er Hamilton, having still in view her future canonization, buried
her, not in the common cemetery, but quite near the church adjoining the
convent, and upon the slope of the low hill on which it stands. Some
time after the crowd had dispersed, a poor woman whom Mother Duchesne
had often assisted in many ways, came running to the house full of
joyful excitement. Her story was soon told. She had lingered weeping and
praying near the new-made grave, when suddenly she had thought of asking
Mother Duchesne to intercede for her, that she might be freed from an
inveterate and incurable malady that had been tormenting her for years.
No sooner had she uttered her petition than she was instantaneously and
completely cured. Many other cures and graces of various kinds similarly
obtained, contributed to confirm Mother Duchesne's reputation for heroic
sanctity, and to inspire confidence in her intercession.

Three years after her death, there was question of opening a street
through the convent grounds. This would have separated from the house
the spot where the holy religious was buried. Mother Jacquet, who was
then Superior, determined to remove the precious remains to a little
oratory to be built quite close to the entrance from the street in
front. When the grave was opened, the lid of the cedar coffin was found
to be in a decayed condition, and the coffin itself was full of mud and
water; but the body was so perfectly preserved that every feature was
recognizable, and an ambrotype could again be taken, October 23, 1855.
This first exhumation was rendered more memorable by a signal
occurrence, which caused a great sensation in the general public. This
was the cure of a Mrs. Anne King, who was suffering from a cancer that
had already eaten away a considerable part of her face. The application
of a relic of Mother Duchesne caused it to disappear completely, leaving
her face in its natural condition. Mrs. King was from Portage des Sioux,
a village thirteen miles from St. Charles, and the story of her
wonderful cure is one of the traditions connected with the name of the
holy Mother.

Twenty years later, the little oratory needed repairs, and it was
thought advisable to ascertain the condition of the remains. This time,
nothing was found but a considerable part of the bones, and a quantity
of ashes. These were transferred with all the ceremonies appointed by
the Church for such occasions, to an iron coffer, about a yard in
length,