stead of my ordinary aspirations: "Enough, Lord, it is enough. Command the winds and there shall be a great calm. Lord, thou hast said: Ask and you shall receive. Give us this day our daily bread," and so on, I now exclaim: " We praise thee, O Lord! great is thy power, Lord God of hosts."
Mr. Charles Larpenteur, whose hospitality you have often enjoyed when traveling in the desert to visit the Indian tribes, is now in charge of the post, and he received us with all the goodness of a father. He procured us all that he could. May the Lord bless him, for he deserves it. " The Samaritan in the Gospel," said he, " took care of an unfortunate man, and poured oil and wine into his wounds. Sir," he added, " you are welcome. I offer you all I have;
I wish to treat you as well as is in my power." The dignity and worth of charity are never better felt than on similar occasions, and by beggars like us.
I shall spend some days instructing and baptizing a score of people who live around here. I shall endeavor to recover from my unusual hardships before I start. In the meanwhile the snow will melt, the roads become better, and I will resume my journey.
Receive the assurance of my respect. Present my respects to the Fathers and Brothers, and believe me, Reverend and Dear Father,
Your devoted servant and brother in Christ, CHRISTIAN HOEKEN, S. J.
You see, Reverend Father, by this letter of Father Hoeken, that the consolations of heaven are constantly tempered by the desolations of earth. This is the support of the laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.
I have come to Europe for missionaries. Belgium has already furnished many. St. Francis Xavier asked for Bel gians. Shall I succeed in getting some? Cannot I count on my own land as much as on Holland, France, or Italy?