompanied by the acoytes, he bore the sacred
host TO her dying couch She received the body of her
Lord with the most tender devotion but intmated to
the missionary that he need not then anont her her
death would not take place till moment which she
named.
Till that moment her lowIy couch was surrounded by
the Oh and young learning in her death deep lesson
Of life. Lie ebbed slowly away, and Wednesday
afternoon, about three O'Clock, she uttered her is
words the names Of Jesus and Mary then slight sui
der ran through her Frame and she fell into her agony
to the last aSnt hslf an hour after she
seemed Go sleep
She buried beside the church, and her grave be-
came immediately the resort Of those who wished to
interest in their benalf faithful, servant of God 1t b.
came pilgrimage where the prelate and the viccroy
ALIKE to knea and pay homage to exalted virtue
they inv oked themselves and their charge tic bless
Ing Of Heaven. This devotion not uprewardel
miraculous cures aitested that II pleasing 10
Heaven while they enkinded the devotion to this
holiost Of tie children OF tic American forests,
The mission especially renewed by holy DEATH
Her example and her life served in series of paintings
70 the ukewarm and confirm the fervent in their
struggles against the world and self.
IL connection with the subject Of the above work,
we .eke the opportunity Of saying word in CON-
nendation Of Lsity's Catholic Directory, published
by Lucas Brothers, of Bsltimore-the number Tor
the new year having just reached us. 1t seems to
be carefully ard accurately compiled, AMI furnisht
us with some valuable statistics regarding the
Roman Cataoli, population and institutions Of tho
United States. We subjoiu the following useful
table, "a specimen pitts contents -