“My countrymen,” replied Mr. Sackville, “had abundant reason to be grateful that they fell into your skilful and benevolent hands,—the beautiful order and neatness of your hospital prove with what fidelity your samaritan duties are performed.”
While the nun, courteously bowing her head at this merited compliment, led the way to an adjoining ante-room appropriated to medicines, surgical instruments, &c. Mrs. Sackville said in a low voice to Edward, “Take notice, my dear son, that where the precepts of the christian religion are strictly applied they produce the same fruits; no matter by what name the particular faith is called, Catholic or Protestant.”
“Oh look there, mother,” exclaimed Julia, pointing to large cases with glass doors which contained the medicines, “I am sure that in spite of your laws of association, those vials and gallipots look quite beautiful.”
“And I suspect they contain nothing very disagreeable,” replied her mother; “these sisters do not appear to deal in the harsh medicines of our daring doctors, but content themselves with emollients and palliatives. See those labels, ‘eau hysterique’—‘eau celeste;’ even you, Julia, would have no objection to medicines that deserve such pretty appellatives.”
From the Hotel Dieu they went to the chapel and sacristie. Julia pointed to the altars on which were standing vases filled with white lilies and carnations. “Every where, mother,” she said, “we see these beautiful flowers, even in the churches.”
“And they are certainly not inappropriate, Julia,” replied her mother, “in His temple whose pencil paints and breath perfumes them.”
After all had been shown that is usually exhibited, the sister invited her visiters to go to the garden. Mrs. Sackville said that though she had heard it much extolled, their time would not permit them the pleasure of seeing it, but she said there was a farther trouble that she must venture on imposing. She understood the sisters sometimes permitted their visiters to buy specimens of their work; and she was anxious to carry some to their friends.
Their conductor seemed gratified with this hint, and directly left them, and returned with a large basket filled with embroidered needle-books, reticules, work-boxes, purses, scissor-cases, &c. &c.
Edward and Julia eagerly examined the beautiful productions of the taste and industry of the cloistered sisters. Edward was particularly struck with a sack or purse, made of birch bark, and wrought with porcupine quills of the richest dyes. On one side of it was an indian woman, carrying an infant according to the aboriginal fashion, laced to a board which was laid on her back; the little creature's head was just visible, peeping over her shoulder. A boy was standing beside her with a bow and arrow, on the reverse was a group of indians seated under an oak tree, smoking the long feathered and beaded pipe, which they call the calumet of peace, “Oh, mother,” said Edward, holding up the sack, “is not this very valuable?”
“It is certainly very handsome,” replied his mother.