The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-01-24

the western shore of Lake Michigan.
The cold gales of November had now
begun to pillow the surface of this in
land sea. Their progress was very
slow. Ice formed upon the margin of
the water and several snowstorms i'm
peded their march. adding greatly to
their discomfort. But not a repining
word escaped the lips of Father Mar
quette.
1t was but a dismal shelter they
could rear for the night on the bleak
shore. Through this exposure Father
Marquette's health began rapidly to
fail. 1t took them nearly four weeks
to reach the mouth of the Chicago
river. They assembled the river several
leagues, until they came to a cluster
of Indian wigwams. Here the voyag-
ers built small log cabin-the first
human habitation erected on the site
of the great city of Chicago-and des-
tItute of the absolute necessaries of
life, passed the remaining weeks of the
dreary winter.
His home was but a cabin of logs.
with the interstices stuffed with moss,
The roof was covered with bark. The
fireplace was one corner of the room,
with hole in the roof through which
the smoke assembled. Often the state
of the atmosphere was such that the
cabin was filled with smothering
smoke. A mat was his bed; his food
was pounded corn, fishes and flesh Of
animals, broiled on. the Goals; his COM
panions, savages. Such was the home
which this noble man had cheerfully
accepted in exchange for the baronial
splendors of his ancestors.
Every day Father Marnuette was
sinking in languor, which both he and
his companions supposed to be a mon
ltlon OF speedily approaching death.
And yet he was a cheerful and happy
man. All 1ncomerS at his cabin were
greeted with smiles. Death had no
Terror. His log cabin was continually
crowded with those who sought in
strucuon. He and his companions had
recourse to the Blessed Virgin by
noVena. The voices of the three were
Joined in mathis and vespers. and
noated sweetly over those dreary
wastes. where such heavenly strains
mad never been heard before
Thelr prayers were heard. Contrary
10 all reasonable expectation, he so far
regalned his strength as to be able. on
march 70, to resume his journey. The
cnil WINDS OF departing winter still
Swept tne plains. Storms OF sleet often
peat upon them. The ground. alter
nateiy thawing and freezing. was fire.
quently whitened with snow. And
stlll Father Marquette and his cow
panlons, with chivalry never. SURPASSED
in the annals of knighthood prassod
boldly on. p'esseH
On April s. after a journey of 15o
mics, they reached Kaskaskai-vvba,e
STANDS the city of Rockport. I1ls.-and
we're received as an angel from heaven
On the Monday of Holy week he beppn
ms instructions. Soon a rustic altar
ADORNED with pictures of the Blessed
VIRGIN, was erected and mass ceIebrat-
ed Tor the first time in his new mis-
SION. Chlefs and warriors, young and
oio, gathered around their beloved
plack gown; and there, at least tbe
SEEDS OF the gospel fell on good ground
Easter was past, and his Illinois mis-
sion established, when the painful mol
ady returned with renewed force. wen
aware that he had reached the born-
udry line of life, the indomitable JesI1it
SET out for Mackinaw. hoping to die
among his fellow missionaries. He
passed by the mouth of the st. Josenb
river, proceeding to the north along the
eastern shore of Lake Michigan AZ
the two canoemen urged the frail craft
over the lonely water the sight ana
strength of the priest gradually failed
ana ne. was at length so weak that no
mad to be lifted in and out of his canoe
Wnen they landed each night"
Ihus they moved along dav after
uay, expecting almost every hour that
Inc death summons would come. On
friday evening, May q, 1875. ne told
.hem, with a countenance radiant with
lloy, that on the morrow he should take
MS departure for his heavenly home
1ney came to the mouth of small.