The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-04-04

mer found him again in the field
preaching to the Indians and founding
new missions. In October he padded
down Green Bay to Lake Michigan,
and turned along the west bank south.
ward till he reached the present site
of Chicago. Here he was taken i'll. He
was treated very kindly by the 1lli-
nois Indians, who had already heard
of the famous BLACK Robe"
Another winter Of weakening illness
was in store for the heroic mission
airy, but he was still able in the spring
to open a mission in Kaskaskia. Be-
lieving that his end was near he set
out again for Mackinaw, going round
by the east shore Of Lake Michigan,
but his strength steadily failed till he
had to be lifted by his companions in
and out of the canoe, as the party
stopped for rest and refreshments.
ION the eve of his DEATH" writes
Father Dablon, che told them, all
radiant with Joy, that it would take
place on the morrow. During the
whole day he conversed with them
about the manner in which he should
be laid out, the place to be selected
for his interment, how they should
arrange his hands and face, and raise
a cross over his grave"
Thus did he speak to them as he
sailed along the lake, till, perceiving
the mouth of river, with an emil
nence on the bank which he thought
suited for his burial, he told them
that it was the place of his last re-
pose. They wished, however, to pass
on, as the weather permitted it and
the day was not far advanced, but
God raised a contrary wind, which
obliged them to return and enter the
river which the Father had desig-
mated.
They then carried him ashore, kin.
died little fire, and raised a poor
bark cabin for his use, laying him in
it with as little discomfort as they
could, but they were SO depressed by
sadness that, as they afterward said,
they did not know what they were
doing.
The Father being thus stretched on
the shore like st. Francis Xavier, as
he had always so ardently desired,
and left alone amid those forests
for his companions were engaged in
unloading-he had leisure to repeat
all the acts in which he had employed
himself during the preceding days.
When his dear companions after
ward came up, all detected, he con-
soled them, and gave them hopes that
God would take care of them after
his death in those new and unknown
countries; he gave them his last in
structions, thanked them for all the
charity they had shown him during
the voyage, begged their pardon for
all the trouble he had given them,
directed them also to ask pardon in
his name of all our Fathers and
Brothers in the Ottawa country, and
then disposed them to receive the
Sacrament Of Penace, which he admin
istered to them for the last time.
He then asked for the holy water
and his reliquary, and taking OF his
crucifix, which he always wore hang
ing from his neck, he placed it in the
hands Of one Of his companions, ask
ing him to hold it constantly opposite
him, raised before his eyes.
Feeling that he had but little
while to live, he made a last effort,
clasped his hands and with his eyes
fixed sweetly on his crucifx, he pro-
nounced aloud his profession of faith,
and thanked the Divine Majesty for
the immense favor He bestowed upon
him in allowing him to die in the So
ciety Of Jesus, to die in it as a mis-
sionary Of Jesus Christ, and above all,
to die in 1t, as he had always asked,
in a wretched cabin, amid the forests,
destitute of all human aid.
His last words were: Mater Del,
memento mei-"Mother Of God, re.
member me-" And thus, on the lone,
wild shores of Lake Michigan, died,
at the age of 80, Father James Mar.
quette, the first explorer Of the Mis-.
sissippi and the Apostle Of the I'LL.
nois.-Providence Visitor.