for the good of the country, and
made comfortable in every possible way in these early stages, and that
he would do it if God gave him health. He was not taken unawares in the
account which he had to render unto God, for he had long ago prepared a
general confession of his whole life, which he made with great
contrition to Father Lalemant, whom he honoured with his friendship. The
father comforted him throughout his sickness, which lasted two months
and a half, and did not leave him until his death. He had a very
honourable burial, the funeral procession being formed of the people,
the soldiers, the captains and the churchmen. Father Lalemant officiated
at this burial, and I was charged with the funeral oration, for which I
did not lack material. Those whom he left behind have reason to be well
satisfied with him; for although he died out of France, his name will
not therefore be any less glorious to posterity."

Champlain left no posterity. His wife spent only four years in Canada,
after which she resided continually in Paris. During her residence in
New France, she studied the Algonquin language, and instructed the young
Indians in catechism, and in this manner she won the friendship of the
native tribes. It was the fashion of the time for a lady of quality to
wear at her girdle a small mirror, and the youthful Helene observed the
custom. The savages, who were delighted to be in her company, were oft
time astonished to see their own image reflected on the crystalline
surface of this mirror, and said, with their native simplicity: "A lady
so handsome, who cures our diseases, and loves us to so great an extent
as to bear our image near her breast, must be superior to a human
being." They, therefore, had a kind of veneration for her, and they
would have offered their homage to her instead of to the Deity of whom
they had only an imperfect knowledge.

The Indians were Madame Champlain's special care, but she was respected
by the French as well. We do not know very much about her social
intercourse with the different families of Quebec, but it is not
probable that she ignored Madame Hebert or her family, as Faillon seems
to believe. Her own distinction and the position of her husband would,
no doubt, render her particular in the choice of friends, but we can
scarcely believe that she would completely ignore Madame Couillard, who
was of her own age. How was it that she consented to live alone in
Quebec during the long abs