, restored her strength to
some extent and probably prolonged her life for a while.

Two other consolations were given her at this time. She learned that
Mother du Rousier was coming to the United States as Visitatrix, and
that Father Verhaegen, who for twenty years had had all her confidence,
was come to St. Charles as resident pastor. During the following summer
she was seized with a violent fever which, though soon broken, left her
so debilitated that it was thought prudent to anoint her. The next
morning, with her usual energy and fortitude, she wrote three letters;
one to Mother Barat, another to her sister, and a third to Father de
Smet. She realized that her end was now very near, and she longed for
the moment that would unite her to the God she had so ardently loved,
and so faithfully served during the whole of her long career. But she
awaited the call with the utmost patience and serenity of soul. She
still spent a great deal of time on her knees, after her usual fashion,
before the Tabernacle, where she was now and then taken with a spell of
weakness. Those who happened to be at hand would help her out, but as
soon as she had recovered she would return to her prayer as before.

To the last Mother Regis Hamilton was a ministering angel to her,
rendering her all the personal services, that nothing but her weakness
and exhaustion would have induced her to accept. She lived, as it were,
in an atmosphere of peace, gratitude and love, humble, simple and docile
as a little child. Faithful to her habits of mortification, she would
not consent to have a fire lighted in the little stove that had been
placed in her room, even when the chilly autumn days had come.

On the 17th of November, Mother du Rousier arrived, after traveling in
great haste over a long distance, and by very bad roads. Their meeting
and the long and intimate communication that took place between these
two holy souls was a great consolation to both, and a source of light
and strength for Mother du Rousier in her great mission of foundress of
the Society of the Sacred Heart in South America. A little combat of
humility terminated the interview, each claiming a blessing from the
other, and considering that it was not her place to give hers to any one
so far above her. The touching contest ended in a compromise, and
together they blessed each other. Then after exchanging their profession
crosses, they parted, looking forward to a future meeting in the r