ppeals, with those of Father de Smet,
prevailed with Mother de Galitzin and the Superior General. The
foundation was decided upon; and likewise, though after much hesitation,
Mother Duchesne, in compliance with her eager desire, was allowed to be
one of the foundresses. She was seventy-two years old at this time, and
suffering from many and painful infirmities, but nothing could dampen
her ardor; and Father Verhaegen, when consulted about her going had
said, "Let her come, even though we should have to carry her upon our
shoulders. Her prayers, her mere presence, will draw down the blessing
of Heaven upon our Mission." The four foundresses were Mother Duchesne,
Mother Lucille Mathevon, who was to be the Superior, another choir
religious, and a Canadian lay Sister, who had had some experience in
dealing with Indians. The whole party was under the leadership of Father
Verhaegen.

The Pottowatomies testified their joy at the arrival of the little
missionary band by going out to meet them in gala attire and in all
their war paint. The great red circles around their eyes gave them so
ferocious an expression that the nuns were seized with terror, except
Mother Duchesne, who was beaming with joy, like a mother meeting her
beloved children after a long separation. The task of the nuns was not
an easy one. They had to live at first in a hut which one of the Indians
had vacated in their favor, and to manage without the most elementary
conveniences of civilized life; for, grateful as their new charges were,
they had not yet been reclaimed from the ways and habits of savage life.
Her companions experienced a certain revulsion of feeling during the
first few days; but Mother Duchesne herself was in the joy of her soul,
because she was among her dear savages, and because of the poverty and
exceptional hardships and repulsiveness of her surroundings, which
responded to one of the most powerful attractions of grace in her soul.
In fact, she had never before enjoyed so much sensible consolation,
except, perhaps, at the time of her admission into the Society of the
Sacred Heart.

She had hoped to take her share in the work of the little community, and
she even set herself courageously to the task of acquiring the language
of the Pottowatomies, but she only succeeded in learning a few words and
phrases. These, however, served her in good stead during the winter,
which was severer in those days than it is now. The poor Indians were as
he