Though that letter was a most perfect recantation of all he
had said and done against me, and was of immense value to me
in such circumstances, the bishop added to its importance by the
exceedingly kind manner in which he handed it to me.
As he was going into another room he said:
"I will give you the silver chalice you want, to offer the
holy sacrifice of mass the rest of your days."
But, he came back and said:
"My secretary is absent, and has the key of the trunk which
contains those vases."
"It makes no difference, my lord," I replied, "please order
your secretary to put that chalice in the hands of Rev. Mr. Brassard,
who will forward it, with a box of books which he has to
send me to Chicago, next week."
The bishop very kindly promised to do so; and he fulfilled
his promise. The next day, the precious gift was put in the
hands of Mr. Brassard, in presence of several priests.
It was sent, the following week, to Chicago, where I got it,
and that fine silver chalice is still in my possession.
I then fell on my knees, and said:
"My lord, I am just leaving Canada for the Far West, please
give me your benediction."
He blessed me and pressed me to his heart with a tenderness
of a father, saying:
"May God Almighty bless you, wherever you go and in
everything you do, till the end of your life."
